AutoCAD LT 2016 Standalone License And Version 2017?

[Anonymous]

Hello,

  Late last year we purchased a perpetual, standalone license for AutoCAD LT 2016. My assumption was that we could operate 2016 forever, without further fees. I recently recieved a notice that a new version is available. It appears that v 2017 (with different serial number/key) can be downloaded, but I haven't attempted to D/L. We did purchase the mandatory 1 year maintenance plan.

  If I download and upgrade, would that, in effect, cause a payment due or cause us to loose our perpetual license and move us to a subscription-based license by default? My understanding is that version 2016 was the last time a perpetual license would be offered/allowed.

  Thank you...

Paul

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[Mark.Lancaster · Accepted solution]

If you purchased the maintenance plan with it (and it hasn't expired) then yes you are entitled to use the 2016 and 2017 version without any issues or additional fees.   When the maintenance plan does expire and you don't continue with it then you're only entitled to use the 2017 verions of your product or the current version when the maintenance plan expires.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Mark.

  I appreciate your reply. If we decide to stay with 2016, not continue with the maintenance plan after it expires and version 2017 or later is the current version at the time of expiration, are we entitiled to keep using 2016?

  Thank you...

[Mark.Lancaster]

Technically no you wouldn't be able to continue using the 2016 version if your subscription ends.

But also if you don't activate the 2017 version you could continue using 2016.  However if you ever needed to activate it (the 2016 version) again (like you had to swap computers) then you wouldn't be able to do so without contacting Autodesk.  Yes it sounds confusing..  But I've been always told that if you do end your subscription then you're only entitled to use the current version.  @TravisNave can you give more details in why you could continue using the 2016 version...

[Anonymous]

Thank you again, Mark.

Paul

[TravisNave]

Mark is right.  The black and white answer is that you can only use the latest version that was under maintenance.  The grey area is that you can continue to use your last perpertual activation. 

For example, if you have AutoCAD LT 2016 under maintenance and your Subscription expired today, your last available product would be AutoCAD LT 2017 because it auto-renewed under maintenance.  Since you haven't downloaded or activated it yet, you would still be able to use the last version that you activated.  In this case it would be AutoCAD LT 2016.  On subsequent install and activation, the automatic activation would fail.  You would need to request a new activation code from Autodesk manually for that prodct.  Since the system shows that you have never activated 2017, they will give you an activation code for 2016 again.  If you ever decided to install and activate your 2017, you would no longer be able to use 2016 again unless you renewed your Subscription.

That's a mouthful isn't it?  Basically, the legal speak and what happens in practice aren't necessarily the same.  That is why the License Service Agreement allows for this in section 1.2.2.

From the 2017 LSA:

1.2.1 Effect of Upgrades. If Autodesk or a Reseller provides Licensee with an Upgrade to other Licensed Materials previously licensed to Licensee, the Licensed Materials previously licensed to Licensee and any other Autodesk Materials relating thereto will thereafter be deemed to be a “Previous Version.” Except as set forth in Section 1.2.2 (Exception for Relationship Program Licensees), the license grant and other rights with respect to any Previous Version will terminate one hundred twenty (120) days after Installation of the Upgrade. Within such one hundred twenty (120) day period, except as set forth in Section 1.2.2 (Exception for Relationship Program Licensees), (a) Licensee must cease all use of any Previous Version and Uninstall all copies of the Previous Version, and (b) upon expiration of such period, such Previous Version will no longer constitute Licensed Materials but rather will be deemed to be Excluded Materials and Licensee will no longer have a license for any such Previous Version. At Autodesk’s request, Licensee agrees to destroy or return to Autodesk or the Reseller from which they were acquired all copies of the Previous Version. Autodesk reserves the right to require Licensee to show satisfactory proof that all copies of any Previous Version have been Uninstalled and, if so requested by Autodesk, destroyed or returned to Autodesk or the Reseller from which they were acquired.

1.2.2 Exception for Relationship Program Licensees. The termination of rights as to Previous Versions described in Section 1.2.1 (Effect of Upgrades) may not apply to Licensee if and to the extent (a) Licensee participates in a Relationship Program and the Relationship Program Terms authorize Licensee to retain such Previous Versions or (b) otherwise authorized in writing by Autodesk.

Effectively, 1.2.2b allows you to continue to use your last activated license by Autodesk exception.  I have never seen them not grant this exception if the last product under expired Subscription was never activated. 

Hope that helps. 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Travis,

  Yes, that is quite a bit. While I have yet to absorb it all, I believe I understand where it is heading.

  My main concern is with the perpetual license. I guess I am wanting assurance that by upgrading to 2017, I am not trading in the perpetual license for a subscrition-based license.

   I wonder this because I believe 2017 does not offer a perpetual license as it was available (to me, at least) after January 31, 2016. I also suspect that if one allows a subscription-based license to expire without renewal, legal access to AutoCAD LT, itself, would cease. I also assume that if a pertetual license holder allows the maintence plan to expire, while they loose support, legal access/use of AutoCAD LT would not be in jeopardy.

  Thank you...

Paul

[TravisNave]

As long as you maintain your Subscription on your perpetual licenses, they
will remain perpetual forever. If it lapses though, you're cooked. 😉

[Anonymous]

Please define Subscription. We purchased a perpetual license and a 1 year maintenance agreement. It was my understanding that the maintenance agreement only provides support (and updates, I see now) while it is kept current. 

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous

A active Maintenance subscription gives you the following benefits:

1.  Upgrades to the next version and future version.  Updates to your current version are always free no matter if you have a subscription or not.

2.  Legacy usages (meaning you can use 3 versions back).

3.  90 day usages of the product in other areas of the world (traveling outside of the country where the product was purchased).

In addition when Autodesk made the decision to switch to desktop subscription/term licensing model, existing perpetual licenese will stay current as long as you keep your subscription up.  Yes if you were going to purchase LT today, you would have to purchase it as a desktop subscription.  But if you want to move up to Acad LT 2017 today you can because your perpetual license is still good becuase you have an active Maintenance subscription with it.