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Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
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A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is a label that helps you identify genuine Microsoft software. Retail Microsoft software is manufactured with a COA affixed to the outside of the packaging. If a COA is not present on the packaging, then it is not genuine software and is not properly licensed. A COA should never be purchased without the software it authenticates.
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Hologram
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Many Microsoft products are manufactured on hologram CDs in order to protect against counterfeiting. A hologram CD features a holographic image over the entire surface of the CD. This holographic image is part of the CD itself; it is not a sticker.
Click here
for more on what to look for.
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Get tips for making sure the software
you buy is genuine
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Buy from a reputable reseller
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Check for a Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
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Check the hologram
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Check to see if the product and package is of high quality
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Check the End-user License Agreement (EULA)
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To learn more about buying genuine software.
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