Microsoft is embroiled in a lengthy legal battle with the software reseller ValueLicensing, a case that has major implications for the resale of Windows licenses. The trial commenced today at the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal and has the potential to reshape the secondary software market in Europe.

The core of Microsoft’s argument is centered on the claim that parts of the Windows operating system that are not program-based, such as the graphical user interface (GUI), are copyright protected and can’t be legally resold. If the court sides with Microsoft, it could mean that the entire resale market for software in Europe could come to an end.

ValueLicensing contends that the very basis of Microsoft’s defense has shifted from denying wrongdoing to stating that such a market shouldn’t exist in the first place. This reflects a substantial change in their legal strategy, highlighting the stakes involved not only for ValueLicensing but for the entire software resale industry.

Let’s keep an eye on how this case progresses, as its outcome could have substantial repercussions not just for the involved parties, but for consumers seeking affordable software options in the European market.