Can I get into the software to see the true code number, and other details?
I got talking to my son last night. His uni has one disc and pays quite a lot for the issue to the faculty of licensed copies. Although he has no need of it, he could bring it home or indeed anywhere, in the course of his work.
You can buy OEM versions of the software. Microsoft says you must be building a computer, or something along those lines. Most places that sell OEM copies require you to buy a hardware component as well.
I suppose in a way, this gets quite close to what he was saying.
I wonder what MS gets out of the deal. i e I would have thought that each copy would have had either a fee to MS, or the initial cost of his 'license' would have been huge. Which I doubt.