Autodesk - We help bring good things to an end

#1

After checking my mail this morning, i thought they may need a new tagline…

All good things must come to an end.

…as of July 13, 2006, it will no longer be possible to acquire new licenses for MotionBuilder Standard versions 5, 5.5, 6 in the event of a hardware failure, operating system reinstallation, or moving the software to a different computer.

Ya know… ZBrush is another of my favorite apps. It is affordable and on it’s way to becoming an industry standard (if it isn’t already). I bet Autodesk could easily help bring that “good thing” to an end as well :slight_smile:

#2

i just reinstalled windows and need to reinstall motionbuilder…

so if i do this again, post july 13…I’m tough out of luck???

yikes…

#3

Hi, just checked my mail too.

But I found this in the message:

“However, as of July 13, 2006, it will no longer be possible to acquire new licenses for MotionBuilder Standard versions 5, 5.5, 6 in the event of a hardware failure, operating system reinstallation, or moving the software to a different computer. Customers of Autodesk® MotionBuilder™ Standard version 7 are unaffected by these changes.”

I do have MB standard 7, so I guess they will still keep me with serials for a while in case of changing machines… Let’s see how much I can make use of it before it breaks… hopefully a couple of years more

Maybe, just an idea, you could upgrade your 5.5 or 6 license to 7. I think that only costs like $200.00 and be on the same boat.

I have a small design/multimedia business so the upgrade to pro ($1,995) is really out of the question. I only use it ocassionly to animate some characters and add a little more value to my animations. But if you are a hobbyist maybe the $200 can help you keep it longer.

I upgraded from 5.5 to 7 and really liked the small changes + the motionclip art that came bundled. I think its really worth it. Not sure about upgrading 6 to 7, since I skipped that.

Anyway, just a thought but hope it helps and maybe other people will think about it. ( I’m sure there are still a lot of 5 and 6 users there)

Best of luck to all!

fjv

#4

I appreciate the tip, Velarde =)
But I think that deal has expired now. I emailed Autodesk about upgrading to 7. They asked a few questions, and then put a dealer in touch with me. The dealer said I could only upgrade to 7.5. I don’t know why Autodesk didn’t tell me this themselves unless there are still some dealers out there offering upgrades to 7. :curious:

Autodesk did reply to my email within 4min. Have to give them credit for that… bad as i hate to :wink:

#5

I am really angry at Autodesk at this point.

Let me see. I paid for an application/upgrade and now that same application will no longer be usable by me because they will no longer issue a license should I have to reinstall (likely will happen) or upgrade my hardware (certainly will happen)…?

And all that Autodesk is saving is probably the cost of keeping a very modest license server running so I can reinstall the software I already have paid for, as 99.9999% of the software vendors do?

Never again will I buy from Autodesk if I can help it. Great way to treat customers so they can willingly pay thousands for new versions.

We should drown Autodesk with emails on this. Deplorable customer care !!

#6

I completely agree. This is what I sent them. I doubt they will read it as the reply-to email address on that little gem was an “unsubscribe” address…

""as of July 13, 2006, it will no longer be possible to acquire new licenses for MotionBuilder Standard versions 5, 5.5, 6 in the event of a hardware failure, operating system reinstallation, or moving the software to a different computer. "

!!!

What an incredible violation of trust! This is APPALLING. I have never heard of a reputable company blackmailing it’s customers in this way. You are saying that your customers who have paid to own a copy of this software no longer have the right to use it if they have a hardware failure, have to reinstall the operating system, or get a new computer. You realize, I’m sure, that these things happen to everyone, and reasonably frequently. This is effectively revoking our licenses without any prior agreement to the terms. I doubt many people would have purchased the software if they realized the company would do this to them! I understand a decision to no longer develop or support a product, but to render the existing product, which was purchased in good faith, unusable, is a completely absurd and fraudulent act. I will NEVER purchase ANYTHING from autodesk EVER again. This is obscene. You could at LEAST give your customers a license that is not tied to the machine, if you wish to abandon this product."

