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Autodesk compliance for Architects: the home backup copy

By
Real Estate Attorney with The Law Offices of Steven C. Vondran, P.C. Attorney at Law

Autodesk License Compliance Lawyer discusses the Home User License

 

This blog is general legal information only and is written by Software Piracy & Compliance Attorney Steve Vondran, Esq. 

 

Introduction

 

Are you complying with Autodesk License Terms by installing a backup copy of Autocad or Revit on your home computer?  Well, you always need to make sure you are checking the terms of your END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT which tells you what you can and cannot do.  However, luckily they do have a program whereby, assuming you meet certain conditions and criteria, you can install a copy of the software you are using at your business or company and install a home version for certain specified uses.  To do otherwise, risks a potential claim for breach of contract, or worse, willful copyright infringement which carries potential statutory penalties of up to $150,000 per infringed work.  This blog provides some general legal information.

 

Autodesk Home Use Rights

 

According to their website:

 

“Home Use Rights is a benefit available to Autodesk subscriptions with multi-user access and maintenance plan customers. The benefit provides licenses for home use and allows employees to install and activate the software program at a home location away from the office for work related to business, personal education, or for training needs.”

 

They go on to note:

 

“Subscribers can use their existing serial numbers or account information to activate software on home computers. Only one instance of the software can be active at any given time either at work or at home.  If customers with maintenance plans wish to add Home Use to network licensing, Contract Managers and Software Coordinators can request licenses in Autodesk Account.  Home use is subject to certain conditions and may not be available for all software products or in all locations.”

 

Check your End User License Agreement (“EULA”)

 

Always make sure to check the terms of the EULA for the products you are using.  You can lookup this link:

 

http://www.autodesk.com/company/legal-notices-trademarks/software-license-agreements

 

Note that the EULA’s may be subject to change, but this may be indicative of sample language you may encounter:

 

Stand-alone (Individual) or Single-user License. If the License Identification identifies the License Type as “Stand-alone”, “Individual" or “Single-user”, then Licensee may Install a single primary copy of the specific release of the Licensed Materials designated in the applicable License Identification on one (1) Computer, on a Stand-alone Basis, and permit Access to such primary copy of the Licensed Materials solely by Licensee’s Personnel, and solely for Licensee’s Internal Business Needs.

 

Licensee may also Install a single additional copy of such Licensed Materials on one (1) additional Computer, on a Stand-alone Basis; provided that:

 

(i) such additional copy of the Licensed Materials is Accessed solely by the same person as the primary copy;

 

(ii) such person is Licensee (if Licensee is an individual) or an employee of Licensee;

 

(iii) such person Accesses the additional copy solely to perform work while away from that person’s usual work location and solely for Licensee’s Internal Business Needs;

 

and

 

(iv) the primary and additional copies are not Accessed at the same time.

 

Which type of online software subscriptions might qualify?

 

Again, according to their website:  Subscriptions with single-user access home use - All Autodesk software on a subscription with single-user access can be used from any computer. Subscriptions with single-user access are based on a Named User model, which allows you to install and use software on multiple computers and activate software online using an Autodesk Account user name and password.

 

What software titles might be eligible (this may not be accurate or current, always check first.  Do not rely on this list).

 

The following products might be eligible for home installation according to their website:

 

