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eulerzzzz's avatar
eulerzzzz
Copper Contributor
May 11, 2023

Dynamics 365 BC - Affiliates

Company A (parent company), Company B (Subsidiary of Company A) and Company C (Subsidiary of Company A). Company B and Company C owned 100% by Company A.

 

The case is companies who will use D365 BC SaaS only Company B and Company C, since both have similar business they want to have one D365 BC SaaS tenant, same instance and same database. Need advice for:

a. If Company B subscribe D365 BC license both for themselves and Company C and put all the license under Company B tenant, whether it will be considered as Affiliates?
b. If Company B subscribe D365 BC license for themselves and Company C D365 BC license for themselves but Company C want to put the license under Company B tenant, whether it will be considered as Affiliates?

 

I have read Definitions of Affiliates in Microsoft Customer Agreement, but cannot find the example of Affiliates.

 

Affiliates. Customer may order Products for use by its Affiliates. If it does, the licenses granted to Customer under this Agreement will apply to such Affiliates, but Customer will have the sole right to enforce this Agreement against Microsoft. Customer will remain responsible for all obligations under this Agreement and for its Affiliates’ compliance with this Agreement.

“Affiliate” means any legal entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a party.

 

Statement “entity that controls” and “legal entity is controlled by” are clear enough, but for “legal entity is under common control with a party” whether it can be applied to scenario a or b or a and b?

CSP
Dynamics 365
  • LicensingConcierge1's avatar
    LicensingConcierge1
    Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
    May 11, 2023

    Hi eulerzzzz 

     

    If you are a Microsoft Reseller, please reach out to your Indirect Provider for assistance w/ your solution.

     

    Microsoft Partners can log into Partner Center to find both the D365 LG (BC online) & the D365 Business Central on-premises Licensing Guide (BC on-premises) for details on BC licensing.

     

    In general, if you're questioning if an affiliate qualifies as an external user who does not need a license, please review either of the aforementioned licensing guides for details on Licensing Requirement for External Users.

     
     

     

     

     

    If this (or someone else's) reply answers your question, please Accept as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly. Otherwise, please let me know if you need further assistance on this topic.


    Regards,

    Microsoft CSP Licensing Concierge

     

    • eulerzzzz's avatar
      eulerzzzz
      Copper Contributor
      May 12, 2023
      Hi LicensingConcierge1

      I'm from Indirect Provider.

      For the case is Company B and Company C, both of them is Sister Company (under same Parent Company) and they want to have Dynamics 365 Business Central SaaS License in the same instance and same database and user from Company C want to have full access (not limited access), for this scenario is it allowed by Microsoft and who need to buy the license for users from Company B and users from Company C?

      Thanks
      • blakecheek's avatar
        blakecheek
        Iron Contributor
        May 15, 2023

        eulerzzzz,

        I'm pretty sure you're using the Affiliates statement from the MCA out of context here.

        In the realm of Business Central licensing this shouldn't matter unless you're talking about Company A, B, or C being your company ("your" meaning you as the MSP). They're not talking about corporate subsidiaries or affiliations in Business Central.

        Don't worry about this affiliates thing and just worry about licensing the client and their respective companies properly. Consolidate tenants B & C and license each user as appropriate.

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