Microsoft created a huge uproar when it notified customers that the new Office 2013 license is tied to a PC. This meant that when you upgrade or replace the PC, you would lose you expensive Microsoft Office 2013 license.
Now we find out that Microsoft has hear customer complaints and is reversing course. They have just announced on their blog that they are updating the license policy to allow users to transfer Office 2013 licenses to a new PC. The change is valid immediately and the EULA will be changed to reflect this in the future.
Updated transferability provision to the Retail License Terms of the Software License Agreement for Microsoft Office 2013 Desktop Application Software:
Can I transfer the software to another computer or user? You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you, but not more than one time every 90 days (except due to hardware failure, in which case you may transfer sooner). If you transfer the software to another computer, that other computer becomes the "licensed computer." You may also transfer the software (together with the license) to a computer owned by someone else if a) you are the first licensed user of the software and b) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement before the transfer. Any time you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the software from the prior computer and you may not retain any copies.
Updated transferability provision to the Retail License Terms of the Software License Agreement for Microsoft Office 2013 Desktop Application Software:
Can I transfer the software to another computer or user? You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you, but not more than one time every 90 days (except due to hardware failure, in which case you may transfer sooner). If you transfer the software to another computer, that other computer becomes the "licensed computer." You may also transfer the software (together with the license) to a computer owned by someone else if a) you are the first licensed user of the software and b) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement before the transfer. Any time you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the software from the prior computer and you may not retain any copies.
You can’t transfer the license more than once every 90 days and it can only be installed on one PC at a time. Remember that Microsoft is trying to nudge users to its subscription based office offering where for $99 you can install Office 2013 on up to 5 PCs (but it is an annual charge).