Activation Key

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Please redirect this content to appropriate department in AutoDesk if it is not handled by you.

We hold a standalone perpetual license of AutoCAD Mechanical.

We are trying to activate the product and all available options shown on the screen are blocked by Autodesk servers.

Autodesk servers intentionally are blocking activation for older product and ultimately preventing license holder from using the software.

Copyright and Licensing laws are not supporting such practice and Autodesk putting himself in a difficult position if continues to do so.

No one objects to security measures in place to protect their property and control the licensing in use.

But they cannot intentionally break the system to prevent legitimate license holder from using their software.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation,

Get my contact info from my profile and contact me for product activation,

Otherwise the next step for us would be taking legal action, and Autodesk would be no different than Apple (battery scandal) or Volkswagen (emissions scandal)

Also all avenues to contact AutoDesk are closed one way or the other, including all phone numbers and email addresses that is why this is posted here.

[rkmcswain]

We are users like you. Contact your reseller or Autodesk directly if needed.

Activations are no longer available for most Autodesk software version 2010 and earlier, regardless if you believe you had purchased a perpetual license.

Sometime next year, most Autodesk software version 2016 and earlier will be added to this list.

More info.

You might look in this forum for others like you. Some of them have been discussing class action legal action.

[Anonymous]

In my case the reseller is no longer in business and I cannot any contact number for AutoDesk.

All of their phone number listed in the past or even on those curently listed on their website, goes to dead end messaging system only.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous 

Welcome to the Autodesk User's Community..

What version are you talking about for AutoCAD Mechanical?

Also activation (outside of version 2010 or earlier) of your product is only possible based on the history of the serial #.

You can chat with an Autodesk agent here: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/contact-support/installation-activation

[Anonymous]

It is AutoCad Mechanical 2006.

The License has been with the company from day one and purchased form authorized reseller of the time "insight".

The SN has been activated couple of times, due to hardware failure.

The same has happened last week, hardware failed, which we replaced the hardware and need to reactivate the software. 

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous 

Yeah of Aug 31 2019, activation of product version 2010 or earlier are unable to be activated anymore as @rkmcswain  provided.

[rkmcswain]

@mikeb wrote:

It is AutoCad Mechanical 2006.

The License has been with the company from day one and purchased form authorized reseller of the time "insight".

The SN has been activated couple of times, due to hardware failure.

The same has happened last week, hardware failed, which we replaced the hardware and need to reactivate the software. 

Join the club. You're not alone.

Note:. @RobDraw has said (here) that "people are still getting activation codes but they have contacted Autodesk directly" - so you might try that. 

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Yeeeeyyyy,

I got the activation code.

Solution:

Send customersupport@autodesk.com an email containing:

1. Product Information
2. The Serial Number
3. The request code (all these 1, 2, 3 can be copy and paste from activation window that pops up)
4. A copy of your license agreement or a simple sentence highlighting your "RIGHT OF USE"
5. Include a nice cover letter (or in my case not so nice) referring to AutoDesk deliberate blockage of the system and interruption of your business.

Keep in mind; User license, Serial Number and Product are always good as new. They do not become obsolete. AutoDesk himself has decided to obsolete his activation servers. And under the law he is obliged to provide alternative method for end users to practice their right of use.

In this case they will end up issuing the code manually and “provide the support our users deserve”.

AutoDesk will lose any battle court on very simple principals of licensing and copyright law. They should have not sought such a greedy and illegitimate way of business.

In my case couple of things are assured:

1. As long as I am complying with the license agreement, AutoDesk have to comply as well which means I am entitled to use my license which means they have to provide the activation code.
2. I had 3 days of business interruption and frustration on AutoDesk website. Someone will pay the price, as my next purchases would not go to AutoDesk.

[RobDraw]

It's good to see verification of what others have said about being able to get reauthorization, items 1 thru 4. The color commentary was boring.

[Neil_Cross]

---

@Anonymous wrote:  Someone will pay the price, as my next purchases would not go to AutoDesk.

---

Sorry just checking... that statement you wrote there... you haven't upgraded this license in 15 years but you want Autodesk to feel like they've just lost a purchase? Can't quite wrap my head around the angle you're coming from there.

[Anonymous]

He said "next purchases", indicating that for any future software needs he will go to a competitor.

[Neil_Cross]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

He said "next purchases", indicating that for any future software needs he will go to a competitor.

