Software - Limited time license?

aldredd

Purchased some software a couple of years ago online for digital download.

(CCLeaner by Piriform, for those wondering)

I dropped the company a mail the other day enquiring about upgrading to a more feature rich version, or if I'd need to buy a new license.

When they replied, they said this..

Thank you for your email. Our records indicate you purchased CCleaner Professional on September 16, 2012.

Our CCleaner licenses are valid for one year, so this means your license and priority technical support have now expired. For this reason, we don't have the ability to offer any type of upgrade from CCleaner Pro - Pro Plus.

Now, if they wish not to offer me an upgrade option, that is of course their prerogative. But the statement about it only being a 1 year license is a worry, as I was never aware of this. I've checked all my mails from when I purchased it, including the PDF invoice, and there is no mention of it being a limited time license. I've also scoured their website and T&C's and can't find any mention there (realise it 'could' well have changed since then in either direction)

THIS is the link for the product 'buy' page..
The words 'Full feature set, software updates and priority support' is the same as what is on my 2012 invoice.

The T&C's page is HERE I've had a good scan through and can't see any mention there.

I've looked on my PC to see if I can access the original EULA, but don't think the installation keeps a copy of it.

Now, the software continues to work as before, and I continue to receive updates to the software without issue, so it's not an urgent issue - but is there something I'm missing here?

wealdroam

CCleaner Professional offers very little over the free version of CCleaner other than support and automatic updates.

The functioning of the free version is exactly the same as the Pro version. The free version even notifies you when updates are available which you can then download yourself.

Service agreements usually come with an ongoing cost, but as you say, there doesn't appear to be anything saying that.

I would respectfully suggest that you settle for the free version.

paddyrg

Sounds a bit stinky, perhaps the customer service rep is confused between a years licence and a years premium support or something?

It's easy to see in action with Adobe, Microsoft moving to subscription models, and they're completely upfront about it!

unholyangel

5. TERM AND TERMINATION OF SERVICES

The Services shall start on the date on which Piriform sends a confirmatory email to you confirming full payment of the support and update fees and issuing your user account details, and shall continue for a period of 1 year or for such other period as we may agree with you in writing.

If you have purchased yearly subscriptions for the Support Services and/or Update Services, at the end of the year and any following year, the Support Services and/or Update Services shall renew automatically for another year. Piriform (or its authorized agents or sub-contractors) will give you an opportunity to cancel your subscription in advance of the renewal date and will inform you of the renewal fees. Unless you notify Piriform by email before renewal that you do not want to renew the Services.

Detailed in individual agreements under their legal section

aldredd

thanks unholyangel - they certainly kept that well hidden - especially as it's a fairly material term - to bury it deep within the EULA is a tad ... off.

unholyangel

aldredd wrote: »

thanks unholyangel - they certainly kept that well hidden - especially as it's a fairly material term - to bury it deep within the EULA is a tad ... off.

Its also available on the checkout screen before confirming your order. Along with revocation rights and something else (can't remember what it was).

However thats not to say that it was like that when purchased - given its been several years and I'm pretty sure the website has changed a few times since then.