Canva Affinity Studio adds arbitration clause - Revision history

Andrew V: /* Incident */

2026-04-10T00:59:15Z

Incident

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	==Incident==		==Incident==
	At the start of October 2025 (approximately [https://web.archive.org/web/20251002034439/https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/ ~~October 2nd based on Serif website archives]~~), the store page offering the V2 suite of Affinity applications was taken down, removing user's ability to purchase a new license to the V2 software; the [https://web.archive.org/web/20251002041803/https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/ main page (archived here)] displayed the text, "Creative Freedom Is Coming," and displaying the date, October 30th. On October 30th, the main Serif page announced that new Affinity Studio software arrived, encouraging viewers to visit the new [https://www.affinity.studio/ Affinity.Studio website] where users can download Affinity Studio, an application that is said to combine all three older Affinity applications into one and also adds Canva-backed features into the software.		At the start of October 2025 (approximately October 2nd based on Serif website archives<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Creative Freedom Is Coming \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/ \|url-status=unfit \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002034439/https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/ \|archive-date=2025-10-02}}</ref>), the store page offering the V2 suite of Affinity applications was taken down, removing user's ability to purchase a new license to the V2 software; the [https://web.archive.org/web/20251002041803/https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/ main page (archived here)] displayed the text, "Creative Freedom Is Coming," and displaying the date, October 30th. On October 30th, the main Serif page announced that new Affinity Studio software arrived, encouraging viewers to visit the new [https://www.affinity.studio/ Affinity.Studio website] where users can download Affinity Studio, an application that is said to combine all three older Affinity applications into one and also adds Canva-backed features into the software.

	As soon as October 3rd, 2025, there was [https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/235901-revealing-the-future-of-affinity/ ~~discussion and speculation on a Serif forum~~] ~~discussing the future of Affinity,~~ and the original post reflects many aspects that happened, including that Affinity's software became free, that the new version of Affinity would be separated from the older versions, and that AI would be part of the new software. The post included concern that the forum may eventually be discontinued, and as of November 2nd, 2025, the forums are set to "read only." A pinned notice indicates that the forums went to read-only mode on October 6th, 2025, but Patrick Conner, the individual who wrote the read-me linked in the notice, indicated that the forums would still remain available, just without the ability to create new posts.		As soon as October 3rd, 2025, there was discussion and speculation on a Serif forum discussing the future of Affinity,<ref>{{Cite web \|last=@RIP Affinity \|date=2025-10-03 \|title=Revealing the future of Affinity \|url=https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/235901-revealing-the-future-of-affinity/ \|url-status=live \|access-date= \|website=[[Affinity Forum]]}}</ref> and the original post reflects many aspects that happened, including that Affinity's software became free, that the new version of Affinity would be separated from the older versions, and that AI would be part of the new software. The post included concern that the forum may eventually be discontinued, and as of November 2nd, 2025, the forums are set to "read only." A pinned notice indicates that the forums went to read-only mode on October 6th, 2025, but Patrick Conner, the individual who wrote the read-me linked in the notice, indicated that the forums would still remain available, just without the ability to create new posts.

	===Caveats===		===Caveats===

Rudxain: link Forced account

2026-03-16T11:14:13Z

link Forced account

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	[[Canva]], the company that acquired Serif (parent company of Affinity and its respective graphic editing software) has removed the ability for users to purchase older versions of the Affinity applications; the new software, Affinity Studio, requires users to create or sign into a Canva account, thereby requiring the user's agreement to an arbitration clause among other agreements not present in the retired Serif versions of Affinity applications, Photo, Designer, and Publisher.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Thacker \|first=Tim \|date=2025-10-12 \|title=Why has Serif stopped selling its Affinity software? \|url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/10/why-has-serif-stopped-selling-its-affinity-software/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111021039/https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/10/why-has-serif-stopped-selling-its-affinity-software/ \|archive-date=11 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=cgchannel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=30 Oct 2025 \|title=Terms of Use \|url=https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222212658/https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ \|archive-date=22 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Canva}}</ref>		[[Canva]], the company that acquired Serif (parent company of Affinity and its respective graphic editing software) has removed the ability for users to purchase older versions of the Affinity applications; the new software, Affinity Studio, requires users to create or sign into a Canva account (see [[Forced account]]), thereby requiring the user's agreement to an arbitration clause among other agreements not present in the retired Serif versions of Affinity applications, Photo, Designer, and Publisher.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Thacker \|first=Tim \|date=2025-10-12 \|title=Why has Serif stopped selling its Affinity software? \|url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/10/why-has-serif-stopped-selling-its-affinity-software/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111021039/https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/10/why-has-serif-stopped-selling-its-affinity-software/ \|archive-date=11 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=cgchannel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=30 Oct 2025 \|title=Terms of Use \|url=https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222212658/https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ \|archive-date=22 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Canva}}</ref>

	==Background==		==Background==

Dosjdhdjdjdhdjdjdj at 08:18, 6 March 2026

2026-03-06T08:18:06Z

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	Canva, the company that acquired Serif (parent company of Affinity and its respective graphic editing software) has removed the ability for users to purchase older versions of the Affinity applications; the new software, Affinity Studio, requires users to create or sign into a Canva account, thereby requiring the user's agreement to an arbitration clause among other agreements not present in the retired Serif versions of Affinity applications, Photo, Designer, and Publisher.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Thacker \|first=Tim \|date=2025-10-12 \|title=Why has Serif stopped selling its Affinity software? \|url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/10/why-has-serif-stopped-selling-its-affinity-software/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111021039/https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/10/why-has-serif-stopped-selling-its-affinity-software/ \|archive-date=11 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=cgchannel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=30 Oct 2025 \|title=Terms of Use \|url=https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222212658/https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ \|archive-date=22 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Canva}}</ref>		[[Canva]], the company that acquired Serif (parent company of Affinity and its respective graphic editing software) has removed the ability for users to purchase older versions of the Affinity applications; the new software, Affinity Studio, requires users to create or sign into a Canva account, thereby requiring the user's agreement to an arbitration clause among other agreements not present in the retired Serif versions of Affinity applications, Photo, Designer, and Publisher.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Thacker \|first=Tim \|date=2025-10-12 \|title=Why has Serif stopped selling its Affinity software? \|url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/10/why-has-serif-stopped-selling-its-affinity-software/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111021039/https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/10/why-has-serif-stopped-selling-its-affinity-software/ \|archive-date=11 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=cgchannel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=30 Oct 2025 \|title=Terms of Use \|url=https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222212658/https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ \|archive-date=22 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Canva}}</ref>

