We are upgrading the computer and flight simulator at our flying club here in Sweden. The difference from for example my own computer is that there is no single person buying the flight sim software, it's the club.

Even if we buy through Microsoft store or Steam, there is still a person that is the buyer.

How should this best be done?

 

So I suppose you would purchase it through the funds of the club and set a xbox username like: SwedenClubFlyer.  your license is tied to a single xbox user account.

Edited September 14, 20205 yr by Brandon01110

Legally I think for this useage you should have commercial licence. 

Who ever owns the PC that the sim will be installed on. 

Edited September 14, 20205 yr by Wobbie

But there is no commercial license for MSFS. It's an entertainment product.

I think if you read the full eula it will easy something aboout for private use only.  They will have a licence to sell you.  I do not know and not sure depending on the use how strict they would be or if you should just hope for the best.

Would you set up a library just to lend someone a book? Of course not.

You don't have to make things complicated, just set up a Steam or MS account on that PC and either use the Club's bank details, or have someone pay with their own card or whatever, and have the club reimburse them from its funds, or have a whip round or whatever. 

You don't need any sort of 'commercial licence' either, even if there was one to be had, because what you are doing is no different from a bunch of friends coming round to your house and having a go on your own copy; providing no money is being earned from doing that, the use of the software is not a commercial venture.

 

+1 with Chock.

The rules regarding various things that "Clubs" might do are very different to companies and businesses, at least here in the UK.

Everything from tax to alcohol licensing is much more "free and easy" if it's a club. 

Just don't sell access to people, once you start using it to make money that is when you will potentially run into issues.

As the above two answers.  Complete logic and common sense.  👍

I go to the flight sim shows and people are having a go on the different set ups all day long.

Only one person can be on it at any one time, so it is not like duplicating it to run on more than one PC.

Then of course, MSFS is for entertainment - not like some other sims that are purely professional and for really really serious people that would never dream of going to a club and socialising! 🙂  [Sound of footsteps running for cover!..]

Edited September 14, 20205 yr by bobcat999
Make less offensive...

Yes, don't over-complicate it:  Vote or pick someone to be responsible in your club for the purchase of MSFS: He or she would sign-up and pay for this app (to be reimbursed, of course). 

He did say it was for a Flying Club In Sweden by the look of Google Flying Clubs are not a group of 30 people who get together and like flying.  They seem to be full blown commercial services with Flight training Aircraft hire and in many cases Catering. 

If it is a few friends i would say go for it and I think no one would worry.  If it is a commercial organization and the sim is to be a part of the entertainment to get people to use the facilities it is more questionable.  If it is used in any way for training or demonstrating that really ups the ante. 

A few days ago there was a set of posts supporting the owner of the copyright of a freeware plane who was stopping it being converted to MSFS2020.  Small or large copyright and EULAs exist.  Wee need to be aware of them even if only to know when to keep quiet about what we do.

Edited September 14, 20205 yr by harrry

Seriously asking this question on a forum is going to get you a non answer.

Opinions as to what to do will be all over the place here!

Do what works for your club, simple enough!

 

If you're buying MSFS2020 as a bit of fun for the crewroom, maybe to keep the kids entertained while daddy's out flying or so you can point out local features to your fellow club members, then it's consumer entertainment. If the club intends using it for organised flight training in any way, you should read the EULA carefully.

Either way, I'd set up a new Xbox account registered to the club or the club secretary and pay using the club credit card. That way it isn't tied to any one individual.

Thanks all for the answers, I'll then just set up a Microsoft account for the club, with some club e-mail and temporarily register a card to it, just for the purchase, after that it will just roll on.

Thanks again 👍🙂

 

On 9/14/2020 at 3:56 PM, bobcat999 said:

...Only one person can be on it at any one time, so it is not like duplicating it to run on more than one PC...

@MrStarhouse With regard to bobcat's post above. Looking to the future, if the Club wanted to indulge in multiplayer for whatever reason (Club members only formation flights maybe?) at the Club itself, then of course the Club would have to have multiple PCs each having a separate original install.