Microsoft asks that you activate your product to verify that your installation is done with a genuine Microsoft product. When you activate your product, no personal information will be sent to Microsoft. Activation may be completely anonymous. The only information you are required to provide to activate your product is your country/region.
During activation, the Office Activation Wizard creates a unique hardware identification that represents the configuration of your PC at the time of activation. The hardware identification does not include any personal information, any information about software or data that may reside on your PC, or any information about the specific make or model of your PC. The hardware identification identifies only the PC solely for the purpose of activation. The Office Activation Wizard can detect and tolerate changes to your PC configuration. Minor upgrades will not require re-activation. If you completely overhaul your PC, you may be required to activate your product again.
During activation, you may also provide your personal contact information (e.g. name and address) if you want to register your product with Microsoft. If you choose to register your product, the personal contact information that you provide will be securely stored by Microsoft and will be protected from disclosure to third parties without your consent.
If you choose to register your product, you will have the opportunity to decide whether you want to receive special offers. If you select the option "Receive offers from Microsoft" during activation, Microsoft will send you information about Microsoft products and services. If you do not want to receive this information, do not select the "Receive offers from Microsoft" option. If you select the option "Receive offers from Microsoft on related third-party products and services" during activation, Microsoft will carefully select other companies to send you information. If you do not want Microsoft to do this, do not select the "Receive offers from Microsoft on related third-party products and services" option.
To ensure that the information you provide to Microsoft through the Office Activation Wizard is correct, you can review and update this information by contacting Microsoft at any time. In some Office products you may use the Office Activation Wizard to do this over the Internet or by telephone. If these options are not available to you, you may update or change any information you provided by sending a description of changes you would like made and your Product ID (found in the dialog box displayed when you click the About command on the Help menu of any Office application) to the address below. You may also contact the Customer Service Center nearest you. Microsoft will update your information to reflect any corrections or changes you would like to make. It is important that you provide your Product ID so that Microsoft can accurately identify your activation record.
If you believe that Microsoft has not adhered to these privacy principles, please notify Microsoft by postal mail at the following address:
Microsoft will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly determine and correct the problem.