Microsoft's Response

This decent and timely response to my email posted earlier on this blog was appreciated. Goliath has some nice people working for him!

E-QUIP AFRICA MAR

Hello Doug - Thanks for taking the time and effort to give a thoughtful response. The quick answers are: You don't need to do anything with the machines already distributed and reported with Office 2003. And thank you very much for giving assurance that you now understand this requirement of the program.

I have asked the vendor support office to stop the new order for Office 2003 if possible. However, it likely was processed right away if the card went through, and is either in shipping or out the door. I should hear from them how it went, by next Tuesday. There are no refunds or returns for normal orders with the CMAR program. I hope you will have other opportunities to distribute these Office licenses (if they have gone out).

As unofficial references, the CMAR program homepage lists the available licenses, including:

Microsoft Office 2003 Standard for computers supplied to eligible charitable organisations and other specially approved recipients, but not for eligible academic recipients.

And the public FAQ says:

Are software application products available under this program?

Yes. Microsoft Office 2003 Standard is available for eligible charitable organizations and other Microsoft-specially approved recipients, but not for eligible academic recipients.

Why is Microsoft Office 2003 Standard available for eligible charitable organizations and other Microsoft-specially approved recipients, but not for eligible academic recipients?

The Microsoft Partners In Learning program is designed to provide a spectrum of education resources to academic recipients and includes special pricing for Microsoft Office...

And officially, as you note, the Member Agreement defines the specific categories of Eligible Recipients, including Academic Recipients. Then, under "License", it says the Other Software may only be installed on PCs that will be distributed to Charitable Organizations or to Specially Approved Recipients. This does not include Academic Recipients.

Doug, I'll try to respond soon to your other message, about the realities of Africa and donation programs, but it won't affect the immediate situation and I have others to respond to.

Best regards -

Community MAR Americas Team