Linux users need a Microsoft Office license to use Office Web Apps

Unbelievable but true, Tim Anderson’s ITWriting after a conversation with Jeff Teper (Microsoft’s Corporate VP of the Office Business Platform) reports on his blog that Linux fanbois that want to run Microsoft Office’s Web Apps will need a Microsoft Office license even though the MS Office desktop suite doesn’t run on Linux desktops.

Microsoft confirmed with The Register that “businesses using Office Web Apps will need a full license for each and every user, whether they’re on Windows or Linux. Licensing will be extended to Linux users under Microsoft’s standard volume program” — this is Microsoft’s default licensing, but Microsoft’s man Taper added that “our volume licensing is tailored to each customer, we will do specific things for each customer’s need. But the blanket statement is that its available for volume license customers per user.”