John, here in the UK I can buy OEM copies because I have an account with my local computer component shop, and I'm known to them as a computer builder. The 'rule' is that I should buy hardware at the same time as the OEM copy to qualify, although they aren't too insistent as I'm in there regularly.

It is a genuine, sealed copy complete with case sticker and genuine CD Rom, but no manuals, retail packaging, etc. Nothing dodgy! It does make me first in line for Tech Support on those machines that I sell or upgrade. It has never been a problem, though.

I think that you need to be a registered 'Microsoft Partner' to get the academic versions, but I may be wrong.