AutoCAD 2019 showing "Student Version - Plot Stamp Detected"

[jeremy.simons]

We are having issues with the new AutoCAD 2019, some files are showing "Student Version - Plot Stamp Detected". This only shows when opening these files in AutoCAD 2019, previous versions (2017 & 2014) do not show this message. 

I did an update to AutoCAD 2019 to the latest version (P.61.0.0 AutoCAD 2019.0.1), this stopped the message in one file, however the message now appears in a different file. I have confirmed this is an issue on all machines and not just one.

The file was created in a full version of AutoCAD 2014, there has never been any student versions used at all.

john.vellek has embedded your image(s) for clarity

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @jeremy.simons,

I suspect a block or something got imported from a file that originated from a student license.  The software will not create the watermark without  such data being involved.

Autodesk does not support the removal of watermarks from designs created using software licensed by students or educators through Education Community. This software cannot be used for commercial, professional or any other for-profit purposes. It is intended that this watermark promote legitimate use of AutoCAD software licensed by students and educators through the Autodesk Education Community and any action to bypass the watermark is not permitted. Please see the following FAQ for more information and feel free to let me know if you have any further questions.

[GrantsPirate]

Autodesk went back to the EDU stamp for 2019.  As noted by John V. the 2019 commercial release doesn't add those, only the student releases.  Any thing saved in the student release will add the stamp.  Any old EDU drawings will now show the stamp where the last several would not. 

Edited by
Discussion_Admin.

[jeremy.simons]

That doesn't add up. Why would AutoCAD 2019 stop showing that message in one file after an AutoCAD update and then start showing that message in another file that has nothing to do with the previous one?

Also no one has ever had any student version and it was ALL created in a full version professional license. There has been no downloading of any block from anywhere. We create all of our own blocks.

[GrantsPirate]

Someone on your end brought in or downloaded something that had been made with the education stamp.  Autodesk used to have a method for getting rid of the problem but you have to contact them...

[gotphish001]

This sounds like it could be pretty bad for some companies. What if you had 2015 that shows no edu stamp. You don't realize but somewhere along the lines you download a block that was made in an edu version. You'd have no way to catch it since 2015 didn't warn you and why check when it doesn't have a watermark. There would be no need to check. You use that bloc on 2015, 2016,2017, and 2018 autocad on all your companies projects. Now in 2019 SUPRISE! all your drawings can't be printed because they all have that block in it. 

[dgorsman]

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@gotphish001 wrote:

This sounds like it could be pretty bad for some companies. What if you had 2015 that shows no edu stamp. You don't realize but somewhere along the lines you download a block that was made in an edu version. You'd have no way to catch it since 2015 didn't warn you and why check when it doesn't have a watermark. There would be no need to check. You use that bloc on 2015, 2016,2017, and 2018 autocad on all your companies projects. Now in 2019 SUPRISE! all your drawings can't be printed because they all have that block in it. 

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This is different from the old EDU stamp, and most of the contaminated content out there is from the old flag system.  This would be coming from student licenses on the newest versions, so I don't think many will be caught out right away.  Won't take too long to get caught up with the new flag if they aren't careful.

[maratovich]

This message is saved inside the file. Makes it all open at the same time.
Edited by
Discussion_Admin

[cadffm]

Not forgotten, extra designed. See the Link above.

Save file in commercial license 2014 (?)-2018 deleted them.

2019 shows the older Edu stamp ... - 2013
and the new one 2019.

-

In earlier versions you copied the stamp by copy and paste into another file, or by insert as block.

2019 does that not!
It is only in the file which was saves with edu version.
Copy or insert with commercial version dont copy the stamp.

Thank you John for the Link.

[cadffm]

You can not store (or better not hide) these Info in DXF, so the flag is running away,

earlier -2013 and today  2019-

Or saving with version 2014(?)-2018, for example the DXGconvert Tool inside the DWG TrueView pre 2019

[jeremy.simons]

I have tracked when the file started to show this behavior. on 4/04/18 it was fine, on 4/05/18 it started to show this message. There was only 6 objects added to the file. Please note these objects are copies of what was already in the file. I copied these objects to a new file and saved. I open that new file and no message. I copied everything in the affected file into a new file, save, close, open and no message.  

