Vectorworks - End of Perpetual Licensing?

[Aaron Bourgoin]

If true, what does the message in this tweet portend for Graphisoft product?

https://twitter.com/Jonathanreeves7/status/1605888020770496512?s=20&t=07K-RV0CTGJqtTkNSCKzfQ

[mthd]

Hi, I just stumbled across this very interesting post and Chief Architect software did something  similar earlier this year. Upgrade and keep SSA active or your perpetual license stops at that point.

Autodesk, Vectorworks & Chief Architect are now following this trend for CAD software.

Don’t you think it would be good for competition in the future, driving up the development of CAD software when all these companies could be saying “Pick me pick me” ?

It appears that GS could do the same for AC since it owns VW as we all understand.

If you were the CEO for GS would you follow suite with AC or would you keep offering perpetual licenses ?

Illustration: I buy a 2015 Ford Mustang and I own it and if don’t keep upgrading each year, I can’t own a 2025 Ford Mustang outright, I can only rent one ?

True software is not as tangible as a motor car but the bottom line is earnings, so that could control the outcome as is usually the case.

SSA systems can and does keep customers on board and loyal to a CAD product. 

In the end we humans are not perpetual because we cannot work forever with the CAD product so eventually our CAD product will no longer be perpetual beyond it’s retirement version. You may only keep it perpetual for a time if you actually have children who choose to work with the CAD you chose.

Many CAD companies vying for a yearly subscription fee could also drive the fee down with all the competition. AC 30 solo version for $X USD per year ? I can already get Revit Lt for $420 USD per year or $665 AUD per year for a 3 year period.

They may indeed damage their source of income and we consumers may come off as the eventual winners anyway ?

[DGSketcher]

Do you ever feel the Capitalists are colluding? It almost feels like CAD is creating its own version of OPEC. We can hope for a price war, but you can be assured there will be a drop in quality. Capitalism doesn't seem to have a moral compass anymore... 😕

One further thought, if there was a price war and they all got down to $1 per seat, assuming they wanted to stay in business, what would be the differentiator then?

[Laszlo Nagy]

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@mthd wrote:

It appears that GS could do the same for AC since it owns VW as we all understand.

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Just a small comment:

Graphisoft does not own Vectorworks. They are different companies with different products and different executive teams.

The Graphisoft and Vectorworks companies are both owned by the Nemetschek Group holding company.

[mthd]

Whoops ! Nemetscheck is the parent company not Graphisoft. 

I hope they can keep Archicad perpetual for as long as we want it to be and not phase out perpetual licensing over time ?