It should be noted, this is not Microsoft doing this. Microsoft has already stated they do not object to these keys being sold.
You are right that this is not Microsoft, but Microsoft never stated they do not object to these keys being sold this way - as far as I know, or can find. I've researched this extensively multiple times over the years - for myself, and as a consultant representing business (and government) clients. Got a link where Microsoft stated they don't object to this? I bet not.
In fact, when pressed, Microsoft will point you to the EULAs which state that volume license keys are to stay together, not sold separately. And then they try to push companies to "audited" versions - that is, where a company uses authorized auditing software that monitors and tracks how many licenses are being used, then pay based on that number. It is "dynamically" monitored - that is, if they hire 10 new people today and assign them 10 new Windows computers, they use 10 more keys and then are charged for those 10 more keys. If they fire 5 people tomorrow and and take those computers off-line and put them in storage, they pay for 5 less licenses.
Microsoft has taken the approach of just staying quiet about it for two reasons. (1) If they make a stink, the Microsoft haters and those who buy such "too-good-to-be-true" keys will start bad-mouthing Microsoft, calling them evil big brother, etc. etc. And bad press, even when undeserved, is not good for business. And (2), Microsoft does not want to bring attention to those cheep keys. Instead, they point potential buyers to the Microsoft Store and other "authorized" and "partner" sellers.
****
Just ask yourself, don't you think if those ultra cheap prices were totally legitimate that
Newegg,
Best Buy,
Micro Center,
B&H Photo and
especially the cutthroat retailers
Amazon and
Walmart would get in on that action too? Contrary to what some claim, URCDKeys and Kinguin and others like them are NOT authorized Microsoft software resellers. Just because a retailer says they are, that does not mean they are.
I DONT understand how buying a cheap windows key is money laundering
It's not. That was bad reported - or something lost in translation. It is closer to (but still not the same thing as) "receiving stolen goods", "bootlegging" software, or "software piracy" than it is to money laundering.
OEM is kind of a ripoff. It's tied to whatever hardware it's first installed on, I believe?
Its not a rip off. It is designed for "System Builders" to install on their systems they are selling. In fact, it is called "
System Builder OEM" software. And yes, it is meant to stay with the "O"riginal "E"quipment. That's one reason why it costs less. The other reason it costs less is the System Builder assumes responsibility for support the first year. If you are the system builder, that's you. If not willing to assume support, don't build the system yourself, or buy the full retail license. Microsoft is giving us choices. That's a good thing.
Then of course, there's Linux.
When I built my Ryzen 5 1600 rig, we bought an OEM copy of Windows 10 from Central Computer for $99. Fast forward to last year when I built my 10700K rig. Tried using the same OEM W10 I had, and guess what? It wouldn't activate! So, I went to one of those key sites that TPU sponsors, bought a W10 Home key, linked it to my Microsoft account and it worked -- and still works now, with my 3600 rig, huzzah!
Well the fact is, you violated the terms of the license agreement (a binding contract, by the way) that
you agreed to abide by when you first used that software with your R5 rig. With OEM software, you can legally upgrade all the hardware, except the motherboard since a new motherboard constitutes a new computer.
The fact the cheap 2nd key you used works does not mean it is an authorized used of that key, or that Microsoft approved it be used that way.
