Autodesk - We help bring good things to an end

#81

I’m for that. I don’t see why not. Let’s let the users be heard - it sure can’t hurt. I just find this all a d*mn shame - Autodesk acquired a great product and even though I can probably upgrade to the Pro version, I would NEVER do so simply because this is how they treat their customers. There are a couple of other software manufacturers that have also used bad business practices and I will never buy from them as well. To me, integrity is paramount and Autodesk has lost it in my view. They would have to go a long way to repair that damage, but they are so large I sincerely doubt they really care.

#82

let’s do the poll…

get something rolling…

a petition might be good afterward

we have to keep applying some pressure if you want to see results, all autodesk has to do is wait, and hope it blows over, they don’t care if they lose a few customers…

#83

Autodesk don’t care about CG or art or us - only about money. So we need to hurt them economically. Boycott their products , publicize their robber-barron tactics to others in the industry. I’m sure Maya users will be very worried about the future of Maya Complete. But most of all don’t comply with their illegal attempts to restrict the legitimate use of the software we paid for and own.

#84

Is the dust already settling?? Have we given up already?? :wip:

I know it seems doomed, but Incase anyone still cares… :smiley:
I sent an email to 3Dworld asking to get a bit of public exposure for our situation (I think all of our team’s MB users bought into MotionBuilder STD many moons ago with the 3DWorld offer from Kaydara) …I can only speak specifically in behalf of our our collab team, but I gave links to the various forums that contain all our concerns. Not sure they’ll print it since they carry Autodesks adverts, but crazier things have happened. :hmm:

#85

Actually I posted on 3DWorld a while back and the editor got in touch with me directly - said he may reproduce my/our posts in the mag, so it does sound like we may get some exposure beyond the web - but he did say it depended on deadlines etc. He was also trying to solicit responses from other software companies on their licence policies to get an industry perspective, and I think that’s what may have an effect on whether it makes the next issue or not. eg. whether or not industry comment gets back to them in time.

#86

The thing is… how many people here have made a report with the BBB? How many with the FTC? One or two won’t do it. Perhaps if there are a few hundred who make reports that concern Autodesk, then maybe they will take it significantly more seriously than if one or two make a report.

Saying you’re PO’d is one thing, DOING something is entirely different. Perhaps Autodesk is thinking that no one here is willing to shell out the $$ to hire an attorney - they are probably correct. But they may not have anticipated an organized movement using the free resources (BBB & FTC) that we DO have. The only way we’ll find out is if we try. The question here is… are we going to try?

Does anyone have a better idea?

Megalodon

#87

Well if I had a vehicle in New Zealand that could tackle this I would join you, but as we only have resellers here, and there’s no “consumer body” in NZ to take on international giants I can’t be apart of that kind of action.
But, I’d strongly advocate that those of you who are in a country where Autodesk has a permanent legal entity set up to try and get a movement going via BBB or similar. If someone here just wants open up a case and let everyone know how they can participate I think it’s possible to get plenty of applicants.
Again, we just have to keep posting in as many relevant forums as possible.
For starters I’d suggest everyone here post links back to this forum thread in their other favorite forums out there, online. The more cross pollination of users we can get the better.

#88

Well, I am among the appalled owners of a Motionbuilder 6 license that will apparently die with my current hardware configuration…I posted toward the beginning of this thread.

However, I have taken the deal with Messiah (Imederos post, page 2, this thread), and I am VERY happy i did! I am loving Messiah, it is a great piece of software, beautifully designed, and I can do all the things with it that I could never do with Motionbuilder or Lightwave, plus it integrates with my main app (Lightwave). And the price is excellent. I MUCH prefer it’s workflow and features to anything I’ve seen for rigging and animation. Highly recommend it.
THANK YOU IMEDEROS !, for this pointer!!!

#89

Well, seems there is power in numbers…I received an even more hopeful reply from him today, so maybe next issue will have something in it to bring more attention to our situation.
it might not hurt if some more emailed them and requested they publish.

I’d suggest we get a unified petition formed so we can direct attention to that as well. Even if it seems a waste of time and hopeless, it’s better than doing nothing and just rolling over imo. :shrug:

#90

well, as soon as I get a moments breathing space I’ll try and formulate and decent concept for a Poll - perhaps two polls. One to get MB standard users to gather a show of hands on who’s still using 5 & 6 licenses, and another on the general feeling of the 3D community on the policy of license retirement on paid products still in use.