	==Background==		==Background==

Dosjdhdjdjdhdjdjdj at 04:58, 26 February 2026

2026-02-26T04:58:12Z

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	There's also concern as to whether the older versions of Affinity that provided a perpetual license may some day be revoked.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-03 \|title=Revealing the future of Affinity \|url=https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/235901-revealing-the-future-of-affinity/ \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Serif / Affinity Forums \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251103042619/https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?%2Ftopic%2F235901-revealing-the-future-of-affinity%2F \|archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref> The EULA for the V2 Affinity applications indicate that Serif or Serif Licensors could suspend remove, modify, disable, or impose limits on access to Serif Software without notice or liability to the user, further increasing concern over if and when V2 or other Affinity Software may eventually be un-installable or otherwise rendered unusable for existing users.		There's also concern as to whether the older versions of Affinity that provided a perpetual license may some day be revoked.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-03 \|title=Revealing the future of Affinity \|url=https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/235901-revealing-the-future-of-affinity/ \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Serif / Affinity Forums \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251103042619/https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?%2Ftopic%2F235901-revealing-the-future-of-affinity%2F \|archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref> The EULA for the V2 Affinity applications indicate that Serif or Serif Licensors could suspend remove, modify, disable, or impose limits on access to Serif Software without notice or liability to the user, further increasing concern over if and when V2 or other Affinity Software may eventually be un-installable or otherwise rendered unusable for existing users.

			==See Also==
			*[[Canva]]
	==References==		==References==
	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}

Dosjdhdjdjdhdjdjdj: /* Background */

2026-02-26T04:45:49Z

Background

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	Serif, a UK based software development company, released the Affinity V2 Universal License in 2022 for their flagship brand Affinity, a professional photo editing, vector illustration and page design software. The cross-platform Universal License bundled Affinity Photo 2, Affinity Designer 2 and Affinity Publisher 2. Instead of subscription model payments, user access to the Affinity V2 suite could be purchased and installed and activated through Serif and Serif user accounts for a one-time payment.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-25 \|title=Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity to Bring Professional Design Tools to Every Organization \|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240325965656/en/Canva-Acquires-Design-Platform-Affinity-to-Bring-Professional-Design-Tools-to-Every-Organization \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=BusinessWire \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216022908/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240325965656/en/Canva-Acquires-Design-Platform-Affinity-to-Bring-Professional-Design-Tools-to-Every-Organization \|archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-11-09 \|title=Press Release - Affinity Version 2 sets new standards in creative software \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109150704/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|archive-date=2022-11-09 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Affinity Serif}}</ref>		Serif, a UK based software development company, released the Affinity V2 Universal License in 2022 for their flagship brand Affinity, a professional photo editing, vector illustration and page design software. The cross-platform Universal License bundled Affinity Photo 2, Affinity Designer 2 and Affinity Publisher 2. Instead of subscription model payments, user access to the Affinity V2 suite could be purchased and installed and activated through Serif and Serif user accounts for a one-time payment.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-25 \|title=Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity to Bring Professional Design Tools to Every Organization \|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240325965656/en/Canva-Acquires-Design-Platform-Affinity-to-Bring-Professional-Design-Tools-to-Every-Organization \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=BusinessWire \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216022908/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240325965656/en/Canva-Acquires-Design-Platform-Affinity-to-Bring-Professional-Design-Tools-to-Every-Organization \|archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-11-09 \|title=Press Release - Affinity Version 2 sets new standards in creative software \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109150704/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|archive-date=2022-11-09 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Affinity Serif}}</ref>

	In 2024, Canva, a drag and drop graphic design template platform, acquired Affinity's parent company, Serif, as part of a series of global serial acquisitions in the stock photo, graphics, and artificial intelligence sectors.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web \|date=2025-09-06 \|title=Acquisitions by Canva - List of Canva's Acquisitions \|url=https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY#list-of-acquisitions \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Tracxn \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111185309/https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY \|archive-date=11 Jan 2026}}</ref> In the same year that Serif/Affinity was acquired, Canva also acquired AI image and art generation platform Leonardo AI.<ref name=":12" /> After the acquisition, Affinity and Canva created a fair pricing pledge in which "perpetual license will always be offered" to adopt Affinity users "to scale their workflows using Canva as a platform to share and collaborate on their Affinity assets." The second part of the pledge stated, "Affinity is here to stay."<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-27 \|title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|archive-date=2025-10-02 \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Affinity/Serif Press Release}}</ref>		In 2024, [[Canva]], a drag and drop graphic design template platform, acquired Affinity's parent company, Serif, as part of a series of global serial acquisitions in the stock photo, graphics, and artificial intelligence sectors.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web \|date=2025-09-06 \|title=Acquisitions by Canva - List of Canva's Acquisitions \|url=https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY#list-of-acquisitions \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Tracxn \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111185309/https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY \|archive-date=11 Jan 2026}}</ref> In the same year that Serif/Affinity was acquired, Canva also acquired AI image and art generation platform Leonardo AI.<ref name=":12" /> After the acquisition, Affinity and Canva created a fair pricing pledge in which "perpetual license will always be offered" to adopt Affinity users "to scale their workflows using Canva as a platform to share and collaborate on their Affinity assets." The second part of the pledge stated, "Affinity is here to stay."<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-27 \|title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|archive-date=2025-10-02 \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Affinity/Serif Press Release}}</ref>

