V5 Licensing Question - Annual Update Subscription

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arschr
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# Posted on: 27-Apr-2016 17:38:42   

V5 includes "1-year updates subscription" This is a change from previous licenses. What should I expect the annual amount for the update subscription to be?

If I let this expire, do I lose access to new updates on the last version I received while this was in effect?

Otis avatar
Otis
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# Posted on: 27-Apr-2016 18:10:13   

arschr wrote:

V5 includes "1-year updates subscription" This is a change from previous licenses. What should I expect the annual amount for the update subscription to be?

199,=. It's the same as before, only before we didn't have a strict 'we'll release a new version to which you have to upgrade' policy every year, so if it took 2 years or more, you'd get 2 years of upgrades for the price of the license and then paid for an upgrade to the new major version. Now you get free updates for a year and if you want to keep receiving new updates you have to extend your subscription with another year.

If I let this expire, do I lose access to new updates on the last version I received while this was in effect?

No, a subscription is simply the right to receive and keep using new builds released after RTM. The license with the subscription is usable with all binaries released prior to the expiration date, even after the expiration date. So a simple example: if your subscription runs out on May 1st 2017, and we release 5.1.2 on April 30th 2017 you are able to use 5.1.2 forever, as the license itself is perpetual. However, if we release 5.1.3, after May 1st, 2017, you can't use that build with your expired subscription.

So it's equal to what control vendors do, not what Adobe and Jetbrains do simple_smile

Hope this helps clear things up simple_smile I think the sentence ', even after the expiration date' should be added to the FAQ on the website, as it's currently missing and can be ambiguous.

Frans Bouma | Lead developer LLBLGen Pro
arschr
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# Posted on: 27-Apr-2016 20:54:05   

I think 1) on the upgrade page, you should make clear that with V5 you are moving from a "pay for major version" model to a "annual subscription" for all versions while the subscription is active model. 2) indicate clearly, for both upgrades and new purchasers, what the (current) annual subscription price will be (after the included first year) 3) indicate if a subscription can be reactivated if it is allowed to expire (and at what penalty)

No, a subscription is simply the right to receive and keep using new builds released after RTM. The license with the subscription is usable with all binaries released prior to the expiration date, even after the expiration date.

Let me see if I understand, assume I have an active subscription that expires 2017-05-01 1) on 2017-04-30 version 5.3.2 is released. My subscription would give me perpetual access to it. I do not renew my subscription 2) on 2017-05-15 version 5.3.3 is released, I would not have access to it 3) on 2017-05-15 version 5.4.0 is also released, , I would not have access to it 4) on 2017-09-15 version 6.0.0 is released. I would have to pay the full purchase price, because I had no active subscription.

Otis avatar
Otis
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# Posted on: 27-Apr-2016 21:33:34   

arschr wrote:

I think 1) on the upgrade page, you should make clear that with V5 you are moving from a "pay for major version" model to a "annual subscription" for all versions while the subscription is active model. 2) indicate clearly, for both upgrades and new purchasers, what the (current) annual subscription price will be (after the included first year) 3) indicate if a subscription can be reactivated if it is allowed to expire (and at what penalty)

Great points! We'll look into describing this more clearly a.s.a.p.! simple_smile

No, a subscription is simply the right to receive and keep using new builds released after RTM. The license with the subscription is usable with all binaries released prior to the expiration date, even after the expiration date.

Let me see if I understand, assume I have an active subscription that expires 2017-05-01 1) on 2017-04-30 version 5.3.2 is released. My subscription would give me perpetual access to it. I do not renew my subscription 2) on 2017-05-15 version 5.3.3 is released, I would not have access to it 3) on 2017-05-15 version 5.4.0 is also released, , I would not have access to it 4) on 2017-09-15 version 6.0.0 is released. I would have to pay the full purchase price, because I had no active subscription.

Yes. Btw, if 6.0 is released within the subscription, it's of course accessible to you.

You brought up a great point, which we totally overlooked: renewal is currently set to 199 whether you have an active or not active subscription. This is indeed not really the same thing. We'll have to ponder on a period of time after expiration where you can upgrade on the normal upgrade price and otherwise you have to pay a penalty.

thanks for the feedback, great points!

Frans Bouma | Lead developer LLBLGen Pro
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# Posted on: 28-Apr-2016 12:40:33   

Pages updated, hopefully it's now more clear. We decided renewing subscriptions is possible for the upgrade fee whether they're expired or not.

Frans Bouma | Lead developer LLBLGen Pro
arschr
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# Posted on: 28-Apr-2016 14:43:41   

We decided renewing subscriptions is possible for the upgrade fee whether they're expired or not.

Again to make sure I am understanding. I Purchase upgrade 2016-06-01; Subscription expires 1 year from purchase date (2017-05-31) I don't renew my subscription until a new major version is release on 2018-09-01. At this time, I pay a single subscription renewal price and am able to receive the new major version and upgrades from 2018-09-01 to 2019-08-31

Otis avatar
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# Posted on: 28-Apr-2016 15:43:46   

Yes. We decided against a penalty as it would become rather tedious for people with multiple subscriptions and different enddates. So as it is now, where a v4.2 license bought in 2014 also gives you upgrade rights to v5/subscription.

Frans Bouma | Lead developer LLBLGen Pro
JayBee
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# Posted on: 11-May-2016 22:18:04   

I prefer the previously used pricing. However, it would be nice if one could buy a subscription for more than 1 year, e.g. 2 or 3 years, preferably with some rebate.

Regards, Jan

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# Posted on: 11-May-2016 22:55:07   

The upgrade is currently annually, we'll look into longer subscriptions for people who have problems renewing subscriptions due to office policies, at a later date. Keep in mind that a license doesnt' expire, so an expired subscription doesn't mean you can't use the license anymore, you just can't get any new upgrades.

Frans Bouma | Lead developer LLBLGen Pro
JayBee
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# Posted on: 19-Oct-2016 20:31:26   

Is there any news on new renewal offerings?

Otis avatar
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# Posted on: 19-Oct-2016 21:35:46   

JayBee wrote:

Is there any news on new renewal offerings?

There's no news as in: we won't add new policies: the renewal is yearly.

Frans Bouma | Lead developer LLBLGen Pro