Existing Perpetual License Owners

[ChrisBové]

Hi everyone.

I’m seeing a fair amount of speculation, uncertainty, and in a few cases actual misinformation out there regarding Pro Tools perpetual licenses. Please permit me to chime-in here to reaffirm the facts, and hopefully put to bed all of the incorrect info.

On April 26, 2022, Avid stopped selling new perpetual licenses for Pro Tools. However, if you currently own a perpetual license, then your license is not affected by this. Not at all.

Owning a perpetual license means exactly that – you own it. We take that very seriously. Your Pro Tools perpetual license is yours in perpetuity. Avid is not secretly changing it to a subscription, nor “coming to take away your license”, nor hindering you from accessing your perpetual license in any way.

In addition, Avid did not stop supporting existing perpetual licenses. Support for your license did not stop, and is continuing.

If you have any questions about your own particular situation, we’re happy to help. Ask us questions in the comments below. We'll do our best to answer them as quickly as possible. Or if you have a very specific issue with a license, please consider opening a Support Case [HERE].

If you're still not quite sure what this all means, and are looking for some general info about Pro Tools licensing, go [HERE].

Thanks everyone for your time.

[scardanelli]

as it happens this is a timely post as I am currently trialling 2022, but have a perpetual for version 11. Am I able to upgrade this?

Thanks

Simon

[cvicente22]

Hi Simon - Yes, if you have a Pro Tools 11 perpetual license, you can use that license to upgrade. You may purchase a Perpetual License Upgrade (reinstatement) code from an Avid authorized reseller.

Please see the Pro Tools Tiers FAQ for more info.

Cheers,
Charles

[scardanelli]

Originally Posted by cvicente22

Hi Simon - Yes, if you have a Pro Tools 11 perpetual license, you can use that license to upgrade. You may purchase a Perpetual License Upgrade (reinstatement) code from an Avid authorized reseller.

Please see the Pro Tools Tiers FAQ for more info.

Cheers,
Charles

Thanks Chris, whilst I await a reply from an authorised re-seller could you just confirm that if I decide to take out a subscription instead, my perpetual Pro Tools 11 licence will not be surrendered? The whole process seems extremely confusing, especially when as far as I can see there's nothing on the Avid website to suggest that I can upgrade my older license.

It's almost as if Avid don't want me to find out that a perpetual licence is still available for a product I've owned, and paid to upgrade, since 1999.
cheers

[scardanelli]

Having looked at the number of authorised resellers, including in France where I live, I find that there are many reputable online retailers, Thomann, Bax, Woodbrass, offering the UPD despite not being authorised. So what happens if I buy from an "un-authorised" re-seller? And how can they sell the product which obviously has to report back to Avid to get the iLok license etc? Is there any reason why I shouldn't buy the product at the best price?

[jeffro]

Originally Posted by scardanelli

Having looked at the number of authorised resellers, including in France where I live, I find that there are many reputable online retailers, Thomann, Bax, Woodbrass, offering the UPD despite not being authorised. So what happens if I buy from an "un-authorised" re-seller? And how can they sell the product which obviously has to report back to Avid to get the iLok license etc? Is there any reason why I shouldn't buy the product at the best price?

I'd say 'reputable' is the key here. Of course there are many reputable dealers out there who are not authorized Avid resellers, but we just don't have much leverage with someone that is not an authorized reseller. If there's a problem with the sale (e.g. wrong product provided) you're likely on your own to try and resolve it.

[jeffro]

Originally Posted by scardanelli

...could you just confirm that if I decide to take out a subscription instead, my perpetual Pro Tools 11 licence will not be surrendered?

The 'trade your perpetual license in for a discount the first 2 years of subscription' crossgrade was discontinued. A new subscription will not affect your perpetual Pro Tools 11 license.

The whole process seems extremely confusing, especially when as far as I can see there's nothing on the Avid website to suggest that I can upgrade my older license.

From avid.secure.force.com/pkb/articles/FAQ/Pro-Tools-Tiers...

What about perpetual license owners without a current Software Updates + Support Plan?
Avid is reintroducing Upgrades (previously referred to as "Reinstatement" or "Get Current") which allow perpetual license owners to get onto a current plan to get new software releases, plug-ins and support. Perpetual v9/higher license owners can buy the Upgrade from an Avid Reseller. Users with expired Software Updates + Support Plans can also upgrade directly from their product in my.avid.com/products.

Please let us know if you cannot find the upgrade at your preferred Avid Reseller.

[BScout]

Originally Posted by ChrisBové

On April 26, 2022, Avid stopped selling new perpetual licenses for Pro Tools.

For clarity, you mean this as a separate sale?
You have mentioned elsewhere there are no plans for Avid to stop selling perpetual licenses bundled with hardware.

This is where Avid's communication gets murky.

So:
"HDX Core" bundle with perpetual Ultimate?
Carbon with perpetual "parachute" Studio?

[cvicente22]

Originally Posted by BScout

For clarity, you mean this as a separate sale?

So:
"HDX Core" bundle with perpetual Ultimate?
Carbon with perpetual "parachute" Studio?
<snip>

Correct, Chris is speaking to existing owners since there has been
concern expressed by them about the software they have purchased.

Also HDX Core is still bundled with a perpetual license and Carbon has still Perpetual parachute license.

Cheers,
Charles

[noiseboyuk]

It still seems really odd to me that Avid encourages those with lapsed permanent licenses to get them up to date, but refuses to sell any new ones.

Well, reinstatements got reinstated eventually. I guess there’s a small chance Avid might reintroduce new perpetual licenses if the subs numbers start to drop.