We are here to help you with Autodesk License Compliance

In today’s digital economy, software is indispensable to every business, large and small. Thanks to software, your business is more efficient and your workers more productive and you can take advantage of all the benefits e-commerce offers.

But to get the most out of your investment in software, you have to manage it well, just as you would any other valuable company asset. Poor software management robs your company of the full value of the productivity and efficiency of the software. Poor software management can also easily mask software piracy, which is the installation or use of unauthorised copies of software. Different ways of working also create their own challenges. Staff mobility and working from home are growing sources of danger.

Software piracy is against the law and can have very costly consequences for your business. Use Autodesk Software Asset Management (SAM) Toolkit and other information to help your company comply or contact us to do it for you, in confidentiality.

Step by Step Guide to Implement Software Compliance  

What is Software Asset Compliance (SAM)?

Software management is a critical responsibility that helps every organisation determine needed software resources and protects them against unauthorised software use. Weak software management strategies can leave you susceptible to software piracy, which in turn can lead to legal prosecution, large fines, and public embarrassment.

Benefits of deploying SAM?

• Reducing risks of possible breaches of copyright by ensuring no illegal copies are circulating or in use in firm
• Ensure inventory updates

Step Guide to Implement SAM

A software audit on all computers within your organisation will determine if you have the right number of licenses for installed software. As with any other asset, Software audits are a standard element of any organisation's asset management process.

While many asset tracking applications are available for purchase, you can download the Autodesk Product Manager Tool to identify and track software installed on computer systems.

Step 1 – Document Your Software

• Scan your PCs for all Autodesk software, and record all version numbers and serial numbers.
• For AutoCAD®-based products, load the Autodesk Product Manager Tool to perform an inventory.

Step 2 – Compare Installations to Licenses

• Compare the actual installations to your licensing records.
• Your licensing records should include copies of all license agreements and the original receipts and invoices.

Step 3 – Order Required Software

You need to immediately buy new licenses for any unlicensed software you discover.

As you create your list of new licenses required, consider opportunities to standardise all users on the most current version of software, and to purchase subscription contracts that allow you free version upgrades during the contract term.

How to Identify Genuine Autodesk License?

Autodesk Licensing - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Where do I find the Software License Agreement of the software?
2. What type of License is Autodesk giving me? Are there any important License terms that I should know?
3. Am I allowed to reproduce or copy the software into another PC?
4. What if I use more than one computer to do my work? How many activations are permitted per License?
5. What if I want to use the software on a new computer?
6. Who should buy a multi-seat stand-alone License?
7. What are the benefits of a multi-seat stand-alone License?
8. How do I convert my individual stand-alone Licenses to a multi-seat stand-alone License?
9. I have purchased an education version of AutoCAD 2008 software for my training centre. Can I use the software for any special projects that my students do where a consultation fee is charged for their services?
10. I have been given an evaluation copy from one of your authorised resellers to evaluate the software and I am currently using the software for some of my project to see whether it suits my needs. Am I in breach of the License agreement?
11. I have upgraded our AutoCAD 2005 licensed software to the latest AutoCAD 2008 software. Can I still use the AutoCAD 2005 software because there are a lot of our drawings that we are still working on which are using AutoCAD 2005 software.
12. How do I prove to the authorities if they visit my company to check whether Autodesk software is licensed?
13. Why do I need to register the AutoCAD 2008 software that I purchased from Autodesk authorised resellers since the resellers are already authorised by Autodesk?
14. In case I need further clarification on Autodesk licenses who can I contact in Australia / New Zealand?

1. Where do I find the Software License Agreement of the software?

On the cardboard sleeve where the CD is placed there is a printed notice stating that the software is licensed subject to the License agreement that appears during the installation process. The terms and conditions of the License agreement will appear during the process of installation and it is important that you read these License terms. If you accept the License terms then the process will allow you to proceed installation of the software and you will be bound by the software License agreement. If you do not wish to accept the License terms, the installation process stops and you may return the software to Autodesk immediately.

2. What type of License is Autodesk giving me? Are there any important License terms that I should know?

• Autodesk grants a user who purchased an original copy of its software a License to use the program. The License granted by Autodesk is strictly for the purpose of using the software in accordance to the License terms
• The user must always read the terms of the Software License Agreement carefully, as it sets out what is allowed and what is not in using the software
• The License granted by Autodesk to the user is a non-exclusive and non-transferable License. This means the user has no right to reproduce the software unless authorised by Autodesk and the user has no right to transfer ownership of the License granted.
• The License is usually a 1 PC 1 User 1 location License. There is also License for multiple users in a network environment (please consult our Authorised Resellers for this type of License).

3. Am I allowed to reproduce or copy the software into another PC?

No. Unless authorised by Autodesk in writing, you are not allowed to reproduce, install or duplicate the software into another PC. The unauthorised act of doing this simply means that you have violated Autodesk’s copyright on the software.