	==Incident==		==Incident==

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	Canva, the company that acquired Serif (parent company of Affinity and its respective graphic editing software) has removed the ability for users to purchase older versions of the Affinity applications; the new software, Affinity Studio, requires users to create or sign into a Canva account, thereby requiring the user's agreement to an arbitration clause among other agreements not present in the retired Serif versions of Affinity applications, Photo, Designer, and Publisher.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Thacker \|first=Tim \|date=2025-10-12 \|title=Why has Serif stopped selling its Affinity software? \|url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/10/why-has-serif-stopped-selling-its-affinity-software/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://~~archive~~.ph/~~iuZhr~~ \|archive-date=~~2025-~~11~~-02~~ \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=cgchannel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=30 Oct 2025 \|title=Terms of Use \|url=https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://~~archive~~.ph/~~RNeoi~~ \|archive-date=~~2025-11-02~~ \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Canva}}</ref>		Canva, the company that acquired Serif (parent company of Affinity and its respective graphic editing software) has removed the ability for users to purchase older versions of the Affinity applications; the new software, Affinity Studio, requires users to create or sign into a Canva account, thereby requiring the user's agreement to an arbitration clause among other agreements not present in the retired Serif versions of Affinity applications, Photo, Designer, and Publisher.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Thacker \|first=Tim \|date=2025-10-12 \|title=Why has Serif stopped selling its Affinity software? \|url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/10/why-has-serif-stopped-selling-its-affinity-software/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111021039/https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/10/why-has-serif-stopped-selling-its-affinity-software/ \|archive-date=11 Jan 2026\|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=cgchannel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=30 Oct 2025 \|title=Terms of Use \|url=https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222212658/https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ \|archive-date=22 Feb 2026\|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Canva}}</ref>

	==Background==		==Background==

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	Serif, a UK based software development company, released the Affinity V2 Universal License in 2022 for their flagship brand Affinity, a professional photo editing, vector illustration and page design software. The cross-platform Universal License bundled Affinity Photo 2, Affinity Designer 2 and Affinity Publisher 2. Instead of subscription model payments, user access to the Affinity V2 suite could be purchased and installed and activated through Serif and Serif user accounts for a one-time payment.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-25 \|title=Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity to Bring Professional Design Tools to Every Organization \|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240325965656/en/Canva-Acquires-Design-Platform-Affinity-to-Bring-Professional-Design-Tools-to-Every-Organization \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=BusinessWire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-11-09 \|title=Press Release - Affinity Version 2 sets new standards in creative software \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109150704/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|archive-date=2022-11-09 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Affinity Serif}}</ref>		Serif, a UK based software development company, released the Affinity V2 Universal License in 2022 for their flagship brand Affinity, a professional photo editing, vector illustration and page design software. The cross-platform Universal License bundled Affinity Photo 2, Affinity Designer 2 and Affinity Publisher 2. Instead of subscription model payments, user access to the Affinity V2 suite could be purchased and installed and activated through Serif and Serif user accounts for a one-time payment.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-25 \|title=Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity to Bring Professional Design Tools to Every Organization \|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240325965656/en/Canva-Acquires-Design-Platform-Affinity-to-Bring-Professional-Design-Tools-to-Every-Organization \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=BusinessWire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-11-09 \|title=Press Release - Affinity Version 2 sets new standards in creative software \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109150704/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|archive-date=2022-11-09 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Affinity Serif}}</ref>

	In 2024, Canva, a drag and drop graphic design template platform, acquired Affinity's parent company, Serif, as part of a series of global serial acquisitions in the stock photo, graphics, and artificial intelligence sectors.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web \|date=2025-09-06 \|title=Acquisitions by Canva - List of Canva's Acquisitions \|url=https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY#list-of-acquisitions \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Tracxn}}</ref> In the same year that Serif/Affinity was acquired, Canva also acquired AI image and art generation platform Leonardo AI.<ref name=":12" /> After the acquisition, Affinity and Canva created a fair pricing pledge in which "perpetual license will always be offered" to adopt Affinity users "to scale their workflows using Canva as a platform to share and collaborate on their Affinity assets." The second part of the pledge stated, "Affinity is here to stay."<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-27 \|title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|archive-date=2025-10-02 \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Affinity/Serif Press Release}}</ref>		In 2024, Canva, a drag and drop graphic design template platform, acquired Affinity's parent company, Serif, as part of a series of global serial acquisitions in the stock photo, graphics, and artificial intelligence sectors.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web \|date=2025-09-06 \|title=Acquisitions by Canva - List of Canva's Acquisitions \|url=https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY#list-of-acquisitions \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Tracxn \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111185309/https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY \|archive-date=11 Jan 2026}}</ref> In the same year that Serif/Affinity was acquired, Canva also acquired AI image and art generation platform Leonardo AI.<ref name=":12" /> After the acquisition, Affinity and Canva created a fair pricing pledge in which "perpetual license will always be offered" to adopt Affinity users "to scale their workflows using Canva as a platform to share and collaborate on their Affinity assets." The second part of the pledge stated, "Affinity is here to stay."<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-27 \|title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|archive-date=2025-10-02 \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Affinity/Serif Press Release}}</ref>

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	The new Affinity Studio application is available free of charge to download, however there are concerns about privacy.		The new Affinity Studio application is available free of charge to download, however there are concerns about privacy.

