Restarting CAD Licenses and Subscriptions (CAD Manager's Toolbox)

22 Jul, 2009 By: Robert Green

If you need to discontinue software because of the economy, what do you do when you need it again?

I've received questions from CAD managers whose companies have had to abandon some of their CAD licenses or stop subscription contracts as a result of the poor economy. Readers wonder what will happen later, when business picks up and they want to put the abandoned licenses back in use.

To address these questions, Cadalyst Editor-in-Chief Nancy Johnson asked Angela Simoes, manager of corporate PR, channel, and education for Autodesk, to explain the company's software licensing policies. Following is a snapshot of Autodesk's policy. For more information and advice, see the full article coming later this week to Cadalyst.com.

Autodesk's Subscription and Upgrade Policies

A customer can renew a subscription agreement up to 365 days after expiration, regardless of software version. If a new version has been released since the license expired, the customer will receive the new software upon renewal.
Customers may reinstate subscriptions at any time as long as they are on the current release. A late-renewal fee will apply, but a customer can request that this fee be waived. If the software is, for example, one release behind, the customer can upgrade to the current release, then order a subscription.
If a customer is using a software version that has been retired and is no longer supported by Autodesk, the best option is the legacy program. The program allows customers to upgrade to the current version of the product for a discount and imitate a subscription if desired.

Contact Autodesk or your Autodesk reseller for more information or for guidance in finding the least expensive path back into the program.

About the Author: Robert Green

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