How many PC's can I put a fully licensed legal copy of the
academically priced Windows Office XP Professional version
(containing; Word 2003, excel 2003, Outlook 2003 with Business Contact
Manager 2003, PowerPoint 2003, Access 2003, Publisher 2003)? I have
heard you can install Office XP Pro on up to 3 PC's with a legal
licensed copy.

Hi cg771980!!


According to the Office XP Professional EULA (End User License
Agreement) you cannot install Office on more than one PC. If you want
to install Office on your another PC, you need to purchase another
copy of Office.
But there is an exception: EULA allows for a second installation on a
portable device (Laptop/Notebook) for the exclusive use of the person
who is the primary user of the first copy.

"Some exceptions exist to Microsoft's application software one-system,
one-license model. Both Office XP and Office 2000 contain the
following sentence in their EULA: "The primary user of the computer on
which the Software Product is installed may make a second copy for his
or her exclusive use on a portable computer." So you can actually have
two installations of the software on one license, as long as one of
those installations is on a notebook computer. This exception doesn't
mean that you can share the license between two users; you need to be
the primary user of both the desktop and notebook computers."
From "Understanding EULAs":
http://www.winnetmag.com/Windows/Article/ArticleID/23292/23292.html


"I bought a Retail Copy of Office and installed it on my PC.  Can I
install it on my laptop, too?
Yes.  You can install Office on your laptop as long as you are the
exclusive user of the laptop.  This means that you can install it on
your laptop, but not your wife's laptop. It is important to understand
that the EULA allows you to install the second copy of Office on a
portable device like a laptop, not just some any other PC.  In
summary, you can install a retail copy on your desktop PC and your
laptop.  It does not mean that you can install it on two desktop PCs. 
You don't have the right to install it on two PCs.  You have the right
to install it on one desktop PC and one of your own laptops.  Any
other combination is not allowed.

I have an OEM Copy of Office and installed it on my PC.  Can I install
it on my laptop, too?
No. The EULA is different for OEM copies of Office, and you cannot
install an OEM Copy on your laptop, only if you are the only user of
the laptop. The OEM copy of Office can exist only on the original PC
on which it was installed. No laptops, no anything else.  OEM copies
are strictly one machine only licenses."
From "Office EULA FAQ":
I suggest you to read this article.
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/EULAFAQ.htm


For an accurate answer for your particular case you must check the
EULA of your copy of Office XP:
You will find the EULA in the help files for all Office applications.
Open up one of the Office programs and then open its Help window, look
in the Contents tab for "End User License Agreement".

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Search strategy:
"Office XP" "End User License Agreement"
"Office XP" license


I hope that this helps you. Please feel free to request for an answer
clarification if you need it before rate this answer.


Regards.
livioflores-ga

Thanks for the answer livioflores-ga! This helps me out. +tip for thourough answer.