	*First, users of Affinity Studio are required [https://www.canva.com/product-suite-integration/authn/affinity?redirect_uri=https://www.affinity.studio%2Fen%2Fdownload&source=download_login_redirect&locale=en sign into Canva's website] to download the new Affinity Studio application, linking it to either a Google, Facebook, or email account. Users must agree to both [https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ Canva's Terms of Use] (last updated October 30th, 2025) and the [https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ Affinity Additional Terms]; the dialog also prompts users to read the [https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/ Canva Privacy Policy]. By default, user data, (activity, content and media uploads) is being collected in order to train their algorithms, models and AI products and services. Users are able to opt out of these conditions. The ''Affinity Terms'' page also includes the following passage: <blockquote>If your Agreement allows multiple Users within your team to access the Affinity Software, then: […] Canva or its authorized agent will be entitled to enter onto your premises with reasonable notice to audit your use of the Affinity Software. This provision will survive termination of this License.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-30 \|title=Affinity Terms \|url=https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Canva}}</ref></blockquote>		*First, users of Affinity Studio are required [https://www.canva.com/product-suite-integration/authn/affinity?redirect_uri=https://www.affinity.studio%2Fen%2Fdownload&source=download_login_redirect&locale=en sign into Canva's website] to download the new Affinity Studio application, linking it to either a Google, Facebook, or email account. Users must agree to both [https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ Canva's Terms of Use] (last updated October 30th, 2025) and the [https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ Affinity Additional Terms]; the dialog also prompts users to read the [https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/ Canva Privacy Policy]. By default, user data, (activity, content and media uploads) is being collected in order to train their algorithms, models and AI products and services. Users are able to opt out of these conditions. The ''Affinity Terms'' page also includes the following passage: <blockquote>If your Agreement allows multiple Users within your team to access the Affinity Software, then: […] Canva or its authorized agent will be entitled to enter onto your premises with reasonable notice to audit your use of the Affinity Software. This provision will survive termination of this License.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-30 \|title=Affinity Terms \|url=https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Canva \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131204952/https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref></blockquote>
	*Second, while most of the main features previously included in Serif's application appear to be present, features already available through Canva have been added to the Studio app, and these Canva AI-powered features require a subscription to use them.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web \|last=Colbow \|first=Brad \|date=2025-10-30 \|title=This? This was the Big Affinity and Canva Announcement? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZzh3zVX-Zk \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / Brad Colbow}}</ref> This also includes features that rely on local (offline) machine learning models and incur no server processing costs, such as the "Create Depth Map" command, as well as the "Select Subject" command, which was previously available as part of the base toolset and is now only available via a subscription.		*Second, while most of the main features previously included in Serif's application appear to be present, features already available through Canva have been added to the Studio app, and these Canva AI-powered features require a subscription to use them.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web \|last=Colbow \|first=Brad \|date=2025-10-30 \|title=This? This was the Big Affinity and Canva Announcement? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZzh3zVX-Zk \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / Brad Colbow \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=BZzh3zVX-Zk \|archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> This also includes features that rely on local (offline) machine learning models and incur no server processing costs, such as the "Create Depth Map" command, as well as the "Select Subject" command, which was previously available as part of the base toolset and is now only available via a subscription.
	*It's not clear what the future holds in regards to the Affinity Studio software, and whether existing features may get moved behind a paywall among other concerns.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web \|last=Blake \|first=Alex \|date=2025-10-31 \|title=Affinity says its new Adobe-rivaling creative app is ‘free forever’ – here’s how that really works \|url=https://www.techradar.com/computing/affinity-says-its-new-adobe-rivaling-creative-app-is-free-forever-heres-how-that-really-works \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103054755/https://www.techradar.com/computing/affinity-says-its-new-adobe-rivaling-creative-app-is-free-forever-heres-how-that-really-works \|archive-date=2025-11-03 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=techradar}}</ref>		*It's not clear what the future holds in regards to the Affinity Studio software, and whether existing features may get moved behind a paywall among other concerns.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web \|last=Blake \|first=Alex \|date=2025-10-31 \|title=Affinity says its new Adobe-rivaling creative app is ‘free forever’ – here’s how that really works \|url=https://www.techradar.com/computing/affinity-says-its-new-adobe-rivaling-creative-app-is-free-forever-heres-how-that-really-works \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103054755/https://www.techradar.com/computing/affinity-says-its-new-adobe-rivaling-creative-app-is-free-forever-heres-how-that-really-works \|archive-date=2025-11-03 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=techradar}}</ref>

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	==Consumer response==		==Consumer response==

	Within days after (October 2nd, when) the ability to purchase V2 of the Affinity Applications was shut down, many showed concern and even fear that Affinity may become subscription-based, change the terms of the sale, or otherwise change things in ways undesirable to Affinity software users.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-04 \|title=What is Going on with Affinity on Oct 30th? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qcHmHltkuk \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / ben designs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-02 \|title=What's happening with Affinity? Subscription Coming? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qedkKR-yhR8 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / Design Method}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> While the software didn't become entirely subscription-based, some newly added features are locked behind a subscription paywall including Canva-backed, AI-powered features.<ref name=":1" /> At this point in time as of November 2nd, 2025, it doesn't appear that previous agreements with the older software have changed, but users moving to Affinity Studio or new users starting to use Affinity Studio (Canva's new version of Affinity) will have to agree to new terms of service when creating or signing into a Canva account which includes agreeing to an arbitration clause.		Within days after (October 2nd, when) the ability to purchase V2 of the Affinity Applications was shut down, many showed concern and even fear that Affinity may become subscription-based, change the terms of the sale, or otherwise change things in ways undesirable to Affinity software users.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-04 \|title=What is Going on with Affinity on Oct 30th? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qcHmHltkuk \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / ben designs \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=_qcHmHltkuk \|archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-02 \|title=What's happening with Affinity? Subscription Coming? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qedkKR-yhR8 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / Design Method \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=qedkKR-yhR8 \|archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> While the software didn't become entirely subscription-based, some newly added features are locked behind a subscription paywall including Canva-backed, AI-powered features.<ref name=":1" /> At this point in time as of November 2nd, 2025, it doesn't appear that previous agreements with the older software have changed, but users moving to Affinity Studio or new users starting to use Affinity Studio (Canva's new version of Affinity) will have to agree to new terms of service when creating or signing into a Canva account which includes agreeing to an arbitration clause.

