From what I understand, your serial number's already been used to upgrade, therefore it can't be used to upgrade again.
You can sell it, but the buyer won't be able to upgrade it.

Mario

I might be wrong though.

These are the last rules that I remember in effect:
1....The license can be transfered by fax with signature to Sony
2....The software that you transferred cannot be upgraded
3....The software that you transferred gets new activation numbers
4....Your V5 retains the old activation numbers and can be upgraded.
5....If the person you transferred the software too wants to upgrade he must pay full purchase price.
6....You cannot use the software you transferred
6.5..The purchaser must call Sony for verification and initiation of same.
7....Sometimes I make mistakes so don't take this to the bank.

JJK

My assumption would be: No on all questions. Your original purchase is your license to use the software. All upgrade purchases are based on that license. Thus, selling any of the "previous versions" is selling (or more accurately, transferring) your only license to a new licensee. You would no longer have the legal right use the software, because every version you have is based on a single user license.

Now, if you are saying that you purchased a new license (a full copy) of each of the previous versions (3, 4 and 5) then you actually have three licenses or seats. You can transfer version 3 and/or version 4, if you like, but you must retain at least one of them (presumably the latest version) to legally continue to use that version of Vegas. And, of course, you could use it to upgrade to 6.

But keep in mind that it would be an "upgrade" to a single license, not another license...

That being said -- I'm not a Sony rep and I haven't studied their license agreement with a fine tooth comb, but this is pretty standard with most software developers.

In fact, some software developers won't allow the transfer of software to any 3rd party -- at all. For example, Discreet/Autodesk. So, Sony is generous to allow selling/transfer in any form.

Here is a link to the Sony License Agreement. Read item 5 about "assignment"...

License Agreement

Nope, the previous 5 people were correct (I've asked sony this before & done it)

When you upgrade, it's not an upgraded liscence/software like with Adobe, Microsoft, etc. You get the full version at a great discount (just like an educaitonal version). New liscence, new software, new everything. They are two completely seperate pieces of software with the exception that each SN can only be upgraded once.

So, you can sell your old version of Vegas for whatever you want to whomever you want. I simply e-mailed them (Sony), told them the person's name & e-mail, they re-set the activation for that software, then the other person registed the stuff i sold them no problem.

Very liberal & very nice upgrade policy. I'd say it enables people who otherwise wouldn't use the software get it cheap.

Thanks all for your quick responses. This has been very educational... though still confusing.
So I finally just called the Sony customer service line (listed in another post) and asked a "pre-sales" question.

In a nutshell, here's what the sony sales rep told me:

1: I can upgrade to vegas v.6 using ANY or ALL of my previous versions (!) i.e. I can legally purchase up to 4 copies of v.6 at the upgrade prices using either my Vegas SN#s or my DVD-A SN#. (yeah, I got vegas5+DVD)

2. I can transfer ANY of my old versions to another person, but that person will NOT be eligible for upgrades. Upgrades are only available to the original purchaser of the software.

3. HOWEVER: I could, hypothetically, upgrade my v.3 to v.6, then sell the v.6 to another person without registering it to myself... that person could then register v.6 and be eligible for upgrade pricing when v.7 rolls around. I could then do the same thing with my v.4, and my v.5 (though I probably wouldn't until I had already bought and registered my own v.6 using my DVD-A v.2 serial).

Seem too good to be true? I guess it'll be interesting to see.

Well... Then it's the most liberal licensing scheme I've ever seen.

I guess that means that I can "sell" my copies of 3 and 4 and not worry about it messing with my current 5 license. That's good to know.

I suppose their thought process is, it's a good way to get other users out there trained and into the Sony "fold" to assure as many folks as possible are in line to purchase the next versions at full price.

I know I wouldn't be nearly as generous if it was my software company ;-)

Jim

"Well... Then it's the most liberal licensing scheme I've ever seen. "

Yes and kudos to Sony for allowing this. If only other companies would start to practice this sort of licensing then software purchasing would be so much better for the consumer.

This has always been one of the main reasons I have stuck with Vegas. Avid wants a bundle to replace a dongle and Adobe is just jerks about the entire process. I once transferred a license from Adobe and instead of just processing my request, they kept trying to upsell me on more stuff. They are vultures.

If you think about it, it's really not that bad an idea. Someone buying an outdated version, presumeably for much cheaper than a new version, is probably less likely to buy a current, full-priced version sight unseen if that was the only option to them. Once they've used that software, though, (assuming they like it) they'd be more likely to want the new version. And since the upgrade for it has already been used, they have no other option than paying full price.

That's how you make new customers -- let them have a free (cheap) sample and then show 'em the full menu. ;-)

Rob

" guess that means that I can "sell" my copies of 3 and 4 and not worry about it messing with my current 5 license..."

Now wait a minute, didn't you use 3 to upgrade to 4 (done), then 4 to upgrade to 5 (done), and so on?

If I've got this right you already used your 3 to 4 upgrade so you couldn't sell it for someone else to use it for 6 (or any of the other numbers) - right?

"3. HOWEVER: I could, hypothetically, upgrade my v.3 to v.6, then sell the v.6 to another person without registering it to myself... that person could then register v.6 and be eligible for upgrade pricing when v.7 rolls around. I could then do the same thing with my v.4, and my v.5 (though I probably wouldn't until I had already bought and registered my own v.6 using my DVD-A v.2 serial).

Seem too good to be true? I guess it'll be interesting to see."

Yes, it does seem to good to be true, and I think it's "playing loose" with their terms, as the new owner would not be the original purchaser of the software, as stipulated in your number 2.

It's the kind of thing that could cause them to reconsider what is a very generous and much-appreciated update policy.

According to the stated policy I can sell (transfer is the proper term) my previous versions of Vegas (3 and 4) to another person assuming they understand that they cannot use either copy to upgrade to a newer version of Vegas. I've already used the one available "upgrade" from v3 to v4 and I've used the available upgrade from v4 to v5 myself. They would have to purchase any newer version (e.g. v6) at full retail if they choose to move up.

Now, if I transfered my copy of v5 (without upgrading to v6) to them then they could use it to upgrade to v6 and that process would then render their copy of v5 "non-upgradable".

yes, that's how it works.

It's wierd to have a company do things this way, I was iffy the first time too.

But, it's a great way for me to sell my old copies of Vegas to friends who can't afford the $600 first time fee.

I belive they care who registers it first, not the actual owner. Technically (& legally) a student could but 20 copies at a student discount then go & sell them for $500 (an almsot $350 profit). The liscene doesn't care. It's just a discount for school related people.

cbrillo:>>" as the new owner would not be the original purchaser of the software, as stipulated in your number 2.<<
Right, but they would be the original _registered_ owner, as far as sony is concerned.

DigVid: right, according to the rep, each upgrade is tied to the version before it, but not the one after that. so apparently I can't upgrade my v.5 twice, but I can still upgrade my v.4 and my v.3 to v.6. huh. We'll see.

JimW: >>"Now, if I transfered my copy of v5 (without upgrading to v6) to them then they could use it to upgrade to v6 and that process would then render their copy of v5 "non-upgradable".
Um, right, I think. If you transfer your copy of v5, it _immediately_ becomes un-upgradeable, whether or not it has ever been upgraded to v6.

HappyFriar: >>"I belive they care who registers it first, not the actual owner..... The liscene doesn't care."<<
I think you're right. they don't track what SN# goes out to what retail outlet or what owner. Once it's in your hands, all new copies are the same.