Autodesk to do away with perpetual licensing

An American multinational software corporation, Autodesk that makes software for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, and entertainment industries has recently decided transitioning from perpetual software license to subscription-based options. For many individual desktop software products, Autodesk will end the sale of new perpetual licenses after January 31, 2016. Autodesk plans to discontinue the sale of new perpetual licenses in all countries globally where Autodesk software is available for most individual desktop software products like 3ds Max, 3ds Max with Softimage, Auto- CAD, AutoCAD for Mac and many more. Autodesk customers have long asked for greater flexibility and more value from their software, and the shift to Desktop Subscription allows Autodesk to deliver both. With Desktop Subscription customer get a simplified product management and deployment experience. Plus, it’s easier to introduce new tools or a greater number of seats into a project with lower upfront cost and the ability to pay.

Commenting on the move, Pankaj Gauba, Country Manager Channels - India & SAARC said, “Autodesk’s leadership position has been earned through many “firsts” and on-going innovation over the past 30 years – first mainstream CAD product with AutoCAD, first to introduce BIM to the market, first to offer a cloud-based PLM and simulation solution and now the first to develop full blown CAD in the cloud. The gradual transitioning to subscription-only model is another in the series that will benefit the business and consumers interests alike. Autodesk is committed to finding solutions that will ease the transition to subscription-based models. Throughout this transition, we will work with our partners and customers to ensure that these changes donot prevent the purchase and use of Autodesk software.”

Autodesk is also taking care about those costumers already has a perpetual license or purchases a new perpetual license at any time through Jan 31, 2016, that license doesn’t go away. They still retain the perpetual license to that software and can continue to use it in accordance with their perpetual license agreement. If the software product is covered by Maintenance Subscription, they will also continue to receive their Maintenance Subscription benefits. Autodesk is doing several things to make the transition to Desktop Subscription as smooth as possible for customers. They are providing the time needed to assess options and make plans by providing a full year of advance notice of changes to come. Also Autodesk allows Maintenance Subscribers to continue to renew their Maintenance Subscriptions and receive/access the benefits of their Maintenance Subscription. They also provides the ability to lock in your subscription rate by introducing the option of a multiyear Desktop Subscription offering.