	There is still public concern over the longevity of the "free" software and whether existing features may one day get locked behind a paywall. The company claims that the app is free forever; in a social media post, Affinity says that there isn't a catch, that user data isn't being sold, that user creativity isn't being monetized, and that data isn't being used to train AI models.<ref name=":2" /> However, [https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/ Canva's Privacy Policy] indicates that information collected about their users is used for data analytics, service improvement (including analytics and machine learning), and for advertising purposes in addition to other purposes often included in a Privacy Policy.<!-- This could use further verification. I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not an expert on the newer Affinity Studio software released by Canva. -->		There is still public concern over the longevity of the "free" software and whether existing features may one day get locked behind a paywall. The company claims that the app is free forever; in a social media post, Affinity says that there isn't a catch, that user data isn't being sold, that user creativity isn't being monetized, and that data isn't being used to train AI models.<ref name=":2" /> However, [https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/ Canva's Privacy Policy] indicates that information collected about their users is used for data analytics, service improvement (including analytics and machine learning), and for advertising purposes in addition to other purposes often included in a Privacy Policy.<!-- This could use further verification. I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not an expert on the newer Affinity Studio software released by Canva. -->

Kocha: /* Minor clarity edits to Caveats section*/

2026-01-26T17:11:42Z

Minor clarity edits to Caveats section

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:11, 26 January 2026
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	==Background==		==Background==
	Serif, a UK based software development company, released the Affinity V2 Universal License in 2022 for their ~~flgaship~~ brand Affinity, a professional photo editing, vector illustration and page design software. The cross-platform Universal License bundled Affinity Photo 2, Affinity Designer 2 and Affinity Publisher 2. Instead of subscription model payments, user access to the Affinity V2 suite could be purchased and installed and activated through Serif and Serif user accounts for a one-time payment.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-25 \|title=Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity to Bring Professional Design Tools to Every Organization \|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240325965656/en/Canva-Acquires-Design-Platform-Affinity-to-Bring-Professional-Design-Tools-to-Every-Organization \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=BusinessWire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-11-09 \|title=Press Release - Affinity Version 2 sets new standards in creative software \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109150704/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|archive-date=2022-11-09 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Affinity Serif}}</ref>		Serif, a UK based software development company, released the Affinity V2 Universal License in 2022 for their flagship brand Affinity, a professional photo editing, vector illustration and page design software. The cross-platform Universal License bundled Affinity Photo 2, Affinity Designer 2 and Affinity Publisher 2. Instead of subscription model payments, user access to the Affinity V2 suite could be purchased and installed and activated through Serif and Serif user accounts for a one-time payment.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-25 \|title=Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity to Bring Professional Design Tools to Every Organization \|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240325965656/en/Canva-Acquires-Design-Platform-Affinity-to-Bring-Professional-Design-Tools-to-Every-Organization \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=BusinessWire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-11-09 \|title=Press Release - Affinity Version 2 sets new standards in creative software \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109150704/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|archive-date=2022-11-09 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Affinity Serif}}</ref>

	In 2024, Canva, a drag and drop graphic design template platform, acquired Affinity's parent company, Serif, as part of a series of global serial acquisitions in the stock photo, graphics, and artificial intelligence sectors.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web \|date=2025-09-06 \|title=Acquisitions by Canva - List of Canva's Acquisitions \|url=https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY#list-of-acquisitions \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Tracxn}}</ref> In the same year that Serif/Affinity was acquired, Canva also acquired AI image and art generation platform Leonardo AI.<ref name=":12" /> After the acquisition, Affinity and Canva created a fair pricing pledge in which "perpetual license will always be offered" to adopt Affinity users "to scale their workflows using Canva as a platform to share and collaborate on their Affinity assets." The second part of the pledge stated, "Affinity is here to stay."<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-27 \|title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|archive-date=2025-10-02 \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Affinity/Serif Press Release}}</ref>		In 2024, Canva, a drag and drop graphic design template platform, acquired Affinity's parent company, Serif, as part of a series of global serial acquisitions in the stock photo, graphics, and artificial intelligence sectors.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web \|date=2025-09-06 \|title=Acquisitions by Canva - List of Canva's Acquisitions \|url=https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY#list-of-acquisitions \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Tracxn}}</ref> In the same year that Serif/Affinity was acquired, Canva also acquired AI image and art generation platform Leonardo AI.<ref name=":12" /> After the acquisition, Affinity and Canva created a fair pricing pledge in which "perpetual license will always be offered" to adopt Affinity users "to scale their workflows using Canva as a platform to share and collaborate on their Affinity assets." The second part of the pledge stated, "Affinity is here to stay."<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-27 \|title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|archive-date=2025-10-02 \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Affinity/Serif Press Release}}</ref>

	==Incident==		==Incident==
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	As soon as October 3rd, 2025, there was [https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/235901-revealing-the-future-of-affinity/ discussion and speculation on a Serif forum] discussing the future of Affinity, and the original post reflects many aspects that happened, including that Affinity's software became free, that the new version of Affinity would be separated from the older versions, and that AI would be part of the new software. The post included concern that the forum may eventually be discontinued, and as of November 2nd, 2025, the forums are set to "read only." A pinned notice indicates that the forums went to read-only mode on October 6th, 2025, but Patrick Conner, the individual who wrote the read-me linked in the notice, indicated that the forums would still remain available, just without the ability to create new posts.		As soon as October 3rd, 2025, there was [https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/235901-revealing-the-future-of-affinity/ discussion and speculation on a Serif forum] discussing the future of Affinity, and the original post reflects many aspects that happened, including that Affinity's software became free, that the new version of Affinity would be separated from the older versions, and that AI would be part of the new software. The post included concern that the forum may eventually be discontinued, and as of November 2nd, 2025, the forums are set to "read only." A pinned notice indicates that the forums went to read-only mode on October 6th, 2025, but Patrick Conner, the individual who wrote the read-me linked in the notice, indicated that the forums would still remain available, just without the ability to create new posts.

	===~~The new software is free, but...~~===		===Caveats===
	The new Affinity Studio application is available free of charge to download, ~~but with an asterisk for at least two reasons~~.		The new Affinity Studio application is available free of charge to download, however there are concerns about privacy.

