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FileZilla Pro "Perpetual License" – A Warning to All Users

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Re: FileZilla Pro "Perpetual License" – A Warning to All Users

#21
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lifetime licenses are basically a scam these days. Don't trust any of them.

And instead trust that subscription prices will stay constant and that the company will always stay in business and support the product you purchase? The root issue is trust, not a lifetime license. In fact, a lifetime license is a good predictor of trust because users prefer it to subscriptions and it indicates that the company at least pretends to be interested in the customer's wants. Trust can always be abused, a…

This makes no sense. A lifetime license is convenient conceptually, but it completely detaches your goals (working software) from a company's incentives (provide absolutely zero after initial delivery - everything afterwards is cost without upside). Lifetime licenses are bad for users (cf this post, as just one example).

Subscriptions are incentives for companies to keep doing what you want, along with direct consequences (everybody will cancel) to penalise them for ignoring their core user base.

Don't let the awkwardness of the system (fully agree modern banking is shit at letting you manage recurring bills) distract from the underlying user-beneficial dynamics.

Re: FileZilla Pro "Perpetual License" – A Warning to All Users

#22
post #2

This is a blunt warning to anyone who ever purchased, or is thinking about purchasing, FileZilla Pro. I bought FileZilla Pro under a perpetual license - a one-time payment, lifetime right to use the version I purchased. After reinstalling my operating system, I simply needed to reinstall the software I already paid for. Here's what happened: - Support admitted I still have the legal right to use the old version of Fi…

So, going to https://filezilla-project.org/prodownload.php?beta=0 and entering your email address and order number doesn't work?

Re: FileZilla Pro "Perpetual License" – A Warning to All Users

#25
post #2

This is a blunt warning to anyone who ever purchased, or is thinking about purchasing, FileZilla Pro. I bought FileZilla Pro under a perpetual license - a one-time payment, lifetime right to use the version I purchased. After reinstalling my operating system, I simply needed to reinstall the software I already paid for. Here's what happened: - Support admitted I still have the legal right to use the old version of Fi…

If you bought something from a physical store and lose it doesn't entitle you to go get another one for free...

Re: FileZilla Pro "Perpetual License" – A Warning to All Users

#26

I have installation media for MS Office 2010 in my desk drawer. If I lose the disc, I wouldn't expect Microsoft to replace it for me. I'm afraid I don't really understand what the author is angry about here.

Why... not? You paid for that software.

Re: FileZilla Pro "Perpetual License" – A Warning to All Users

#28

I have installation media for MS Office 2010 in my desk drawer. If I lose the disc, I wouldn't expect Microsoft to replace it for me. I'm afraid I don't really understand what the author is angry about here.

When the purchase medium is a download link the expectation is that the link keeps working if the company is in business.

Give a good reason it shouldn't.

Edit: also, list your startups. I like to avoid doing business with people who think this way.

Re: FileZilla Pro "Perpetual License" – A Warning to All Users

#29

I have installation media for MS Office 2010 in my desk drawer. If I lose the disc, I wouldn't expect Microsoft to replace it for me. I'm afraid I don't really understand what the author is angry about here.

The author didn't explain what the actual impact was on them. They stopped at "security implications" because the only reasonable outcome that would obviate this "Warning to All Users" would be to provide the latest version for free. No, it doesn't make sense to provide an insecure version. No, it doesn't make sense to patch such an old version. The other reasonable outcome is the actual outcome - that FileZilla doesn't let them download it, but if for some reason they backed it up (which is cool) and want to use it (which is odd), they can still use it.
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