90-Day Fixed Term Licenses (for Max & Maya)

[Hirazi Blue]

From CGChannel:

Autodesk has introduced new 90-day licences for 3ds Max and Maya, priced at $199 each (...) only available in the US and Canada. The offer is only guaranteed to run until 31 March 2013, but there is no time limit on activating each licence.

The FAQ can be found here.

I really do not know what to make of this...

[Bullit]

Good news. The more flexibility the better. Should be for all software including Softimage.

[Letterbox]

yes it's good news, but the small print is the killer. Only the US / Canada, and only one per customer. So yes if you want two freelancers ,your out of luck.

I just wish they'd realize the annoyance of wanting to hire some freelancer in say South America for a project, only for that lic to be "locked in" to that location, and not transferable to another freelancer who's in iceland. They bad for those countries, bad for those freelancers, bad for business. They haven't yet figured out the working world has changed.

But at least with this someone is starting to wake up and smell the coffee. I'm not going to do the usual and hit them up for why no soft / motionbuilder/ mud etc, stronger coffee needed.

[Hirazi Blue]

It’s true there would be some obvious benefits to this new concept and (as always) also some important restrictions. What confuses is me, however, is the introduction of this whole concept ("at all") and the timing of it (just before the publishing of the Third Quarter Results - or is that reading too much into it?). Important to note, also: The way they put it in the aforementioned FAQ, this merely appears to be intended as a “paid demo”, not as a potential life-saver for small shops to add a temporary seat on a per-project basis:

The Autodesk 3ds Max or Autodesk Maya 90-day fixed term license cannot be renewed or upgraded. After it expires, you will need to decide if you want to purchase a full, commercial license in order to continue to enjoy the benefits of using Autodesk 3ds Max 2013 or Autodesk Maya 2013 software.

[BenR]

The way they put it in the aforementioned FAQ, this merely appears to be intended as a “paid demo”, not as a potential life-saver for small shops to add a temporary seat on a per-project basis:

I think that's exactly what it is. Compared with the free demo, it's 90 days instead of 30 and commercial use is permitted.

[talent103]

I know a few design houses that would get that so I could work in house in XSI. Um If it were available for XSI.

[luceric]

The way they put it in the aforementioned FAQ, this merely appears to be intended as a “paid demo”, not as a potential life-saver for small shops to add a temporary seat on a per-project basis:

I think that's exactly what it is. Compared with the free demo, it's 90 days instead of 30 and commercial use is permitted.

you can't use the trial license for commercial work, so using them for that was illegal. http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc ... d=18270122 This one could be just like renting maya for 3 months. But bizarrely at this point it's a one shot deal per client and not renewable. so it doesn't seem super super useful...

[pluMmet]

I have been wondering if I took a laptop that had an AD licensed program with me (I'm in U.S.A.) on vacation to the EU or Australia what does the license say about using the program? What if I move to another country? Also is there an International License and how much are they?

[xsisupport]

I have been wondering if I took a laptop that had an AD licensed program with me (I'm in U.S.A.) on vacation to the EU or Australia what does the license say about using the program? What if I move to another country? Also is there an International License and how much are they?

Read the license agreement.

2.1.3 Territory. Except as otherwise authorized in writing by Autodesk, the licenses granted in this Agreement are granted only for the Territory. Nothing in this Agreement permits Licensee (including, without limitation, Licensee’s Personnel, if any) to Install or Access the Licensed Materials outside of the Territory.

Extra-territory usage is a subscription benefit:

Extra Territory Rights – Allows usage of a license outside of the country of purchase for up to 90 days per a year. This benefit can be used by End Users. No companion license would be needed, however if installing outside the country of purchase and requiring a manual install, explanation of benefit may be needed.

[Letterbox]

I knew that Stephen, not having a go at you. But the Extra-territory usage is a joke, and it's only done to seemingly appease, whereas in reality its utterly useless.

Look at Vimeo, look at how good people are scattered all over the globe. Even Redi-Vivus has had downloads from over 64 countries, we don't restrict people based on location, colour or creed.

Personally I find no good honest reason for this practice, except that any company that restricts people in this day and age, does not really care about it's users, their employment, their future, the community, and no matter how much PR spin they put on it, their true nature is clearly shown in this style licensing, money.

To hire these people, whom have educated themselves and are now starting to become freelancers is actually impossible. Given the economic climate, Autodesk or any company for that matter should hang their head in shame, by having draconian licensing restrictions, not allowing these honest and hard working people a fair and legal way to earn a living.

Nor restricting employers from hiring the best talent, given that often people DON'T want to, or cant, abandon their family or country, and are looking to further their careers by freelancing to gain experience.

