About license transfer fees

[J4R1O]

Just noticed that "company x" raised the price of their plugin license transfer fee (or "administration fee" like they call it) from $25 to $35! That's quite a lot.

I think a reasonable fee would be around $5 to $15 but of course they can charge whatever they want, but $35 is ridiculous. Just saying.

[Havok]

What company are you talking about. This could be quite useful information for their customers

[J4R1O]

What company are you talking about. This could be quite useful information for their customers

Tone Projects

[FabienTDR]

In the EU at least, given this is about perpetual licenses, transfer fees are clearly illegal.

Europe's highest court ruled that the trading of "used" software licenses is legal and that the author of such software cannot oppose any resale (when a perpetual license is sold, this license technically becomes property of the licensee - not the author!).

This is different with subscriptions, a reason why they are so popular among "authors".

[J4R1O]

In the EU at least, given this is about perpetual licenses, transfer fees are clearly illegal.

Europe's highest court ruled that the trading of "used" software licenses is legal and that the author of such software cannot oppose any resale (when a perpetual license is sold, this license technically becomes property of the licensee - not the author!).

[FabienTDR]

From a developer's point of view, enforcing transfer fees is quite risky. A big fish in the market could literally sue him for anti competitive behaviour.

Even without the legal side, it's a bad idea to start throwing chains around your customers. It's irrelevant, if not even slightly negative economically. IMHO the network effects following from having many people using the software (buzzing about it on social media or similar) are much stronger than the theoretical loss you get from an occasional resale here and there.

Such a resale is free PR, free advertising. Whoever tried to resell software knows it takes some effort. Most likely attracting a whole new customer that wasn't reached before. Now if after buying second hand, this guy finds attractive upgrade offers in his library, it won't take long until he as well becomes a full customer.

[comfortablynick]

Europe's highest court ruled that the trading of "used" software licenses is legal and that the author of such software cannot oppose any resale (when a perpetual license is sold, this license technically becomes property of the licensee - not the author!).

I wonder how this will apply to UAD, who seems to have decided they can keep you from ever reselling their (native) software.

[elassi]

In the EU at least, given this is about perpetual licenses, transfer fees are clearly illegal.

Europe's highest court ruled that the trading of "used" software licenses is legal and that the author of such software cannot oppose any resale (when a perpetual license is sold, this license technically becomes property of the licensee - not the author!).

This is different with subscriptions, a reason why they are so popular among "authors".

Good luck finding one who goes the legal route.

I remember an audio software company stating that they're aware of the fact but don't act accordingly - on purpose. Someone could/should sue them if s/he wants. They would wait for it, with self confidence.

[kidslow]

IMHO the network effects following from having many people using the software (buzzing about it on social media or similar) are much stronger than the theoretical loss you get from an occasional resale here and there.

Such a resale is free PR, free advertising. Whoever tried to resell software knows it takes some effort. Most likely attracting a whole new customer that wasn't reached before. Now if after buying second hand, this guy finds attractive upgrade offers in his library, it won't take long until he as well becomes a full customer.

For certain. And yet such common sense is so uncommon.

[revvy]

It feels like 5 (?) years ago

[J4R1O]

Greedy companies don't give a flying f*ck about Europe's highest court and customers seem to be happy to pay these ridiculous license transfer fees for some reason.

Tone projects didn't allow license transfers for years and now there's a $35 license transfer fee per plugin. Sell Unisum for $70 and pay $35 "administration fee". What a load of crap.

Well I ain't gonna buy any of their plugins for now on. That's for sure.

[rod_zero]

I have said it many times: if you are in the EU contact your local Consumer Protection agency and fill a complain. Nothing will be done until someone fills the paperwork.

[Morty-C-137]

Greedy companies don't give a flying f*ck about Europe's highest court and customers seem to be happy to pay these ridiculous license transfer fees for some reason.

Made those mistakes in the past. Now I simply avoid such companies.

[discogsaddict]

Best to learn from this and be much more selective buying software. Also i honestly think most people (myself included) have been fooled into buying much more than we need

[Tendou]

In the EU at least, given this is about perpetual licenses, transfer fees are clearly illegal.

Europe's highest court ruled that the trading of "used" software licenses is legal and that the author of such software cannot oppose any resale (when a perpetual license is sold, this license technically becomes property of the licensee - not the author!).

This is different with subscriptions, a reason why they are so popular among "authors".

well I told this spectrasonics to transfer my second hand omnisphere license and they gave a shit about it and just told me its technically not possible for them if they would give a shit (whatever that means)