Among the most significant changes with this year’s Elements releases has little to do with new features but instead concerns the ways users purchase and own the software. While prior versions of Photoshop and Premiere Elements have been lifetime licenses — the user buys the software and then owns it indefinitely — this year’s release has moved to a three-year license term.

  • @grue
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    424 hours ago

    “Perpetual licenses” are what used to be called “normal sales.” Every “licensing” scheme except perpetual ones are scams!

    • @[email protected]
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      -233 hours ago

      No, they are just impossible to offer. Imagine such a license given to company which can “live” for centuries. Impossible. Perpetual licenses are almost impossible to offer. If they are possible it’s calculated that 99.999% of them will last than the expected timefrime np 3 years

      • shuzuko
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        222 hours ago

        A perpetual license doesn’t mean the company supports it forever; you know that, right? I have a copy of Quickbooks 2015 that I got the license key for from a closing company for about $25. I will never have to pay another dime for it, it’s a perpetual license and will run indefinitely. I just don’t get any updates at all, and I can’t run anything that requires updates or subscriptions like payroll or advanced features. But that’s absolutely fine for my purposes and works the same for many, many people. This is how things should be - if I’m fine with using an outdated version, there is zero reason I need a subscription license.

        • @I_Miss_Daniel
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          12 hours ago

          Not sure I trust Reckon to work indefinitely. I think it still has to phone home every five years or so, but not sure.

        • @[email protected]
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          -112 hours ago

          Once again if you bought a product ( like boxed software version ) yes ( with no support ). If you bought a service it’s impossible. People still believe that something may be free

          • @[email protected]
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            82 hours ago

            A perpetual licence for a service isn’t possible, yes, but software is a product, and something you can absolutely buy once. You typically only get support for a limited time though.

      • @[email protected]
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        62 hours ago

        Perpetual licences are usually given for a certain version of a program though, with updates for a limited amount of time. You don’t get the new version of the software.

        You can, however, continue to use that old piece of software in perpetuity.

      • @grue
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        92 hours ago

        I can easily imagine it. I’ve still got boxes full of software on floppy disks and CD-ROMs that I “perpetually licensed” (a.k.a. bought), so don’t try to bullshit me that it isn’t possible!

          • @[email protected]
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            132 hours ago

            The same software purchased digitally doesn’t magically become a “service”. Coincidentally, you can absolutely download and backup all your GOG games and then “own” them the same way you own your old CD ROMs.

              • @AbidanYre
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                128 minutes ago

                gog services

                That’s for their services. Any software you buy from them can be downloaded and used forever. Even if GoG goes out of business.

              • @[email protected]
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                2 hours ago

                The same thing is in the terms and conditions for each of your old CD ROM games. The point is that they can’t physically keep you from using the DRM free software that you backed up locally.

                The perceived difference has nothing to do with the game being a “service” or that perpetual licenses are not economically possible for “services” but with the fact that by the power of the Internet companies now have a way to brick your stuff remotely. And you accepted it when they put it in instead of voting with your wallet. Because you wanted Half Life 2 just so so so badly.

                They’re doing it because they can, not because they have to.

          • @grue
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            2 hours ago

            The games I bought (not licensed) on Steam are also products (not services). Anybody who claims otherwise is either a self-serving liar or a fucking moron.