After a fair amount of feedback, Microsoft is making some important changes to Office 2013 retail license agreement to allow users to transfer the software suite to another computer without having to pay full price once again.

This is an important change, because previously users could transfer Office 2013 to a new devices (PC, Mac or tablet), only if the computer failed during the warranty period. Now users will be able to transfer Office 2013 to a new computer if the device fails or the users just get a new one.

Jevon Fark from the Office Team also noted that “While the license agreement accompanying Office 2013 software will be updated in a future release, this change is effective immediately and applies to Office Home and Student 2013, Office Home and Business 2013, Office Professional 2013 and the standalone Office 2013 applications.”. And that the new transferability option echoes the one found in Office 2010.

Customers can transfer Office 2013 to a different computer if their device fails or they get a new one.

The Microsoft change of heart comes thanks to the customers feedback and here is the new license agreement text change:

This is definitely a welcome change for customers and it also shows that when people get together, good things can happen.

Updated transferability provision to the Retail License Terms of the Software License Agreement for Microsoft Office 2013 Desktop Application Software:

Can I transfer the software to another computer or user? You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you, but not more than one time every 90 days (except due to hardware failure, in which case you may transfer sooner). If you transfer the software to another computer, that other computer becomes the “licensed computer.” You may also transfer the software (together with the license) to a computer owned by someone else if a) you are the first licensed user of the software and b) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement before the transfer. Any time you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the software from the prior computer and you may not retain any copies.

Source Office Blog