Originally posted by techs
I buy the license separately (roughly $65 for XP Home) & use my own media to install the OS, and then enter the product key that came with the license & affix the hologram COA (Certificate Of Authenticity to the PC. This is perfectly legal & complies with Microsoft's EULA.
I just got an R-U-Legit mailing saying it is not legal to just purchase the COA stickers. They successfuly prosecuted and the court ruled that if you bought just the COA there is a presumption that you knew it might not be legal.
I am very interested in this. If you don't mind, could you forward that e-mail to me? My address is in my Profile.

I don't see how that is any different than businesses that use VLP (Volume Licensing). Microsoft cares about licenses, not media. I know this to be a fact. If the license & corresponding COA is legit, then I don't see the problem. Is it possible that this case applied to counterfeit COAs?

This is where I have purchased XP Home & Pro licenses with hologram COA, but no media.