About Our Licences

Transparency matters to us. This page explains where our licences come from and what you are buying.

Where our keys come from

We buy licences from software distributors and from businesses that sell surplus, unused licences. We keep a purchase record (supplier, invoice, date and the region where the licence was first sold) for every key we sell, so that the origin of each licence can be documented.

Legal basis for reselling licences

In the European Union and the United Kingdom, a software licence that the publisher has sold for an unlimited period may be resold: the publisher's distribution right is "exhausted" by the first sale (Court of Justice of the EU, UsedSoft v Oracle, C-128/11, 2012). In July 2026 the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, in ValueLicensing v Microsoft, upheld the finding that reselling qualifying pre-owned Microsoft licences does not infringe copyright.

We only resell licences that meet these conditions: the licence was first sold in the United Kingdom or the European Economic Area by the publisher or with its consent; it is perpetual (not a subscription); and the previous owner no longer uses it. We do not sell subscriptions as pre-owned licences.

What you are buying

A licence key that lets you activate the software edition named on the product page, for the term and number of devices stated. The software itself is installed from the publisher's official download.

Independent reseller

KeyQuay is an independent reseller. We are not the publisher of the software we sell and we are not affiliated with or endorsed by software publishers unless stated on the product page. Microsoft, Windows and Office are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies; other names are trademarks of their owners.

Region and languages

Where a product page states a region (for example “Worldwide” or “Europe”) or languages, the key is supplied for that region or those languages. If you are unsure whether a product suits your device or country, ask us before buying.

Questions?

Business customers can request documentation for volume purchases at support@keyquay.com.