Licenses with Invalid Serial Numbers – aka Counterfeit or Pirated licenses
Licenses with invalid serial numbers are products that Autodesk has never created for sale. These serial numbers were never issued by Autodesk and are not considered legitimate, genuine instances of the software. Some of the common ways these licenses enter an organization are through improper download from the internet, unintentional purchases from counterfeiters, or use of “cracks” of “key generators” on legitimate Autodesk media. In most cases, because these installations are not valid licenses, a replacement purchase of legitimate software is required.
Over Installed Licenses – i.e. single seat SA installed on 5 machines.
Autodesk software licenses, whether stand-alone or network, are created and sold for a specific number of concurrent users. Over-installation exists when the specific license is installed on different computers beyond the number of instances allowed by the applicable Autodesk Software License Agreement. Over-installed conditions can occur simply by installing a license multiple times on different computers or, in the case of network licenses, by having the network license file served out concurrently on multiple servers thus increasing the allowed license count. Since the number of software licenses available is improperly increased by over-installation, an acceptable compliance resolution is the purchase of additional licenses to compensate for the over-installation.
Use of Previously Upgraded or Cross Graded Licenses
Autodesk allows customers to upgrade certain software licenses to current versions as well as cross-grade their software to more highly functional versions. The old license is “traded in” for a newer or more functional version in these cases. Usage of the old license must cease and the old license must be uninstalled per the guidelines in the applicable Autodesk Software License Agreement. Installation beyond the timelines set forth in the applicable Software License Agreement is not permitted. License compliance problems can arise after upgrade and cross-grade transactions if software assets are not managed to the terms of the Software License Agreement. In this scenario, computers with previously upgraded or cross-graded licenses continue to exist in customer environments and allow for more than the permitted amount of licenses to be available for use. Since more than the entitled amounts of software licenses are available for use, compliance resolution for this condition is the purchase of like licenses to alleviate the over-installation.
Use of Licenses Registered to Another Company or Organization
Autodesk’s software licenses are not transferable without the consent of Autodesk. That means that Autodesk software licenses may not be used in a company or organization that was purchased by and registered with another company. However, there are certain exceptions in the event of corporate activities, such as a merger, acquisition or divestiture, among others. Autodesk’s consent to a transfer of license under these circumstances is required, and other conditions may apply. In the event that licenses are found in the audit that was purchased by and registered to another entity, further information must be provided to Autodesk to determine if a transfer of license is applicable. If a transfer of license does not apply, the license must be replaced with the purchase of a similar license.
Use of Licenses Outside of Territory of Purchase
Autodesk licenses are granted for use in the country in which they were acquired. Licenses used outside of the country of purchase are non-compliant. This compliance condition exists when licenses are transferred to different out–country sites or served via network to other countries. The compliance condition can potentially be cured through the purchase of additional licenses in the required country, following the proper country-to-country transfer policy as set forth by Autodesk or entering into a Global Network Usage License agreement with Autodesk
Improper Deployment of Network or Stand Alone Licenses
Autodesk licenses its software in either network or stand-alone forms. Standalone licenses that are served over networks are non-compliant. Conversely, network licenses can be incorrectly installed and non-compliant. For example, network licenses installed as a standalone license in addition to the network license file on a server will effectively grow the pool of licenses available beyond the authorization of the network license file. The acceptable resolution is the purchase of additional licenses to match the non-compliant deployment.
Use of Evaluation Software Beyond Software License Agreement Terms
Under certain circumstances, Autodesk provides evaluation copies of its software for customers in the form of “not for sale” (NFS) or “not for resale” (NFR). The terms of these licenses prohibit commercial, for-profit, or professional use and the software may not be installed beyond 30 days unless otherwise specified by Autodesk in writing. Installation or use of these licenses as previously described is considered non-compliant. Purchase of like licenses to replace the NFR / NFS licenses is the acceptable resolution to the issue
Licenses with Invalid Serial Numbers – aka Counterfeit or Pirated licenses
Licenses with invalid serial numbers are products that Autodesk has never created for sale. These serial numbers were never issued by Autodesk and are not considered legitimate, genuine instances of the software. Some of the common ways these licenses enter an organization are through improper download from the internet, unintentional purchases from counterfeiters, or use of “cracks” of “key generators” on legitimate Autodesk media. In most cases, because these installations are not valid licenses, a replacement purchase of legitimate software is required.
