Antivirus software (1 PC lifetime edition) license is only 5 years!

coporalcuddles

Purchased antivirus software which was advertised as 1 pc lifetime edition.  

The machine is a high end dell precision workstation, which I was was hoping to keep and use for at least 10 years, or as long as I can keep it going.... 

5 years have past and the software has stopped working. 

I contacted the vendor and they claim the software license is only valid for 5 years.  This is this because they expect a PC lifespan to be 5 years only.
No mention of 5 years in the description when I purchased the product or in the order invoice email I received from them. I still have a copy!  In fact, it clearly states in the email, extract below:

” The PC Lifetime Edition Key ties itself, via hardware ID, to the computer where it’s first installed. The product can’t be installed on another computer/laptop.

The PC Lifetime Edition key is valid for the lifetime of the computer you first install it on.
”

Am I reasonable in expecting more from the vendor, and do I have any chance in getting the vendor to honour their agreement by complaining  ?

Where do I go from here ?

The_Rainmaker

No wee asterix that gives you a definition of what they call a PC lifetime?

J_B

coporalcuddles said:

Where do I go from here ?

Ask on the techie forum about the best free AV ... they will tell you the built in W10 one is adequate.

Aylesbury_Duck

I don't think you're being reasonable. It's literally not lasted a lifetime but 5 years in computing terms is a lifetime. 

JJ_Egan

My lifetime VPN expires after  six years as they say 6 years os a PC lifetime .

giraffe69

Paying for AV is not necessary in this day and age (assuming you have Windows 10) so chalk it up to experience. It's quite a common trick. Tomtom advertise their map updates as for life but they mean whatever they define as the life of the machine and if it continues to work then its just tough and you don't get further updates.

unholyangel

Did you buy direct from them or a third party? Is this bitdefender? 

Typically software companies do make it explicit, what they're offering. This is because they are only granting you a licence and not placing specific restrictions works in your favour rather than theirs. I would be surprised if they didn't have a clause stating it was a 5 year limitation, and also specifying that it's tied to the mobo. 

coporalcuddles

unholyangel said:

Did you buy direct from them or a third party? Is this bitdefender? 

Typically software companies do make it explicit, what they're offering. This is because they are only granting you a licence and not placing specific restrictions works in your favour rather than theirs. I would be surprised if they didn't have a clause stating it was a 5 year limitation, and also specifying that it's tied to the mobo. 

Yes, directly from them using my credit card.   I wouldn’t have purchased it had I known the software  was going to stop working after 5 years. The irony is that the workstation has been sitting in storage for the past 2 years. I have now taken it out of storage, so that I can start using it for my next job. 

coporalcuddles

giraffe69 said:

Paying for AV is not necessary in this day and age (assuming you have Windows 10) so chalk it up to experience. It's quite a common trick. Tomtom advertise their map updates as for life but they mean whatever they define as the life of the machine and if it continues to work then its just tough and you don't get further updates.

They are saying it’s not them who are making the rules but the manufacturers all say that machine is only for 5 years. I’m now reading the documentation that came with the dell precision workstation.

I contacted their support team.  Here is an extract from their email reply:

Thank you for contacting xxxxxxxxx.

We inform you that when you purchase xxxxxx Internet Security PC Lifetime Edition, you get a license key valid for 5 years.

Since the lifetime of a computer is 5 years (this estimate is made by the producers of the devices, not by xxxxxx) it is considered that your PC has reached its end of life.
”

I don’t agree with them. My workstation will last me a lot longer than 5 years. I plan to use it for another 5 years. There is no reason why it should not work for that long.

coporalcuddles

JJ_Egan said:

My lifetime VPN expires after  six years as they say 6 years os a PC lifetime .

That’s fine. “They say 6 years so a PC lifetime” 

These guys did not say 5 years.  They claimed lifetime! 

Lifetime is lifetime, not an unwritten rule that I am meant to have known.

coporalcuddles

The_Rainmaker said:

No wee asterix that gives you a definition of what they call a PC lifetime?

my exact point.
I am meant to know some unwritten rule.
They say all pc manufacturers claim their machines lifespan is 5 years, and it’s not them making the rule.  I don’t believe them, so now I’m reading the documentation that came with my dell precision workstation.