Hello,
i would like to understand the requirements and conditions to sideload Modern UI Apps. I'm pretty clear about the technical part, but I'm not entirely sure about the legal (licensing) part and how to obtain sideloading rights.

First, I want to give you some background information:
I want to sideload Modern UI Apps on a number of domain joined Lenovo Tablets where a OEM version of Windows 8.1 Pro is installed. When I try to deploy my app with Add-AppxPackage over the Powershell, it aborts with the message that no valid license for sideloading could be applied and that a developer license or a sideloading license key is required. Of course I have signed the app with a certificate and have installed this certificate as a trusted root certificate on the target machine. As I don't have access to the actual domain controller network, I activated the required group policies on the local computer only.

This is my current understanding of this topic:
a) Since May 2014 domain joined Windows 8.1 Pro devices are also enabled for sideloading.
b) If one wants to sideload on not domain joined devices or normal Windows 8.1 / RT device, sideloading rights must be enabled by a sideloading license key.
c) Sideloading keys can only be purchased from a Microsoft partner.
d) For the right to obtain a license key, a company must be a member of an volume license program. For example the open license program. It's not possible to buy sideloading license keys directly.
e) With one sideloading license key, sideloading right can be enabled for a unlimited number of devices.

Assuming that my understanding isn't totally wrong, I have these two questions.
1. Relating to a): Can sideloading also get enabled for OEM/retail devices, or is volume licensing mandatory?
3. Relating to e): Are there any restrictions regarding to a multiuser scenario on a single device. Is it allowed that a sideloading enabled device is used by multiple users, or is a single license required for each user?

Does somebody have gained experience with sideloading and may give me some advice?

Many thanks in advance

Regards
Tobias

Hi,

Windows 8.1 Enterprise edition has features built in that enable Enterprise Sideloading, manage the deployment of trusted Windows 8.1 apps through a policy setting (see more information in this link Sideload Apps with DISM), users can also enable Enterprise Sideloading of trusted Windows 8.1 apps on Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro, or Windows 8.1 Enterprise devices that are not domain-joined by using a Volume Licensing Multiple Activation Key (MAK) in addition to the policy setting referenced above.

Regarding to the restrictions of multiusers, please see the detailed information in the link below:

(see part "Sideload the app for a user"\"Sideload the app for all users", inaddition, you can refer to the "Use a sideloading product key" if you have some confusions about the product key)

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-in/windows/jj874388.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

The following link can also be helpful for you

Sideloading Store Apps to Windows 8.1 Devices (it lists Sideloading Licensing Requirements and technical requirements)

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/micham/archive/2014/05/30/sideloading-store-apps-to-windows-8-1-devices.aspx

Regards