>Just to put out the flames ahead of time I am not making any comment on the fact that the change in the EULA was made without notice of its impact from MS. I am simply explaining how I see the upgrade versus buy new issue.

I'm too lazy to go and look this up, but has anyone looked at the EULA for previous upgrades? I'm willing to bet it's the same. IOW, I don't think this is new. (Jim, you haven't worried about a EULA for years since they give you the products. <g>)

Microsoft isn't the only vendor that does it, either.

It's the way software licensing works, kids. Deal with it. It has always been this way. When you purchase an upgrade you are transferring your license to a new version. When you transfer your license to a new version, that means your old version is no longer licensed.

I'm working with a high-end music publishing app. Their upgrade policy (and copy protection scheme) DISABLES the previous version when an upgrade is installed. At least Microsoft is being non-destructive here.

I think much ado is being made of nothing.