Sage Suggests Performing SQL Compliance Check By August 31

Sage has emailed partners suggesting that they check their customer sites who may have purchased the Microsoft SQL product from Sage to ensure compliance with Microsoft licensing.

This request only applies to the SQL product itself when licensed through Sage. If you license Microsoft SQL through Microsoft then the regular licensing requirements apply.

The core issue appears to be ( as outlined in the Sage email )

Under the Microsoft EULA, customers and partners can only use SQL as part of a unified Sage solution and in a dedicated environment, not a commercial hosting environment.

This only applies to partners and customers that are using the SQL license purchased through Sage. If a Sage partner has purchased a separate Microsoft SQL license apart from the Microsoft SQL license purchased through Sage, this message does not apply to you (provided you are operating in compliance with the separate Microsoft SQL license agreement).

Sage issued two flowcharts to aid in determining whether a site is in compliance

There appear to be two issues with licensing which Microsoft is reviewing

1. The SQL license purchased through Sage cannot be used in a hosting environment.
2. The SQL license purchased through Sage cannot be used with other ( non-Sage ) applications.

This issue only applies to SQL licenses purchased through Sage. If you purchased SQL separately through Microsoft or another non-Sage source then the terms of that licensing agreement would apply.

For additional information, please review the Microsoft ISV licensing site or contact your Sage partner.