Developers OS license with MSDN Premium Subscription

Question

I have been looking at whether our MSDN Premium Subscriptions would cover upgrading our developer’s machines from Vista OEM to Win 7 RTM MSDN.

The assumption here is that "design, develop, test, or demonstrate" covers the developer’s day job, so should cover the OS.

I have found that other development shops seem to make this same assumption.

Having looked at the MSDN Subscription Software Use Rights page this does not seem to be the case.

from the page :

"Many MSDN subscribers use a computer for mixed use—both design, development, testing, and demonstration of your programs (the use allowed under the MSDN Subscription license) and some other use.
Using the software in any other way, such as for doing email, playing games, or editing a document is another use and is not covered by the MSDN Subscription license.
When this happens, the underlying operating system must also be licensed normally by purchasing a regular copy of Windows such as the one that came with a new OEM PC"

So if you are not using the operating software install to purely "design, develop, test" read "use your visual studio license" and you answered a company email you are in violation of the license.

Is this indeed the case?

Is there a way that MSDN OS licenses can cover your day to day dev machine?

Did you make the same assumption as I did?

Answer 1

Yes that's the case. No you can't change the license.

Answer 2

MSDN license has always been a technical license that limits any rights to development "sandbox". Your primary machine must be covered by regular license. Although I heard of some shops that (purposefully or not) violate this license and are very happy with the savings.