Autodesk as a software vendor is mostly known for its AutoCAD and Revit 2D and 3D CAD software. Recently they announced that as of January 31st or July 31st 2016 – depending on the product – Autodesk will no longer offer perpetual licensing.
Subscription based
Some of the Autodesk software, such as the AutoCAD Design Suite and the AutoCAD Revit LT Suite, are subscription based today. The reason Autodesk offers subscription based licensing is clear and simple: new versions are published more rapidly, customers do no longer want huge upfront investments in software licenses and – at last but not least – customers want to work beyond the desktop, in the cloud. In 2016 all of the Autodesk software will be subscription based. Despite the new licensing model users of Autodesk software will have the benefits they are used to, such as accessing multiple products and share licenses.
Choice
Customers will have a choice between monthly, quarterly, annual or multiyear subscriptions. Beside the desktop subscriptions Autodesk offers cloud bases subscriptions as well. The good news is that customers who buy perpetual licenses before January 31st or July 31st 2016 will continue to own and have the full use rights for their software. Customers with a maintenance subscription will receive software updates as long as they continue their maintenance subscription. No plans to end that at the side of Autodesk today.
SAM database
The changes in licensing model by Autodesk means that customers who have effective Software Asset Management or – as part of SAM – a license database must do some homework. Subscription based licensing requires some changes to SAM and the license database (example, an installation key or dongle no longer exists and subscriptions have to be assigned to users).
Useful links
Here are some useful links for more information about the changes Autodesk is making:
Current desktop subscription models by Autodesk
Autodesk products of which perpetual licensing ends by January 31st 2016
Autodesk products of which perpetual licensing ends by July 31st 2016
Information about Software Asset Management and license databases