	*First, users of Affinity Studio are required [https://www.canva.com/product-suite-integration/authn/affinity?redirect_uri=https://www.affinity.studio%2Fen%2Fdownload&source=download_login_redirect&locale=en sign into Canva's website] to download the new Affinity Studio application. ~~This means users~~ must agree to both [https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ Canva's Terms of Use] (last updated October 30th, 2025) and the [https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ Affinity Additional Terms]; the dialog also prompts users to read the [https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/ Canva Privacy Policy]. ~~Creating a Canva account automatically opts the~~ user in to ~~data collection~~ and AI ~~training on user data, though this currently only seems to affect the Canva web app~~. Users ~~can [https://www.canva.com/account/privacy-preferences~~ opt out ~~here]~~. The ''Affinity Terms'' page also includes the following passage: <blockquote>If your Agreement allows multiple Users within your team to access the Affinity Software, then: […] Canva or its authorized agent will be entitled to enter onto your premises with reasonable notice to audit your use of the Affinity Software. This provision will survive termination of this License.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-30 \|title=Affinity Terms \|url=https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Canva}}</ref></blockquote>		*First, users of Affinity Studio are required [https://www.canva.com/product-suite-integration/authn/affinity?redirect_uri=https://www.affinity.studio%2Fen%2Fdownload&source=download_login_redirect&locale=en sign into Canva's website] to download the new Affinity Studio application, linking it to either a Google, Facebook, or email account. Users must agree to both [https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ Canva's Terms of Use] (last updated October 30th, 2025) and the [https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ Affinity Additional Terms]; the dialog also prompts users to read the [https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/ Canva Privacy Policy]. By default, user data, (activity, content and media uploads) is being collected in order to train their algorithms, models and AI products and services. Users are able to opt out of these conditions. The ''Affinity Terms'' page also includes the following passage: <blockquote>If your Agreement allows multiple Users within your team to access the Affinity Software, then: […] Canva or its authorized agent will be entitled to enter onto your premises with reasonable notice to audit your use of the Affinity Software. This provision will survive termination of this License.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-30 \|title=Affinity Terms \|url=https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Canva}}</ref></blockquote>
	*Second, while most of the main features previously included in Serif's application appear to be present, features already available through Canva have been added to the Studio app, and these Canva AI-powered features require a subscription to use them.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web \|last=Colbow \|first=Brad \|date=2025-10-30 \|title=This? This was the Big Affinity and Canva Announcement? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZzh3zVX-Zk \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / Brad Colbow}}</ref> This also includes features that rely on local (offline) machine learning models and incur no server processing costs, such as the "Create Depth Map" command, as well as the "Select Subject" command, which was previously available as part of the base toolset and is now only available via a subscription.		*Second, while most of the main features previously included in Serif's application appear to be present, features already available through Canva have been added to the Studio app, and these Canva AI-powered features require a subscription to use them.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web \|last=Colbow \|first=Brad \|date=2025-10-30 \|title=This? This was the Big Affinity and Canva Announcement? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZzh3zVX-Zk \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / Brad Colbow}}</ref> This also includes features that rely on local (offline) machine learning models and incur no server processing costs, such as the "Create Depth Map" command, as well as the "Select Subject" command, which was previously available as part of the base toolset and is now only available via a subscription.
	*It's not clear what the future holds in regards to the Affinity Studio software, and whether existing features may get moved behind a paywall among other concerns.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web \|last=Blake \|first=Alex \|date=2025-10-31 \|title=Affinity says its new Adobe-rivaling creative app is ‘free forever’ – here’s how that really works \|url=https://www.techradar.com/computing/affinity-says-its-new-adobe-rivaling-creative-app-is-free-forever-heres-how-that-really-works \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103054755/https://www.techradar.com/computing/affinity-says-its-new-adobe-rivaling-creative-app-is-free-forever-heres-how-that-really-works \|archive-date=2025-11-03 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=techradar}}</ref>		*It's not clear what the future holds in regards to the Affinity Studio software, and whether existing features may get moved behind a paywall among other concerns.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web \|last=Blake \|first=Alex \|date=2025-10-31 \|title=Affinity says its new Adobe-rivaling creative app is ‘free forever’ – here’s how that really works \|url=https://www.techradar.com/computing/affinity-says-its-new-adobe-rivaling-creative-app-is-free-forever-heres-how-that-really-works \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103054755/https://www.techradar.com/computing/affinity-says-its-new-adobe-rivaling-creative-app-is-free-forever-heres-how-that-really-works \|archive-date=2025-11-03 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=techradar}}</ref>

Bythmusters: Started cargo

2026-01-26T15:45:56Z

Started cargo

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Incomplete|Issue 1=Too many external links. Should be reformatted as proper citations and references}}
+{{IncidentCargo
 Canva, the company that acquired Serif (parent company of Affinity and its respective graphic editing software) has removed the ability for users to purchase older versions of the Affinity applications; the new software, Affinity Studio, requires users to create or sign into a Canva account, thereby requiring the user's agreement to an arbitration clause among other agreements not present in the retired Serif versions of Affinity applications, Photo, Designer, and Publisher.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thacker |first=Tim |date=2025-10-12 |title=Why has Serif stopped selling its Affinity software? |url=https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/10/why-has-serif-stopped-selling-its-affinity-software/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/iuZhr |archive-date=2025-11-02 |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=cgchannel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Oct 2025 |title=Terms of Use |url=https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/RNeoi |archive-date=2025-11-02 |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=Canva}}</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:45, 23 February 2026
Line 14:		Line 14:

