FIVE (5) years - something to think about? Really? VegasPro 8.0b which is arguably one of the best VegasPro versions available is nearly 8 going on 9 years old today. Since we are running 8.0b on original machines assembled in that time frame, it will be absolutely necessary to keep the harddrive spinning.... since activation will no longer be possible.

And then 9.0d which is nearly as old, will become the same issue today. That leaves among the viable contenders for good quality product to be activated over the next four years - ONLY VegasPro 13.0 builds...

Looks like we are running on a timeline that will absolutely need later Magix authored VegasPro versions to continue deployment over the near future.

I'd ask, FIVE (5) years from what point in time.

I am still using Vegas 9c to smart-ish render 50i AVCHD. I had better get it all done soon. The future is 50p, however.

Ok? Five (5) years? I am game for the question, I think since the Magix declaration is ambiguous.

1) Five from date of VegasPro acquisition - which might be year 2015?
A) All SCS products?
B) All version builds of all SCS products?

2) Five from date of purchase of the original serial number?

3) Five from date of the last build release of a given version set?

4) Five from the date of first release of a Magix branded release of a VegasPro version?

Pick your fav?

BTW. I find that Vegas 9c does not work properly with Windows 10. When I go to the render dialog for Sony AVC (AVCHD template), I have to render the video with audio because as soon as I click on the audio tab to turn it off, Vegas freezes. When I run the diagnostic, it tells me that the version of Vegas is not compatible with Windows 10 and to get a later version, which is no help to me.

So if you use an older version of Vegas, be prepared for a problem or two with Windows 10.

The only one that makes sense is 4. Does this mean we can expect a Magix version of Acid? Products that aren't going to be renewed should get open keys otherwise it becomes a five year death sentence.

Magix presumable wants to pension off the SCS activation procedure, which is on SCS servers, hence the time limit.

"

I too wonder (since it was open to interpretation) *when* the "5 years" starts.

well, if worst comes to worst, i'll simply download a keygen from somewhere ;-(

that said,

a. i don't think any PAID software should ever cease functioning in it's own right. ie, os might break it, etc., but in 20 years if i want to install vegas 9 on an xp system i should be able to.

that said,

b. why on earth would i want to run 5 year old software? surely newer software offers me more?*

*caveat to that - i have cs6 and that'll keep running for as long as i can make it work.

one hopes magix's vegas leads the way foward on all fronts ;-)

What about SCS software that doesn't have new versions released regularly.

I've had my consumer version DVD Architect Studio 5.0 coming up 5 years next year. It is still the current version. I'll be somewhat annoyed if I cannot install it on a new computer after five years.

As VideoITguy has pointed out the Magix statement is ambiguous so I hope they will clarify. Their attitude however does give me concern. In another post someone mentioned that when ULead sold out to Corel, users were provided with a key to avoid the need for unlocking with any future installs. I'd like to see Magix do the same.

Running 8.0c and 12 here. 8c just goes and goes and goes. Love the workhorse 90 hour renders it has successfully given me in the past.

Guess I need to image my main drive and run in a VM when needed. Anyone do this?

And BTW, yes I will upgrade to 14, finally.

More questions than answers here. Clarity will win out.

G

In the future, if I need one of the programs that I have paid for, for example to access my enormous Media Manager archive, I would have absolutely no qualms about doing what I need to do to make it work ;)

Get in line, Nick, get in line.

G

The way this reads:

"Older versions will be activate-able for five years using the serial supplied when the product was purchased."

Since I (and probably many others) "purchased" Acid Pro 7.x in and around Oct 2008 - does this already make my ability to activate Acid (should I decide to) sometime in 2016 or beyond - null and void?

VP

Sigh. If you cannot activate a software license after a period of time, it is essentially the same thing as a subscription model. When pirates provide a better experience, your business model is flawed and you're losing potential profits. Cracks and open source will survive the death of these companies.

Consider paying developers who produce software without activation:

[url=https://kdenlive.org/]
[url=http://natron.fr/]
[url=https://github.com/jliljebl/flowblade/blob/master/flowblade-trunk/docs/Screenshot-1-4-dark.png]
[url=http://www.pitivi.org/]
[url=http://openshot.org/]
[url=http://cinelerra.org/2015/index.php/features/editing]
[url=https://cinelerra-cv.org/index.php]
[url=https://www.darktable.org/]

Their wording leaves it open to many interpretations. I would rather say 5 years from date of SCS acquisition by Magix... that would make more sense.

Why not, when software gets that old, remove the need to activate it? A legal serial number sure, but no need to 'phone home'. I have older copies of Photoshop and After Effects that seem to work in this way.

Why not, when software gets that old, remove the need to activate it? A legal serial number sure, but no need to 'phone home'.

That's fine if it's possible to do so.

But I would think recoding Acid Pro 7 now - in 2016 - to remove the actual code that "phones home" - is wishful - if not impossible - thinking.

Sure I have my serial number - but unless I get a version of AP7 that does not phone home - there is little that can be done.

There may actually be special Acid Pro serials that when input - may disable phone home - but that is speculation on my part.

We also need to remember the overall long term legalities of a EULA too. Just because we bought Acid or some version of Vegas via Sony/Sonic Foundry years ago - does not give us any right whatsoever to run them forever.

People always think they "own" the software when in reality - they own nothing. They simply bought a "license" to use the software. But they never really think about the rare possibility of the software being completely abandoned. Or being withdrawn from active licensing altogether.

And - as rare as it may be - Magix may very well declare certain Sony items as "end of life" and there may be nothing we can do about it. They own the code, the IP and now overall licensing rights.

Time will tell - but we do need some very specific app by app explanations on exactly what "5 years" means when it comes to the overall stable of Sonic Foundry/SMS applications.

VP

5 Years? So, here we go with the limitation again. What about SIREN Jukebox that I still use even today? That is seriously over 5 years. So, even though I paid for something and I choose to use it I will NOT be able to activate it? Wow... I seriously hope that Magix reconsiders this. Especially since users (Like Me) use older software on older systems sometimes for specific reasons. Example: I use Windows XP on a old Dell system that I use for Halloween haunts.

I too am NOT a Pirate, but seriously if I cannot use something I paid for there ARE other means like user ushere said, there is software that can do this.

I really hope that Magix clears up some of this and tells us exactly what they are changing from SONY SCS EULA.

With all the faults of SCS, at least I could STILL activate and use my older PAID FOR software.

I am not happy to see this new news. Seriously, this Magix acquisition has caused me some serious Ups and Downs...

Thank you vkmast for letting us know about this new information.

I'm amazed at how quickly everyone forgets that it usually takes a few days for MAGIX (usually Eric D.) to reply to things like this and put everyone's mind at ease.
I'm convinced that MAGIX will do the right thing for all Vegas users and that everyone just needs to be patient.

Mike