[Fixed in 4.4] Weird bug: latest "Spectral Suite" update not included in upgrade plan

[hyperdeath666]

In seriousness, Bitwig just released a paid add-on (I was wondering why 4.4 was taking so long). Info is here: https://www.bitwig.com/spectral-suite/

Anybody else annoyed by this? When I purchased my upgrade license, I was told the following:

12 Months of Free Upgrades

Future-proof: All Bitwig Studio updates in the following 12 months are FREE.

It feels like Bitwig just got a lot more expensive.

EDIT: On reflection, I think this is arguably fraud. They advertise an upgrade plan as including all "updates" and "upgrades" (they use both words). Maybe this isn't an "update", since they have (seemingly arbitrarily) withheld a numbered release for it. Is it an "upgrade"? That's not black-and-white, but there's definitely a case to be made that it is. A reasonable consumer, based on both language and historical precedent, would plausibly assume this kind of content would be included in what they've purchased.

EDIT #2: It's worse than this. As 0degree points out later in the thread, Bitwig changed the language on their "buy" page:

If you go to web archive [on September 23] at the bottom of the page we have:

12 Months of Free Upgrades
Future-proof: All software updates in the following 12 months are FREE.

Now when you go to https://www.bitwig.com/buy/ you have:

12 Months of Free Upgrades
Future-proof: All Bitwig Studio updates in the following 12 months are FREE."

EDIT #3: Guenon found something that looks like pretty conclusive proof Bitwig has breached their contract with anybody who has an active upgrade plan. From their EULA (you can find it yourself in your Bitwig installation folder):

1.3: "This EULA also applies for upgrades. Upgrades include newer versions of the Final Version as well as add-ons which extend the Final Version’s functions in all editions except the Demo Edition."

2.5: the user "is entitled to receive free Upgrades for a period of 12 months, beginning with the registration of the license in the Bitwig user account. The User has the right to install and perpetually use all Upgrades, including newer versions of Bitwig Studio, which are being published during this period for his/her edition. The User may purchase an upgrade plan for a period of additional 12 months at a reduced price from Bitwig GmbH’s website (www.bitwig.com/buy), which entitles him/her to install and perpetually use all Upgrades which are being published during this additional period."

EDIT #4: Bitwig has released the Spectral Suite as the 4.4 upgrade, available to all users with an active upgrade plan. See here. All love and good will is (at least as far as I'm concerned) restored. Huzzah!

[kaspy003]

Yeh.. i thinking about not upgraiting more and go back to my old logic pro

[Buckster]

Very much so - and after renewing my subscription a few months ago to go from 4.2 to 4.3 I don't actually know what I'm paying for anymore and am tempted to request a refund and roll back to 4.2.

How will they manage the upgrade to 5 whenever it comes out ?

I thought (wrongly it seems) that the annual plan was to pay for any new features for the next year not just bug fixes and other minor updates

To say I'm disappointed would be a massive understatement

[MADMANJ]

I am also very dissapointed in this, I am a loyal BW user since 2015 and upgrade every year to have the full experience, and now they separate devices from the plan, and they also claim this is the first add-on, so there will definitely be more of these actions.

[Jhowas]

Very disappointing!
‘Nuff said.

[WasteLand]

they must make a Suite version......

[jarnold]

Dodgy move. Goes completely against their stated 12 month upgrade policy.

Was: All Bitwig Studio updates in the following 12 months are FREE

Now: Some Bitwig Studio updates are free while we will charge you for some new devices.

[wvshpr]

Very, very disappointing. If I'd known this was coming, I wouldn't have upgraded a month ago and waited another year.

This is the first time that I have the feeling that Bitwig isn't quite the cool company I thought they were.

[jkez]

U another cash grab tactic. How surprising
Well I guess I wont be renewing my upgrade plan anytime soon. Paying yearly was quite on the line what I was prepared to do but this, no way.

Theyll just losse users like this

[Greybox Audio]

Having paid addons on top of a yearly support plan is a really worrying move and I don't know who thought this was a good idea. Up until now I was happily paying the support plan, because I could trust in Bitwig to develop new and interesting features. Now the flood gates are open and no one can stop them from delivering less value in the yearly updates and instead releasing big new features as separate purchases.

[seipster]

Yeah a bit surprised, but I must admit I bought it right away.

But it has been an expensive month for me now with this, and I bought a new 12 moths of upgrades 3 weeks ago (And upgraded my Komplete Ultimate to v14).

When they put in writing:
"12 Months of Free Upgrades

Future-proof: All Bitwig Studio updates in the following 12 months are FREE. "

At least Norwegian consumer law might have actually have been broken here.

[garyboozy]

Having paid addons on top of a yearly support plan is a really worrying move and I don't know who thought this was a good idea.

dunno... investors getting more demanding? not good to see anyway.

[BazJacuzzi]

Disappointed, to say the least.

[rlared]

This is unacceptable to me because of the principle. All updates are supposed to be included in the yearly subscription. This is like breaking a promise.

[aMUSEd]

These should be rack modules too