	==Background==		==Background==
	Serif, a UK based software development company, released the Affinity V2 Universal License in 2022 for their flagship brand Affinity, a professional photo editing, vector illustration and page design software. The cross-platform Universal License bundled Affinity Photo 2, Affinity Designer 2 and Affinity Publisher 2. Instead of subscription model payments, user access to the Affinity V2 suite could be purchased and installed and activated through Serif and Serif user accounts for a one-time payment.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-25 \|title=Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity to Bring Professional Design Tools to Every Organization \|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240325965656/en/Canva-Acquires-Design-Platform-Affinity-to-Bring-Professional-Design-Tools-to-Every-Organization \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=BusinessWire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-11-09 \|title=Press Release - Affinity Version 2 sets new standards in creative software \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109150704/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|archive-date=2022-11-09 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Affinity Serif}}</ref>		Serif, a UK based software development company, released the Affinity V2 Universal License in 2022 for their flagship brand Affinity, a professional photo editing, vector illustration and page design software. The cross-platform Universal License bundled Affinity Photo 2, Affinity Designer 2 and Affinity Publisher 2. Instead of subscription model payments, user access to the Affinity V2 suite could be purchased and installed and activated through Serif and Serif user accounts for a one-time payment.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-25 \|title=Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity to Bring Professional Design Tools to Every Organization \|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240325965656/en/Canva-Acquires-Design-Platform-Affinity-to-Bring-Professional-Design-Tools-to-Every-Organization \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=BusinessWire \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216022908/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240325965656/en/Canva-Acquires-Design-Platform-Affinity-to-Bring-Professional-Design-Tools-to-Every-Organization \|archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-11-09 \|title=Press Release - Affinity Version 2 sets new standards in creative software \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109150704/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-v2-sets-new-standards-in-creative-software/ \|archive-date=2022-11-09 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Affinity Serif}}</ref>

	In 2024, Canva, a drag and drop graphic design template platform, acquired Affinity's parent company, Serif, as part of a series of global serial acquisitions in the stock photo, graphics, and artificial intelligence sectors.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web \|date=2025-09-06 \|title=Acquisitions by Canva - List of Canva's Acquisitions \|url=https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY#list-of-acquisitions \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Tracxn \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111185309/https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY \|archive-date=11 Jan 2026}}</ref> In the same year that Serif/Affinity was acquired, Canva also acquired AI image and art generation platform Leonardo AI.<ref name=":12" /> After the acquisition, Affinity and Canva created a fair pricing pledge in which "perpetual license will always be offered" to adopt Affinity users "to scale their workflows using Canva as a platform to share and collaborate on their Affinity assets." The second part of the pledge stated, "Affinity is here to stay."<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-27 \|title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|archive-date=2025-10-02 \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Affinity/Serif Press Release}}</ref>		In 2024, Canva, a drag and drop graphic design template platform, acquired Affinity's parent company, Serif, as part of a series of global serial acquisitions in the stock photo, graphics, and artificial intelligence sectors.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web \|date=2025-09-06 \|title=Acquisitions by Canva - List of Canva's Acquisitions \|url=https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY#list-of-acquisitions \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Tracxn \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111185309/https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-canva/__LHKOZhxQIkd1nKd00xe8ZiSIZ1WlxGLsiY4nuztOWOY \|archive-date=11 Jan 2026}}</ref> In the same year that Serif/Affinity was acquired, Canva also acquired AI image and art generation platform Leonardo AI.<ref name=":12" /> After the acquisition, Affinity and Canva created a fair pricing pledge in which "perpetual license will always be offered" to adopt Affinity users "to scale their workflows using Canva as a platform to share and collaborate on their Affinity assets." The second part of the pledge stated, "Affinity is here to stay."<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2024-03-27 \|title=The Affinity and Canva Pledge \|url=https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002083749/https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/press/newsroom/affinity-and-canva-pledge/ \|archive-date=2025-10-02 \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Affinity/Serif Press Release}}</ref>
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	The new Affinity Studio application is available free of charge to download, however there are concerns about privacy.		The new Affinity Studio application is available free of charge to download, however there are concerns about privacy.

