Office for iPad It has been available for a few days now. The application can be downloaded for free from any iOS tablet but it only allows us to view Word, Excel or Power Point documents. In order to edit or create them, we need a subscription to Office 365. The terms and conditions of this service contemplate its use on 5 PCs or Macs and up to 5 iPads or different Windows tablets. However, in practice there is no real measure that restricts the number of installations. Therefore, the picaresque begins.
The situation is even more serious. Since a user can activate the edit and create document options on an iPad and, from that moment on, both he and an indefinite number of future users will be able to make use of the privileges that only the subscription gives. That is, the lock is removed and other Microsoft accounts can benefit from it.
Ultimately, there is no software barrier for someone you can use your Office 365 account on as many computers as you want. This makes it possible for unlimited activations to be given with a single account and that, in addition, those iPad with Word, Excel or Power Point installed and activated become paccess points to these services for any user.
Microsoft has recognized that this approach opens up the option for fraud but relies on the individual responsibility of users. In turn, you have noticed that they are controlling the identity of the devices linked to a single Office account. This means that although they are not forcing users to respect the terms and conditions of the contract, they do monitor the infractions and could take subsequent actions.
The three Office apps for iPad were a total success in their early days on the App Store, consistently being in the top 4 most downloaded apps. Perhaps this laxity helps the service gain presence, something that is more important to Redmond in the long run than short-term revenue.
Source: CNET