So this must be a programming issue on Autodesks part. 

So what is going on here? What you say is causing it is not the case. 

This is a major issue that needs to be address and looked into.

[cadffm]

Last save in program version 2014-2018 delete stamp info, so it must happend in 2019 version.

If you are sure that no one can edit the file in a student version 2019, 2013 or older between date 4.04.18 and 4.05.18, it is a case for autodesk.

Escalate the thread or open a support case via your account.

Good: you have both files, before and after the <whatever>.

If it isnt a problem, please post both files here (or for me as mail if not for public).

Someone can check the file deeper than you, autodesk surely.

[john.vellek]

Jeremy, is it possible to share the two versions of the file so I can look?  If they need to be private, please email them to me at john.vellek@autodesk.com.  Please include a link to this thread in your email as well.

[jeremy.simons]

Update for everyone, I have sent my files to John and he hasn't seen any Educational Watermark on any of those files. I believe he has sent those files to his team to look into them further.

[john.vellek]

HI @jeremy.simons,

Please tell me, do you have any third party software in this mix?  I know that there is one application that uses the OPEN DWG format and their code seems to have some errors which triggers the EDU watermark.

[jeremy.simons]

No third party software involved.

[john.vellek]

Hi @jeremy.simons,

I did look at your files and one clearly showed the Watermark. The question was why it was showing up when you had only modified the drawing slightly. The team took a hard look at your drawings and analyzed the original creation dates as these never get updated.  Both files came from AutoCAD 2000 and were saved in 2000 format.

They have been able to verify that at some point in their lifetime, they had EDU content which caused the watermark to exist.  For several years, Autodesk turned off the display of  the watermark and that is why the problem has not arisen until now with AutoCAD 2019 the watermark feature has been re-enabled.

I am not at liberty to explain why one watermark did not show up and the other did, but the team did verify this data and the application is not creating watermarks on its own.

I hope this helps to explain what has occurred with the files.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[jeremy.simons]

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@john.vellekwrote:

Hi @jeremy.simons,

I did look at your files and one clearly showed the Watermark. The question was why it was showing up when you had only modified the drawing slightly. The team took a hard look at your drawings and analyzed the original creation dates as these never get updated.  Both files came from AutoCAD 2000 and were saved in 2000 format.

They have been able to verify that at some point in their lifetime, they had EDU content which caused the watermark to exist.  For several years, Autodesk turned off the display of  the watermark and that is why the problem has not arisen until now with AutoCAD 2019 the watermark feature has been re-enabled.

I am not at liberty to explain why one watermark did not show up and the other did, but the team did verify this data and the application is not creating watermarks on its own.

I hope this helps to explain what has occurred with the files.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

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Why are you not at liberty to say why the one file did not have the watermark and the other file did? It sounds to me like there is an issue with the software and you are not allowed to admit it, which I do understand because Autodesk doesn't want to admit that the expensive software has a major flaw in it. If it was an object in the file, the message would have showed up in the new file that was created that had all contents copied from the infected file to the new one. 

You said at some point in its lifetime that the file acquired that watermark, but if it did it would have shown up in both files dated on 4/04/18 when it was fine, and on 4/05/18 when it started to show this message. 

Your explanation gives no answers on why this is happening. Would you please give me the contact information to someone that can actually help me with this issue.

Thank you for your time.

[GrantsPirate]

I don't think there is a conspiracy here, he can't tell you the details because it will give away to others how to circumvent the EDU stamp and / or other Autodesk confidential information.  Clean the drawings up and move one.

[jeremy.simons]

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@GrantsPiratewrote:

I don't think there is a conspiracy here, he can't tell you the details because it will give away to others how to circumvent the EDU stamp and / or other Autodesk confidential information.  Clean the drawings up and move one.

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I appreciate your PM and offering a workaround for the issue.

I have cleaned up drawings, however when there are random appearances of these messages when there clearly should not be, the real issue needs to be dealt with and figured out. Autodesk doesn't know what is causing it as of yet and ignoring the issue won't fix things.

If you have nothing constructive to add to the discussion then there is no need to post anything.