Then if everyone here would point to each poll from as many forums as possible, we may gather some critical mass.

#91

Sounds good. While you were posting I already started a unified petition spot. HERE’s the link

fuzatron- used your image link to the letter for now if that’s ok.

#92

Excellent. Thanks and good on yer!

#93

It’s a start anyways, a handful have already posted excellent comments. I’ll send off another email to the editor at 3DW and see if they will add the petition link so other MB std users that don’t visit these forums can add their names.

Duffdaddy, If you figure out any other polls etc you had in mind, maybe we can unify that together as well. I don’t know who is the Mod in the MB forum here, but if anyone knows, maybe we could ask to get the petitions and polls etc stickied?

Here’s that Petition Link Again for any others that want to add their names and comments.:buttrock:

Like others have suggested , Link it in any related forums you visit. It’s free and if we get enough names it may make some impact.

#94

Great idea Softdistortion, I have posted my comments and urge all other STD users to do so.

#95

Excellent work softDistortion…

i am even more optimistic about the possible 3d world article.

We may have to publicly shame Autodesk to make them respond, they don’t have a monopoly yet, and can still lose customers.

#96

just wrote an email to 3d world editor Jim Thacker…

[font=Arial][size=2]Mr. Thacker.

I am an avid reader of 3dWorld and love your editorial.

I am writing to you on behalf of myself and other Motionbuilder Standard users, who are threatened with not recieving activation keys in the future,unless we upgrade to MB Pro, which costs more then I have spent on MB and 2 upgrades.

The behemoth that is Autodesk is following a predictable pattern of a giant conglomerate, and thereby dismissing any sense of loyalty to it’s customers.

It’s public face, as expressed in it’s ads to the general public, paint a very different picture.

I regret that the only way we have a sliver of hope in this matter, is to bring this issue to the light of the 3d community, shame Autodesk into honouring the contract under which we purchased the software.

That is why we appeal to you. We hope you could help us shed some light on this issue to the 3d community.
I realize there may be some pressure for you not to publish something like this, I’m sure your magazine recieves a fair bit of ad money from Autodesk, never the less…we appeal to you for help.

Thank you either way, I love your magazine and would continue to buy no matter what your decision…
(unless you put a chemical compound in the paper that causes it to breakdown after a week, and then sell me a replacement at triple the cost :slight_smile:

Thank you for your time, and keep up the good work.

[/size][/font]
hopefully there will be a nice juicy article

#97

Nicely put email Mark - Jim’s pretty good about this sort of thing, though one has to accept the monstrosity that is Autodesk probably care little about it. :stuck_out_tongue:

#98

Join the online petition
http://users3.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g30-00978-88

voice your opinion

Also let us swamp their email box and support box with this link. Send as many emails as possible to them.

Anyone have the address? Post it here and we’ll use it.

#99

MD- I love your magazine and would continue to buy no matter what your decision…
(unless you put a chemical compound in the paper that causes it to breakdown after a week, and then sell me a replacement at triple the cost

Lol…now why didn’t I think of a witty comment like that when I wrote 3DW? :slight_smile:
Excellent :thumbsup: …only thing you missed in your thinly veiled analogy is it’s 10xs the price for most of the MBstd users. :smiley:

Flog- Feel your pain. With pain in mind…maybe good to make a smallish suggestion for all of us jilted users…Let the petition (and whatever you other guys come up with to add to it) build steam for a bit yet and also see what 3DW does for us. even if it goes past Autodesks doomsday date we can still keep chipping away as long as there is a we are persistant. Remember, the turtle won the race. :slight_smile:

For now we may be better off sending our info and links to other graphics oriented sites and publications. imo, MD’s email above is a good example of the tone we need to keep. If we get too agressive it just makes us look like a bunch of nasty prats that can be easily written off. :shrug:

Here’s a few links with more links to mags etc>

http://www.maxoncomputer.com/resources_browse.asp?catID=8

Here’s the PETITION LINK again too

#100

Hey guys,

Dont give up on civil litigation. We can always sue for an injunction + attorney’s fees + damages. If we get enough people we can make it a class-action lawsuit.

DrFoley