#7

This is where I sent my email, from their web page at http://www.alias.com/glb/eng/support/customer_service/index.jsp

Non-technical License or Software Activation issues. Email:
Americas: rsc@alias.com
Europe, Middle East, Africa: emea_post@alias.com Asia Pacific: orderadmin_tokyo@alias.com

#8

only problem with that is, why sound off to Alias, since Autodesk did this. Alias was always a decent company to work with, in my experience.

#9

Autodesk spent so much on ad’s pointing out that it’s wrong to own illegal copies of there software, then go screw legitimate cusomers out of the software they paid for…
pretty hard to make some one feel guilty now…
[right] [/right]

#10

Heh. Good point, m.d.
I am hoping to move away from MB, and invest no more time in it :hmm: But could Autodesk really blame a legit 5.5/6 user for using a cracked version of 5.5/6 if they offer no way for them to run it on a new machine?

Cracks are bad for everyone… develpers and users alike… But this might be an exception(??) I dunno :shrug:

#11

hey I paid for it…take me to court, see what happens.
even a hardware change could kill the licsence…I didn’t agree to that.

#12

because Alias was purchased by Autodesk… they are now one company

#13

I (surprisingly) received a response to my complaint. Maybe more complaints may make them reconsider (naively hopeful):

----Autodesk response------

"[color=white]Thank you for your e-mail concerning the the new Motionbuilder licensing notice that was sent out to our customers recently. I have forwarded your e-mail to our Management team for further investigation about what this means for your license in the future. They will contact you regarding this issue, or I will send you an e-mail as soon as I hear back from them.

Thank you very much for your feedback and [color=white]t[font=Georgia][font=Arial][font=Arial][color=white]hank you for contacting Autodesk, Inc.[/font][/font][/color][/color][/color][/font][font=Arial]

[/font]Autodesk
[left]ABC Representative
[font=Tahoma]Autodesk Business Center
[/font][font=Tahoma]Worldwide Customer Operations[/font][font=Tahoma]
[/font]
[color=black][font=Tahoma][color=black][font=Tahoma][color=white]Phone: 1-[/color]800-225-1087
[color=white]
[/color][color=white]advbus.abc@autodesk.com[/color]
[color=white][/color]
[color=white]-------------------------------------------------------------------[/color]

[/font][/color][/color][/font]

[/left]

#14

good…
i’m surprised they responded…
i’ll add to the list, and send mine as well

#15

They have no clue, no class and none of my future spending on DCC.

#16

I was surprised too…

maybe my argument that what are they saving (truly a licensing server can take care of this almost transparently for them…) and how much good will are they losing made sense

#17

Seems that using Autodesk software is much like driving an uninsured car.

Not supporting legacy products is perfectly understandable, not issuing licenses for paid products is anything but. How can anyone trust these software buccaneers is beyond me.

#18

Upgrade now to a PERMANENT copy of MOTIONBUILDER 5 for $100!!

As promised when you acquired the 1-year Personal Edition of MOTIONBUILDER, Kaydara is now pleased to introduce this fantastic upgrade promotion

If you own the Personal Edition (Freelance) one-year license, you are entitled to upgrade to a PERMANENT license of MOTIONBUILDER 5 for ONLY $100USD. This offer will be valid between August 1, 2003 and December 31s,2003. This means that you will end up only paying $200USD for a permanent license of MOTIONBUILDER 5 !

Once this promotion expires, (after December 31, 2003), you will still be able to upgrade to a permanent license of MOTIONBUILDER 5, but the cost will be $395USD. Please note that in any case, you will need to upgrade BEFORE your present Personal license expires.

We believe that you will see the unbelievable value of this promotion and tell all your friends about this amazing upgrade path to a permanent license."

#19

click about under your motionbuilder help tab…

mine says permanent liscence

#20

I have added my voice to the e-mail fray as well. This really is disgusting. As Jake L. said… how can anyone trust them?

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