Autodesk is ending sale of its 2D and 3D computer-aided design and drafting software AutoCAD licensing model effective 31 January, 2016. Autodesk will discontinue selling new perpetual (standalone or network) licenses of most standalone products and transition AutoCAD Products to subscription only. AutoCAD has been a go to software for millions of design professionals globally to create stunning designs and speed up documentation work. With the subscription model Autodesk is offering consumers ways to align the software according to individual/business needs along with low cost trials and multiple machine/device access and immediate cloud access.
Commenting on the move, Autodesk, country manager channgels –India and SAARC, Pankaj Gauba said “Autodesk’s leadership position has been earned through many “firsts” and on-going innovation over the past 30 years – first mainstream CAD product with AutoCAD, first to introduce BIM to the market, first to offer a cloud-based PLM and simulation solution and now the first to develop full blown CAD in the cloud.” The gradual transitioning to subscription-only model is another in the series that will benefit the business and consumers interests alike. Autodesk is committed to finding solutions that will ease the transition to subscription-based models. Throughout this transition, we will work with our partners and customers to ensure that these changes do not prevent the purchase and use of Autodesk software.”
New licenses for these products will be available for multi-year, annual and quarterly terms. Active maintenance subscription agreements on previously purchased perpetual licenses will continue to be renewable. In the first phase of this transition, new seats of most standalone desktop software products will generally be available only as a desktop subscription beginning 1 February, 2016. This will have significant benefits for all stakeholders including the channel partners and customers – from individual to SMBs.