Perpetual Fallback Terms & Conditions

[mthd]

Hi All, I am considering converting to a subscription to studio and then eventually falling back to AC30 the last perpetual version. The reason for doing this is so I can at least keep AC30 and not having to worry about it being timed at one year. I do not do many projects over the year these days as I am semi retired. 

Is there anyone who can give me a link to the terms and conditions regarding the perpetual fallback option ? I will also ask my provider for that information too. I am hoping that these T’s & C’s would not be subject to a change midterm. 

This what Google search AI gave me below, is this correct ???

AI Overview

As of 2026, Archicad perpetual licenses are being phased out in favor of a subscription-only model, with Archicad 30 (AC30) expected to be the final version available as a perpetual license for many users. [1, 2]

Here are the key details regarding the perpetual fallback to AC30:

• Final Perpetual Version: Users with active Software Service Agreements (SSA) or those upgrading through the transition phase are aiming to secure AC30 as their last owned, non-subscription version.
• The "Fall Back" Mechanism: If you convert a perpetual license to a subscription and later cancel that subscription, your license will fall back to the last version owned before the conversion (e.g., AC28 or AC29). To fall back specifically to AC30, it must be the last version acquired while your SSA/contract was active.
• Post-2026 Access: While Graphisoft has indicated that perpetual licenses will stop receiving updates after 2026, you will retain the ability to use the last version you owned (presumably AC30) indefinitely, without paying further fees.
• Limitations of Older Versions: Any work done in subscription versions after AC30 (e.g., AC31, AC32) will require "back-saving" to AC30, which may result in a loss of new features or project data incompatibility.
• Subscription-Only Features: Many new features, includingAI integrations and cloud services (e.g., Design Intelligence initiative), are likely to be restricted to subscription models only, meaning they may not be available in the AC30 perpetual fallback.

[Lingwisyer]

Perpetual fallback? Wasn't that only in regards to the multiyear conversion offer that they had when they first said they were discontinuing the perpetual purchase option? Or are you saying that you are on the last year of SSA meaning that you will get AC30 on your existing perpetual licence?

Ling.

[mthd]

Hi @Lingwisyer , I am on AC29 and I got a reply from my provider. I can confirm that if I was to convert during ‘Phase 3’, and I wanted to fallback, I would only receive back the perpetual version that I entered the program with. As long as I comply with all the terms and conditions of course. Please see below.

https://www.graphisoft.com/en-au/company/legal/general-terms-and-conditions/conversion-program/int/

Since I only have one license of AC perpetual, I am not going to convert it to a subscription. I will just keep it for now and see what the future holds. 

Cheers !

[Lingwisyer]

termination of Your Subscription(s) for breach... eligible for the same type and version of perpetual Archicad you entered the Program with

Your non-renewal (termination) of the Subscription Term... replaced by the then actual latest version of the type of perpetual Archicad You entered the Program with

By the linked document, the version you fall back to depends on the situation. Breach contract and you get the version you ended with (AC29 in this case), but if you exit by simply not renewing your contract, you get the latest perpetual version released (At latest AC30). Though, there is the clause saying that they can change the terms unilaterally... Isn't is great when a long term agreement can be change at any time without consultation or notification of the relevant parties? Especially the terms for a relatively non-elastic service...

Ling.

[mthd]

lol the fine print is what worries me but I think I can trust Central Innovations though. They have been very professional to us all along and they have provided good support too.

[mthd]

It appears that the “AI” search above is not strictly correct and it is not yet capable of reading the contract terms and conditions exactly as intended. From my basic study of contract law while in technical school, the intention of the words written in a contract are not always fully discernible.

So in essence the version you had before you entered the contract for a subscription could mean a Solo or a Full license of Archicad not the actual number version. That is why anyone reading this should consult their Graphisoft Distributor for the details or the exact meaning of the terms and conditions in their contracts.

Not easy in understanding the legal terms and conditions. One Architect who taught us said that, ‘contracts are always written in way that suits the person who wrote them.’ To be sure that is certainly correct.

[Lingwisyer]

They used the words "type", "version" and "latest version" though.