Thread

I’m building a site for a client and want to use EE as the back bone. Who should buy the license, me or my client?

After browsing around the forum, I came across some people who have done both and they mention that it doesn’t matter. But when I read the software license agreement, it specifically reads:

Unless you have been granted prior, written consent from EllisLab, Inc., you may not:
  * Reproduce, distribute, or transfer the Software, or portions thereof, to any third party.
  * Sell, rent, lease, assign, or sublet the Software or portions thereof.
  * Grant rights to any other person.

So does that mean I should have my client purchase and download the software? And then somehow get the software from them via FTP? Is there a practical solution to this?

thanks a lot!

Hi los1sol,

There is a difference between reselling and buying on behalf of a client. Web developers are welcome to purchase a license for a client and then transfer a license to a client at a later date. Since you have to contact us to transfer a license, that gives you the “written permission” the license requires.

If you plan on using EE for multiple clients over time, then I highly recommend you purchase on behalf of the client. That way you can take advantage of our Volume Discount Program. Each software purchase you make on the same expressionengine.com account is logged so that as you meet milestones as indicated below you will automatically receive the discount. The discount plan is cumulative, allowing you to purchase what you need today and still receive a discount when you meet any of the milestones at a later date. Please note that the volume discount plan only applies to ExpressionEngine and ExpressionEngine module purchases. It does not apply to installation services or 30-day demo sign-ups.

Volume Discount Milestones:
3+ purchases, 10% off
6+ purchases, 15% off 
10+ purchases, 20% off
15+ purchases, 25% off
20+ purchases, 30% off
30+ purchases, 40% off
40+ purchases, 50% off

Transferring a license is easy, here’s how.

1. Have the client register at expressionengine.com here: http://expressionengine.com/member/register/
2. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) the license number you want transferred and the client’s expressionengine.com user name.
3. We’ll transfer the license and notify you when the transfer is completed. After the transfer all further notifications will be sent to the client as if the client was the original purchaser. Please note we do not notify the client of the transfer, we leave that you. 

That’s it. We’ll transfer the license. When we transfer a license you receive a “Developer credit” which counts as a purchase toward the Volume Discount program.