Autodesk licensing - current models (part 1 of 2)

Here's an overview of current and past Autodesk licensing models. As Autodesk has now stopped selling perpetual licenses and are migrating all new business to software subscriptions clients with large Autodesk estates have to manage a mixed model, with often fairly (or very) old software titles that are discontinued and still being used, some current perpetual licenses under software maintenance and new subscription (rental) agreements for new applications.

This can cause problems in managing "similar looking" applications (e.g. AutoCAD 2016, 2017, 2018) that might fall under several categories and licensing models. We can best manage this if we create separate "Perpetual" and "Subscription" agreements and load all subsequent contracts under the right master agreement. We can then decide what is the best metric to be used for each license (not application), i.e. installations/concurrent users/user.

Autodesk stopped selling perpetual licenses

They stopped selling perpetual licenses in 2016 and are now only offering software on a subscription basis (rental software). More information here: https://www.autodesk.co.uk/products/perpetual-licenses/perpetual-licenses-faq

Common licensing models

Autodesk operates a number of different licensing models. More data here: https://www.autodesk.com/licensing/overview . The current models include:

• Stand-alone perpetual licence (applies to all Autodesk software pre-2016, and those under continuous software maintenance since then).
• Multi-Seat Stand-alone license (MSSA), multiple seats of a single application or bundle using the same serial number to ease maintenance. Customer can request existing multiple single licenses to be converted to MSSA.
• Network license, concurrent usage of floating licenses, where multiple users can access licenses stored on Autodesk Network License Manager server (NLM)
• Educational license, available registered educational organisations, no mixed commercial usage 
• Software Subscription, rental software, licensed per named user. Term extendable in 1/3/6 month and 1/2./3 year periods.
• Network Software Subscription, rental software, licensed per number of concurrent users. Term extendable as above.
• TokenFlex - pay as you use solution for large Autodesk clients. Recently introduced in early 2017.

Autodesk on-boarding and best practice .

A full list of Current licensing models can always be found in your current Autodesk Licence and Service Agreement (LSA). The generic 2018 LSA ( LICENSE AND SERVICES AGREEMENT ) states in "Exhibit B" the license types to be:

1. Stand-alone (Individual) or Single-user License .

If the License Identification identifies the License Type as “Stand-alone”, “Individual" or “Single-user”, then Licensee may Install a single primary copy of the specific release of the Licensed Materials designated in the applicable License Identification on one (1) Computer, on a Stand-alone Basis, and permit Access to such primary copy of the Licensed Materials solely by Licensee’s Personnel, and solely for Licensee’s Internal Business Needs. Licensee may also Install a single additional copy of such Licensed Materials on one (1) additional Computer, on a Stand-alone Basis; provided that  such additional copy of the Licensed Materials is Accessed solely by the same person as the primary copy; (ii) such person is Licensee (if Licensee is an individual) or an employee of Licensee; (iii) such person Accesses the additional copy solely to perform work while away from that person’s usual work location and solely for Licensee’s Internal Business Needs; and (iv) the primary and additional copies are not Accessed at the same time. Stand-alone (Individual) or Single-user License is for a perpetual term, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.

2. Multi-seat Stand-alone License .

If the License Identification identifies the License Type as “Multi-seat Stand-alone", then Licensee may Install primary copies of the specific release of the Licensed Materials designated in the applicable License Identification on up to the Permitted Number of Computers, on a Stand-alone Basis, and permit Access to such copies of the Licensed Materials solely by Licensee’s Personnel, and solely for Licensee’s Internal Business Needs. Licensee may also Install additional copies of such Licensed Materials on additional Computers in an amount up to the Permitted Number of Computers, on a Stand-alone Basis; provided that each additional copy of such Licensed Materials is Accessed solely by the same person as the primary copy; (ii) such person is Licensee (if Licensee is an individual) or an employee of Licensee; (iii) such person Accesses the additional copy solely to perform work while away from that person’s usual work location and solely for Licensee’s Internal Business Needs; and (iv) the primary and additional copies are not Accessed at the same time. Multi-seat Stand-alone License is for a perpetual term, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.

3. Network or Multi-user License .

If the License Identification identifies the License Type as “Network" or “Multi-user”, then Licensee may Install copies of the specific release of the Licensed Materials designated in the applicable License Identification on a Computer and permit Access to such Licensed Materials on multiple Computers, on a Networked Basis, solely by Licensee’s Personnel, solely for Licensee’s Internal Business Needs, only so long as the maximum number of concurrent Authorized Users does not exceed the Permitted Number of Authorized Users or other limits imposed by the Autodesk License Manager (if any). Licensee may, at Licensee’s option, also Install the Licensed Materials on a Hot Backup Server; provided that Licensee may Access the Licensed Materials on the Hot Backup Server only during the time period when, and solely for as long as, the primary Installed copy of the Licensed Materials is inoperable and only subject to the same terms and conditions as are applicable to the primary Installed copy. A “Hot Backup Server” means a file server Computer that has a second copy of the Software and Supplemental Materials Installed but that is not permitted to be Accessible except when the primary Installed copy of the Software and Supplemental Materials are inoperable and only for so long as such primary Installed copy is inoperable. A Network or Multi-user License is for a perpetual term, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.

4. Educational Stand-alone (Individual) License .

If the License Identification identifies the License Type as “Educational Stand-alone (Individual)”, then an Educational Licensee may Install a copy of the specific release of the Licensed Materials designated in the applicable License Identification on two (2) Computers (or as otherwise authorized in writing by Autodesk), subject to certain functional limitations described in Section 6.3 (Affected Data), on a Stand-alone Basis, and permit Access to such copy of the Licensed Materials solely by the Educational Licensee solely for Educational Purposes. An Educational Stand-alone (Individual) License is for a fixed term specified in the applicable License Identification or, if no such term is specified, the term is thirty-six (36) months from Installation or as otherwise authorized in writing by Autodesk.

5. Educational Multi-seat Stand-alone License .

If the License Identification identifies the License Type as “Educational Multi-seat Stand-alone,” then an Educational Licensee may Install copies of the specific release of the Licensed Materials designated in the applicable License Identification on up to the Permitted Number of Computers, subject to certain functional limitations described in Section 6.3 (Affected Data), on a Stand-alone Basis, and permit Access to such copies of the Licensed Materials solely by Educational Licensees solely for Educational Purposes. An Educational Multi-seat Stand-alone License is for a fixed term specified in the applicable License Identification or, if no such term is specified, the term is thirty-six (36) months from Installation or as otherwise authorized in writing by Autodesk.

6. Educational Network License .

If the License Identification identifies the License Type as “Educational Network”, then an Educational Licensee may Install copies of the specific release of the Licensed Materials designated in the applicable License Identification on a single file server Computer, subject to certain functional limitations described in Section 6.3 (Affected Data), and Access such Licensed Materials on multiple Computers on a Networked Basis, and permit Access to such copies of the Licensed Materials solely by Educational Licensees solely for Educational Purposes, only so long as the maximum number of concurrent Authorized Users does not exceed the Permitted Number of Authorized Users. An Educational Network License is for a fixed term specified in the applicable License Identification or, if no such term is specified, the term is thirty-six (36) months from Installation or as otherwise authorized in writing by Autodesk.