I also state that Apple, Samsung, Microsoft etc, do NOT bar you from using your phone, your laptop, on entry to another country, most will even service it under an international warranty. I wouldn't imaging they would last very long as a company, nor have a loyal userbase, if they started implementing these type of draconian restrictions.

FWD this to Carl Bass, to clue him in, because no matter who the new employee is to 'Spin it' that AD is a nice company, until the above is addressed in a fair and equitable manner for users, and for work methods that are relevant to this century, that new Spin Doctor wont change a god-damn thing.

[Bullit]

Yeah Autodesk is pretty stupid with this kind of stuff.

[bottleofram]

It's all because of this retailer supply model and the territory based pricing structure. If you were allowed to use software outside of your defined territory, a good chunk of customers would not even think of buying from a local retailer but rather import from the lowest priced area.

Oh, but that would make way too much sense, so... shhhhhh

[Bellsey]

ok, to chime in here, and I not going to try and 'spin' things either, nor do I want to start lengthy debate......the licensing/EULA is what it is and what Autodesk do isn't that different to many other software vendors. Although, yes, there are some who are more flexible, or they're learned to quickly adapt to be more flexible.

And I think adapation is the key here. The way software is sold, licenses and used has remained the same for some years now, though it's clear that these models don't entirely work as they used to, in this (for want of a better word) modern era. And Autodesk aren't blind to this either, the very idea of a fixed term 90 day license or Extra-territory usage, would of been something that Autodesk probably wouldn't even of entertained a few years back.
So I think these are good signs (maybe), that they are adapting and offering more services to its customers, be it slowly but surely though, lol.

With Autodesk, I've always made the analogy that they can be like an oil tanker. Both are big things and in most cases don't exactly change their course on a sixpence, but when they do, it's usually in the right direction.

On the particular point of Extra-territory usage, or offsite, I think this is a really useful feature. For example, with the amount of previs being done now, and on set also, then being able to take software usage offsite is very useful to some people. In many ways it's similar to the home usage that also is a benefit to customers on Subscription. It's way more easier then trying to cut separate licenses for people, which then can go out of sync with their own software and usage management.

[Hirazi Blue]

While we're at it: how does the worldwide AD online store go together with original retailer supply model? With a strict "reseller is the only seller" policy, one could easily or at least more easily defend the notion "usage in territory you purchased the software in only". Doesn't this change (on a vague fundamental level, that obviously has no bearing in the real world) once AD starts selling its software online worldwide as well?

[Letterbox]

Bellsey, I can see the point of the ET subs addon, but it doesn't work.

Take a person in Canada, a great person, a great talent, he gets hired by a Spanish Company, but he cant work in Spain he's not European. So they buy him XSI for him, now if he leaves them, there is no way for the Spanish company to 'reclaim' that license, ie its stuck in Canada. But they need to replace him with someone, the next best is in Brazil, technically they cant transfer it there, either. So now they have legally purchased something that's completely useless, and they have no way to use it. Can anyone honestly call that fair?

This is the fundamental reason I say its an old and utterly outdated system, it penalizes the company, the talent, to the point where people (esp freelancers) don't get jobs unless their local, and you see that all the time.

Similarly back to the original point of the $199 option, as I said a great idea, but again I don't believe it was thought through, what if you wanted a modeler AND a rigging TD, the only one per customer kills it as a useful meaningful addition... so either it doesn't happen, or one of them loses out on a job. It would have been more useful like Adobe's where you not limited in hiring freelancers / licenses - ie you pay - you decide.

As said, Bellsey and you should try it as an exercise, next time you travel, from LHR or Waterloo, when you get where you're going, imagine that you cant use or even take your phone and/or laptop, and thus it's not allowed for you to even check email/messages - until your return. I think you'd honestly say, that's not acceptable in this day and age. And you'd demand change too.

The ultimate irony to me is that if it was done you'd get more copies sold. Be it full or $199 versions. Go figure.

[Bellsey]

In the situation you mention, I believe it's possible that a customer can request for a license(s) to be transferred.

I'm not sure comparing hardware usage to software usage is really an entirely fair comparison. And even then its not entirely fair, as call/data charges aren't the same and in fact in some cases insanely high, even within the EU.
But even though you can use hardware in different countries, it doesn't always mean the warranty is always valid.
It's the web that allows me to connect to things like email (even without VPN), not necessarily the specific device. And in that context, I guess that's where the....'cough'.....the cloud comes in.

I get what you mean though, but these seem like just 'baby steps' for Autodesk right now.