Autodesk only allows only one archival or backup copy of the software which is an authorised copy allowed under the License. The archival or back-up copy will only be used when the original is lost or destroyed or rendered unusable. The archival copy may not be used or installed as long as another copy of the Software is installed on any computer.

4. What if I use more than one computer to do my work? How many activations are permitted per License?

Autodesk recognises you may sometimes need to operate the software when you are away from your usual work location, for example, while working from home. To accommodate this need, product activation lets you install and activate stand-alone software on a second computer owned or controlled by you. Note that the software may be used by only one person and that only one of the two copies may be used at a time. Consult your Autodesk Software License Agreement for complete details about using the software on a second computer.

5. What if I want to use the software on a new computer?

If you upgrade or replace your computer, you can simply transfer your License using the Portable License Utility, or, in many cases, you will be able to re-activate your software on the new computer.

6. Who should buy a multi-seat stand-alone License?

If you buy or upgrade more than one seat of software at a time, and are not using a network installation, you should consider a multi-seat stand-alone License.

7. What are the benefits of a multi-seat stand-alone License?

You only need to keep track of one serial number for future upgrades.

Product activation is highly automated for computers with Internet access.

8. How do I convert my individual stand-alone Licenses to a multi-seat stand-alone License?

You can convert individual Licenses to a multi-seat stand-alone License at any time with assistance from your reseller.

Please note that all software under a particular multi-seat stand-alone License must be of the same product and release version. For example, you can have a number of seats of AutoCAD® 2008 on a multi-seat stand-alone License, but you can’t have a mixture of AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD 2008 on the same License.

9. I have purchased an education version of AutoCAD 2008 software for my training centre. Can I use the software for any special projects that my students do where a consultation fee is charged for their services?

There are different versions of Autodesk software for different purposes. There are the commercial, educational, student and evaluation (or NFR – Not For Resale) versions. Each version has different grant of use in the License agreement. If the Software is an Educational version, you may use it only for the purpose of training and instruction. Educational versions of the Software may not be used for commercial, professional, or for-profit purposes. Therefore, using the software for special projects where a fee is charged will be a breach of the educational License agreement.

10. I have been given an evaluation copy from one of your authorised resellers to evaluate the software and I am currently using the software for some of my project to see whether it suits my needs. Am I in breach of the License agreement?

Firstly, you must ensure that you are given an evaluation (or NFR) version of the software. There are many instances where for evaluation purposes you may need to evaluate its commercial benefits to you and may involve a project that you are working on. Provided that you have obtained the software from our authorised resellers and that it is the correct version, you have not breach any License agreement. However, an evaluation version does not entitle you to use the software perpetually as there will always be a timeframe that Autodesk will require for the evaluation period to end. This will be communicated to you by our resellers.

11. I have upgraded our AutoCAD 2005 licensed software to the latest AutoCAD 2008 software. Can I still use the AutoCAD 2005 software because there are a lot of our drawings that we are still working on which are using AutoCAD 2005 software.

The process of upgrading is a benefit that we give only to our licensed users. This means the software must be registered with Autodesk before we can upgrade the software to its latest version. The upgrade License is usually priced at a much reduced rate compared to obtaining a full commercial License of the latest software.

Since the License granted is non-transferable, you will not be able to upgrade a licensed software registered to another company for use in another company. Once the upgrade version software is installed, unless authorised by Autodesk, the previous version must be deleted or destroyed from the hard disk within 120 days.

Autodesk may require you to show satisfactory proof that the previous software has been deleted or destroyed from the hard disk. Therefore, you may still be able to use the AutoCAD 2005 software licensed to you previously for another 60 days which will give you enough time to get the work performing efficiently with your latest AutoCAD 2008 software.

12. How do I prove to the authorities if they visit my company to check whether Autodesk software is licensed?

You will need to maintain a few very important documents to prove to the authorities. These are:

• Software License Agreement that can be printed from the software installed
• Original disks
• Purchase invoices
• Manuals/Boxes (if possible)
• Registration records – serial number, CD-Key, Authorisation Code, etc

Autodesk software has very unique serial numbers for each software and if the authorities need to verify your software, we will be able to assist the authorities in verifying the serial numbers. Therefore, it is important that you register your software with Autodesk. As a matter of fact, Autodesk will always ask you to register your software even during the process of installing the software.

13. Why do I need to register the AutoCAD 2008 software that I purchased from Autodesk authorised resellers since the resellers are already authorised by Autodesk?

Besides the above, Autodesk requires you to register with us so that we can provide you on the latest information of our products, for product support and also upgrade verification purposes.

14. In case I need further clarification on Autodesk licenses who can I contact in Australia / New Zealand?

Please e-mail us at stop.piracy.ANZ@autodesk.com. We will be happy to assist you on your queries