Is it legal to sell customized Excel spreadsheets?

[@discussions.microsoft.com Getty]

I have developed customized Excel spreadsheets. I would like to know if I
need a Microsoft license to sell them in any way to other Excel users. And if
I have intellectual rights over them.

[macropod]

Hi Getty,

You need to consult a legal practitioner conversant with Intellectual Property law in your country and can see what your spreadsheet
contains.

--
Cheers
macropod
[Microsoft MVP - Word]

"Getty" <Getty @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:309DEA56-212A-4C36...@microsoft.com...

[Bee@discussions.microsoft.com Worker Bee]

As long as your not selling the software (Excel) your customized sheets for
excel are fine. I develop estimating programs in Excel for small contractors.
The contractors are required to purchase an MS Office program from a
reputable retailer (if they don't already have one). If the contractor
doesn't have Excel, i demonstrate the program on my lap top, then if the
contractor wants the program he has to go out and get Excel.

If your customized sheets require altering the Excel programming or if you
have a add-in for excel you definately need Microsoft's permission.

[Brendan Chou]

If you legally own the work, yes. This really means: did you create it yourself for your own use or while employed or contracted to someone else (see The Social Network for an entertaining overview of this issue that Mark Zuckerberg is still dealing with almost a decade after he founded Facebook).

Most employers, make you sign a clause when you begin employment that anything created for them is their intellectual property.

On the bright side, there are more and more ways to make money from your Excel skills, you can even become an affiliate ( see here for what I believe may be the first affiliate program for excel authors that pays recurring commissions: [url]http://www.oneclickstatements.com/affiliates.html[/url] ).

>> On Friday, December 18, 2009 1:23 AM macropod wrote:

>> Hi Getty,
>>
>> You need to consult a legal practitioner conversant with Intellectual Property law in your country and can see what your spreadsheet
>> contains.
>>
>> --
>> Cheers
>> macropod
>> [Microsoft MVP - Word]

>>> On Tuesday, December 29, 2009 12:48 PM Worker Bee wrote:

>>> As long as your not selling the software (Excel) your customized sheets for
>>> excel are fine. I develop estimating programs in Excel for small contractors.
>>> The contractors are required to purchase an MS Office program from a

>>> reputable retailer (if they do not already have one). If the contractor
>>> does not have Excel, i demonstrate the program on my lap top, then if the