{
  "id": 15585990,
  "title": "Microsoft’s second-hand licensing appeal gets the brush-off",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/microsofts-second-hand-licensing-appeal-gets-the-brush-off",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-19T09:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register Science",
    "slug": "the-register-science",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/legal/2026/10/19/microsofts-second-hand-licensing-appeal-gets-the-brush-off/5303718"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Microsoft's bid to appeal a recent ruling in ValueLicensing's favor has been denied by the UK Court of Appeal. The US tech giant was challenging the November 2025 judgment that allowed VL to resell pre-owned software licenses. Microsoft's request for permission to appeal was rejected without any reasons provided. However, the door isn't entirely closed—Microsoft could still file a direct appeal to the UK Supreme Court within 28 days if it can demonstrate a strong reason why the Court of Appeal made an error in refusing the appeal. The dispute began in 2021 when ValueLicensing sued Microsoft for £270 million, claiming the software maker restricted the supply of surplus Office licenses. Microsoft denied any wrongdoing and framed the case as a copyright dispute. The UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal dismissed Microsoft's arguments and subsequent appeal. Recently published documents, including an internal deck titled 'Second-Hand Software Presentation,' add more pressure to the case. The Consent Order, which demands documents from past and present Microsoft executives, also questions why Microsoft only disclosed the file's existence recently. Alexander Wolfson, the proposed class representative in a separate claim, has been granted intervener status in the appeal refusal. The next step involves Microsoft submitting a Witness Statement detailing who knew what and when, followed by further disclosure.",
  "summary": "Court of Appeal refuses Redmond permission to take ValueLicensing fight to the Supreme Court, with a 'Known Adverse Document' still to come",
  "key_points": [
    "Microsoft's appeal denied by UK Court of Appeal without explanation",
    "Microsoft can still appeal to UK Supreme Court within 28 days",
    "ValueLicensing sued Microsoft for £270 million in 2021"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The rejection of this appeal reinforces the right of resellers to trade pre-owned software, limiting Microsoft's ability to control the supply of surplus licenses within the United Kingdom.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Register",
        "title": "Microsoft’s second-hand licensing appeal gets the brush-off",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/microsofts-second-hand-licensing-appeal-gets-the-brush-off-15588179",
        "published": "2026-10-19T09:15:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}