Over Installed Licenses – i.e. single seat SA installed on 5 machines.
Autodesk software licenses, whether stand-alone or network, are created and sold for a specific number of concurrent users. Over-installation exists when the specific license is installed on different computers beyond the number of instances allowed by the applicable Autodesk Software License Agreement. Over-installed conditions can occur simply by installing a license multiple times on different computers or, in the case of network licenses, by having the network license file served out concurrently on multiple servers thus increasing the allowed license count. Since the number of software licenses available is improperly increased by over-installation, an acceptable compliance resolution is the purchase of additional licenses to compensate for the over-installation.
Use of Previously Upgraded or Cross Graded Licenses
Autodesk allows customers to upgrade certain software licenses to current versions as well as cross-grade their software to more highly functional versions. The old license is “traded in” for a newer or more functional version in these cases. Usage of the old license must cease and the old license must be uninstalled per the guidelines in the applicable Autodesk Software License Agreement. Installation beyond the timelines set forth in the applicable Software License Agreement is not permitted. License compliance problems can arise after the upgrade and cross-grade transactions if software assets are not managed to the terms of the Software License Agreement. In this scenario, computers with previously upgraded or cross-graded licenses continue to exist in customer environments and allow for more than the permitted amount of licenses to be available for use. Since more than the entitled amounts of software licenses are available for use, compliance resolution for this condition is the purchase of like licenses to alleviate the over-installation.
Use of Licenses Registered to Another Company or Organization
Autodesk’s software licenses are not transferable without the consent of Autodesk. That means that Autodesk software licenses may not be used in a company or organization that was purchased by and registered with another company. However, there are certain exceptions in the event of corporate activities, such as a merger, acquisition or divestiture, among others. Autodesk’s consent to a transfer of license under these circumstances is required, and other conditions may apply. In the event that licenses are found in the audit that was purchased by and registered to another entity, further information must be provided to Autodesk to determine if a transfer of license is applicable. If a transfer of license does not apply, the license must be replaced with the purchase of a similar license.
Use of Licenses Outside of Territory of Purchase
Autodesk licenses are granted for use in the country in which they were acquired. Licenses used outside of the country of purchase are non-compliant. This compliance condition exists when licenses are transferred to different out–country sites or served via network to other countries. The compliance condition can potentially be cured through the purchase of additional licenses in the required country, following the proper country-to-country transfer policy as set forth by Autodesk or entering into a Global Network Usage License agreement with Autodesk
Improper Deployment of Network or Stand Alone Licenses
Autodesk licenses its software in either network or stand-alone forms. Standalone licenses that are served over networks are non-compliant. Conversely, network licenses can be incorrectly installed and non-compliant. For example, network licenses installed as a standalone license in addition to the network license file on a server will effectively grow the pool of licenses available beyond the authorization of the network license file. The acceptable resolution is the purchase of additional licenses to match the non-compliant deployment.
Use of Evaluation Software Beyond Software License Agreement Terms
Under certain circumstances, Autodesk provides evaluation copies of its software for customers in the form of “not for sale” (NFS) or “not for resale” (NFR). The terms of these licenses prohibit commercial, for-profit, or professional use and the software may not be installed beyond 30 days unless otherwise specified by Autodesk in writing. Installation or use of these licenses as previously described is considered non-compliant. Purchase of like licenses to replace the NFR / NFS licenses is the acceptable resolution to the issue