Autodesk® 3DS Max
Autodesk® 3ds Max Entertainment Creation Suite - Standard
Autodesk® 3ds Max with Softimage
Autodesk® Advance Concrete
Autodesk® Advance Steel
Autodesk® Alias AutoStudio
Autodesk® Alias Concept
Autodesk® Alias Design
Autodesk® Alias SpeedForm
Autodesk® Alias Surface
Autodesk® ArtCAM
Autodesk® Autocad®
Autodesk® Autocad® Architecture
Autodesk® Autocad® Civil 3D
Autodesk® Autocad® Design Suite Premium
Autodesk® Autocad® Design Suite Standard
Autodesk® Autocad® Design Suite Ultimate
Autodesk® Autocad® Electrical
Autodesk® Autocad® for Mac
Autodesk® Autocad® Inventor LT Suite
Autodesk® Autocad® LT
Autodesk® Autocad® LT Civil Suite
Autodesk® Autocad® LT for Mac
Autodesk® Autocad® Map 3D
Autodesk® Autocad® Mechanical
Autodesk® Autocad® MEP
Autodesk® Autocad® P&ID
Autodesk® Autocad® Plant 3D
Autodesk® Autocad® Raster Design
Autodesk® Autocad® Revit LT Suite
Autodesk® Autocad® Utility Design
Autodesk® Autocad® with Advance Steel
Autodesk® Building Design Suite Premium
Autodesk® Building Design Suite Standard
Autodesk® Building Design Suite Ultimate
Autodesk® Entertainment Creation Suite Ultimate
Autodesk® Dynamo Studio
Autodesk® Fabrication CADmep
Autodesk® Fabrication CADduct
Autodesk® Fabrication ESTmep
Autodesk® Factory Design Suite Premium
Autodesk® Factory Design Suite Standard
Autodesk® Factory Design Suite Ultimate
Autodesk® FeatureCAM
Autodesk® Helius Composite
Autodesk® Helius PFA
Autodesk® HSMWorks Premium
Autodesk® HSMWorks Professional
Autodesk® Infrastructure Design Suite Premium
Autodesk® Infrastructure Design Suite Standard
Autodesk® Infrastructure Design Suite Ultimate
Autodesk® Infrastructure Map Server
Autodesk® Infrastructure Map Server 5 Activations
Autodesk® Inventor
Autodesk® Inventor HSM
Autodesk® Inventor HSM Pro
Autodesk® Inventor LT
Autodesk® Inventor Professional
Autodesk® Inventor Publisher
Autodesk® Maya
Autodesk® Maya Entertainment Creation Suite Standard
Autodesk® MEP Fabrication Suite
Autodesk® MotionBuilder
Autodesk® Mudbox
Autodesk® Navisworks Manage
Autodesk® Navisworks Simulate
Autodesk® Netfabb Premium
Autodesk® Netfabb Standard
Autodesk® Netfabb Ultimate
Autodesk® Plant Design Suite Premium
Autodesk® Plant Design Suite Standard
Autodesk® Plant Design Suite Ultimate
Autodesk® Point Layout
Autodesk® PowerInspect
Autodesk® PowerMill
Autodesk® PowerShape
Autodesk® Product Design Suite Premium
Autodesk® Product Design Suite Ultimate
Autodesk® ReCap™ Pro
Autodesk® Revit
Autodesk® Revit Collaboration Suite
Autodesk® Revit Architecture
Autodesk® Revit LT™
Autodesk® Revit MEP
Autodesk® Revit Structure
Autodesk® Robot Structural Analysis Professional
Autodesk® Showcase®
Autodesk® Simulation® Mechanical
Autodesk® SketchBook® Pro for Enterprise
Autodesk® Structural Bridge Design
Autodesk® Structural Fabrication Suite
Autodesk® Studio Wall
Autodesk® Vault Basic
Autodesk® Vault Professional
Autodesk® Vault Workgroup
Autodesk® Vehicle Tracking
Autodesk® VRED
Autodesk® VRED Design
Autodesk® VRED Presenter
Autodesk® VRED Professional
Enterprise Add-on for Autodesk® Vault
mental ray® Standalone

 

As they note: Not all products are available in all languages or regions. Home Use is available only for the listed Subscription products in your region.

 

How to request a home user license

 

For more information about setting up the home user license, click on this link:

 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/customer-service/account-management/software-downloads/home-use/request-home-use-license

 

Software Law Resources

 

For more information about software compliance and piracy law check out these links:

 

  1.     VIDEO: Copyright Infringement Damages Explained
  2.     Software Audit Resource Center
  3.     VIDEO: How to survive an Autodesk licensing audit
  4.     VIDEO:  Defenses to software piracy
  5.    How to respond to an audit demand letter WITHOUT hiring a lawyer

 

Contact us to speak with a copyright infringement attorney

 

Our law firm has assisted companies from around the United States, both large and small in handling software compliance and copyright infringement matters.  Whether your case involves Autodesk, Siemens PLM, Microsoft, Adobe, CNC Mastercam, Solidworks, Dessault, Vero or disputes with software trade assocications such as the business software alliance or SIIA, we have been there done that, and we are probably the leading firm in the Country handling these types of legal disputes.  Contact us for a free initial consultation at (877) 276-5084.  We offer low flat rate legal fees and tenacious legal representation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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