---

Indeed, and his last purchase was evidently in 2005 and it's now 2020... so it just seems like a bit of a comically empty threat to be making given the circumstances. 

You could speculate they've bought other Autodesk software in that time but that's very unlikely, you tend to have everything at one platform level.

I used to work in CAD software sales, and for multiple reasons based on what's here... this type of lead would be one the sales team would gladly pass on and let go to a competitor.

[Anonymous]

I mean, nobody here cares what software he buys or doesn't buy, Autodesk reps least of all, so I just ignore everything non-technical issue-related.

It is good to know however that he WAS able to get an activation code in the end; sounds like those activation servers that were retired aren't quite retired just yet, after all.

[Neil_Cross]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I mean, nobody here cares what software he buys or doesn't buy

---

Well he does, he's throwing ultimatums around over exactly that.

FYI I pitched the original question to him, so I don't particularly want to get into a lengthy argument with you over anything.

[Anonymous]

Hi All,
I am not sure why this part of my post has grabbed attention today after so long.
But for those who need clarification:

* I do have other licenses purchased till very last moment which Autodesk was offering perpetual licenses.

* Philosophy of private own company is "buy to own". So each time, instead of investing on maintenance support or upgrade fee, we paid a little bit extra and bought a new license. Which means as of today, instead of having one "Up to Date License" we have 12 licenses which are all good as what they are. Keep in mind when a software is released it is announced to be THE BEST EVER. So I have 12 of the best ever as they have been claimed at the time. Versus having only one best as of today. And each company there are junior guys and senior guys, and simple tasks and complicated task, so we hand each license accordingly.

* AutoDesk knows my account and my undeniable ground on "RIGHT TO USE", so they made the right move to provide me with activation code.

* And most likely AutoDesk have seen that in past few years of introducing subscription model, they are not getting my business me and it is all going to competitor.

* In fact few days ago, they did a follow up call with me in respect to this post and also offering me to get up to date. But all they were offering was subscription model and no perpetual licensing, which was rejected right there.

[Neil_Cross]

Well, nobody actually owns their software so without being an attorney, maybe there's a bunch of different laws governing right to use software you don't own.  I genuinely don't know, waiting on a call put into the legal team for comment.

[Anonymous]

I am sure you as well as others understood what I mean by "OWN" , but no problem, let me clarify that as following.
I have agreed and signed (some physically signature and some electronically) license agreements. As long as I am compiling to the licensing terms and regulations outlined in the signed document, the other party (Autodesk) MUST comply with his obligations respectively. There is no EXPIRATEION or OBSOLOTE term in any of such license document to revoke my "right of use".
If you have clear books on your license ownership and purchase document, have no worry of anything, the law is with you. Ask for your activation code.
If your license is coming from a shady avenue, then, sorry they can play a game with you as you have no ground.

[Neil_Cross]

I understand your point of view, I really do.

And yes you're right that there is no expiration or obsolete term in the license document to revoke your right of use.

There's also no 'we must provide unlimited timeless activation codes forever' term in there to invoke that right of use indefinitely forever.  This would all have to be argued in court, and a company like Autodesk doesn't make a decision like this unless it's legally water tight so... I dunno, I hear what you're saying but it's also unreasonable to expect software to last forever.  There comes a time when something in the chain just isn't there anymore and the software just physically can't work, whether it be the old dongles, floppy disk drives, something goes and nothing lasts forever it's impossible.

Anyway, circles, glad you got your code but I'm personally fully supportive of the retirement plan.

[Anonymous]

Lets not play with words
There is an obvious difference between "SOMETHING IN THE CHAIN JUST ISN'T THERE ANYMORE" and AutoDesk deliberate act of "PULLING THE PLUG".
That is called sabotaging the system and falls in the same category of TIME BOMB. Both are considered as illegal under copyright and licensing law.
Software industry has seen greedy corporation like this before as well, and that is why term like TIME BOMB has created and condemn in court fully in support of end users.

[Neil_Cross]

This isn't a copyright issue.

Anyway, as much as I enjoy as good back and forth this isn't going to achieve anything.

Just have a think about this, where does the line get drawn? When you bought that license, did you expect Autodesk to still be activating it 150 years later? If the answer is yes, I did the right thing in bowing out here.  If the answer is no, then I guess we can compromise on the fact that indeed at some point a line has to be drawn in the sand with old licenses.