	*First, users of Affinity Studio are required [https://www.canva.com/product-suite-integration/authn/affinity?redirect_uri=https://www.affinity.studio%2Fen%2Fdownload&source=download_login_redirect&locale=en sign into Canva's website] to download the new Affinity Studio application, linking it to either a Google, Facebook, or email account. Users must agree to both [https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ Canva's Terms of Use] (last updated October 30th, 2025) and the [https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ Affinity Additional Terms]; the dialog also prompts users to read the [https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/ Canva Privacy Policy]. By default, user data, (activity, content and media uploads) is being collected in order to train their algorithms, models and AI products and services. Users are able to opt out of these conditions. The ''Affinity Terms'' page also includes the following passage: <blockquote>If your Agreement allows multiple Users within your team to access the Affinity Software, then: […] Canva or its authorized agent will be entitled to enter onto your premises with reasonable notice to audit your use of the Affinity Software. This provision will survive termination of this License.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-30 \|title=Affinity Terms \|url=https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Canva \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131204952/https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref></blockquote>		*First, users of Affinity Studio are required [https://www.canva.com/product-suite-integration/authn/affinity?redirect_uri=https://www.affinity.studio%2Fen%2Fdownload&source=download_login_redirect&locale=en sign into Canva's website] to download the new Affinity Studio application, linking it to either a Google, Facebook, or email account. Users must agree to both [https://www.canva.com/policies/terms-of-use/ Canva's Terms of Use] (last updated October 30th, 2025) and the [https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ Affinity Additional Terms]; the dialog also prompts users to read the [https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/ Canva Privacy Policy] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222212655/https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/ Archived]). By default, user data, (activity, content and media uploads) is being collected in order to train their algorithms, models and AI products and services. Users are able to opt out of these conditions. The ''Affinity Terms'' page also includes the following passage: <blockquote>If your Agreement allows multiple Users within your team to access the Affinity Software, then: […] Canva or its authorized agent will be entitled to enter onto your premises with reasonable notice to audit your use of the Affinity Software. This provision will survive termination of this License.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-30 \|title=Affinity Terms \|url=https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ \|access-date=2025-11-03 \|website=Canva \|url-status=live \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131204952/https://www.canva.com/policies/affinity-additional-terms/ \|archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref></blockquote>
	*Second, while most of the main features previously included in Serif's application appear to be present, features already available through Canva have been added to the Studio app, and these Canva AI-powered features require a subscription to use them.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web \|last=Colbow \|first=Brad \|date=2025-10-30 \|title=This? This was the Big Affinity and Canva Announcement? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZzh3zVX-Zk \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / Brad Colbow \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=BZzh3zVX-Zk \|archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> This also includes features that rely on local (offline) machine learning models and incur no server processing costs, such as the "Create Depth Map" command, as well as the "Select Subject" command, which was previously available as part of the base toolset and is now only available via a subscription.		*Second, while most of the main features previously included in Serif's application appear to be present, features already available through Canva have been added to the Studio app, and these Canva AI-powered features require a subscription to use them.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web \|last=Colbow \|first=Brad \|date=2025-10-30 \|title=This? This was the Big Affinity and Canva Announcement? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZzh3zVX-Zk \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / Brad Colbow \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=BZzh3zVX-Zk \|archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> This also includes features that rely on local (offline) machine learning models and incur no server processing costs, such as the "Create Depth Map" command, as well as the "Select Subject" command, which was previously available as part of the base toolset and is now only available via a subscription.
	*It's not clear what the future holds in regards to the Affinity Studio software, and whether existing features may get moved behind a paywall among other concerns.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web \|last=Blake \|first=Alex \|date=2025-10-31 \|title=Affinity says its new Adobe-rivaling creative app is ‘free forever’ – here’s how that really works \|url=https://www.techradar.com/computing/affinity-says-its-new-adobe-rivaling-creative-app-is-free-forever-heres-how-that-really-works \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103054755/https://www.techradar.com/computing/affinity-says-its-new-adobe-rivaling-creative-app-is-free-forever-heres-how-that-really-works \|archive-date=2025-11-03 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=techradar}}</ref>		*It's not clear what the future holds in regards to the Affinity Studio software, and whether existing features may get moved behind a paywall among other concerns.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web \|last=Blake \|first=Alex \|date=2025-10-31 \|title=Affinity says its new Adobe-rivaling creative app is ‘free forever’ – here’s how that really works \|url=https://www.techradar.com/computing/affinity-says-its-new-adobe-rivaling-creative-app-is-free-forever-heres-how-that-really-works \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103054755/https://www.techradar.com/computing/affinity-says-its-new-adobe-rivaling-creative-app-is-free-forever-heres-how-that-really-works \|archive-date=2025-11-03 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=techradar}}</ref>
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	Within days after (October 2nd, when) the ability to purchase V2 of the Affinity Applications was shut down, many showed concern and even fear that Affinity may become subscription-based, change the terms of the sale, or otherwise change things in ways undesirable to Affinity software users.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-04 \|title=What is Going on with Affinity on Oct 30th? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qcHmHltkuk \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / ben designs \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=_qcHmHltkuk \|archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-02 \|title=What's happening with Affinity? Subscription Coming? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qedkKR-yhR8 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / Design Method \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=qedkKR-yhR8 \|archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> While the software didn't become entirely subscription-based, some newly added features are locked behind a subscription paywall including Canva-backed, AI-powered features.<ref name=":1" /> At this point in time as of November 2nd, 2025, it doesn't appear that previous agreements with the older software have changed, but users moving to Affinity Studio or new users starting to use Affinity Studio (Canva's new version of Affinity) will have to agree to new terms of service when creating or signing into a Canva account which includes agreeing to an arbitration clause.		Within days after (October 2nd, when) the ability to purchase V2 of the Affinity Applications was shut down, many showed concern and even fear that Affinity may become subscription-based, change the terms of the sale, or otherwise change things in ways undesirable to Affinity software users.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-04 \|title=What is Going on with Affinity on Oct 30th? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qcHmHltkuk \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / ben designs \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=_qcHmHltkuk \|archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-02 \|title=What's happening with Affinity? Subscription Coming? \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qedkKR-yhR8 \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=YouTube / Design Method \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=qedkKR-yhR8 \|archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> While the software didn't become entirely subscription-based, some newly added features are locked behind a subscription paywall including Canva-backed, AI-powered features.<ref name=":1" /> At this point in time as of November 2nd, 2025, it doesn't appear that previous agreements with the older software have changed, but users moving to Affinity Studio or new users starting to use Affinity Studio (Canva's new version of Affinity) will have to agree to new terms of service when creating or signing into a Canva account which includes agreeing to an arbitration clause.

	There is still public concern over the longevity of the "free" software and whether existing features may one day get locked behind a paywall. The company claims that the app is free forever; in a social media post, Affinity says that there isn't a catch, that user data isn't being sold, that user creativity isn't being monetized, and that data isn't being used to train AI models.<ref name=":2" /> However, [https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/ Canva's Privacy Policy] indicates that information collected about their users is used for data analytics, service improvement (including analytics and machine learning), and for advertising purposes in addition to other purposes often included in a Privacy Policy.<!-- This could use further verification. I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not an expert on the newer Affinity Studio software released by Canva. -->		There is still public concern over the longevity of the "free" software and whether existing features may one day get locked behind a paywall. The company claims that the app is free forever; in a social media post, Affinity says that there isn't a catch, that user data isn't being sold, that user creativity isn't being monetized, and that data isn't being used to train AI models.<ref name=":2" /> However, [https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/ Canva's Privacy Policy] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222212655/https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/ Archived]) indicates that information collected about their users is used for data analytics, service improvement (including analytics and machine learning), and for advertising purposes in addition to other purposes often included in a Privacy Policy.<!-- This could use further verification. I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not an expert on the newer Affinity Studio software released by Canva. -->

	There's also concern as to whether the older versions of Affinity that provided a perpetual license may some day be revoked.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-03 \|title=Revealing the future of Affinity \|url=https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/235901-revealing-the-future-of-affinity/ \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Serif / Affinity Forums}}</ref> The EULA for the V2 Affinity applications indicate that Serif or Serif Licensors could suspend remove, modify, disable, or impose limits on access to Serif Software without notice or liability to the user, further increasing concern over if and when V2 or other Affinity Software may eventually be un-installable or otherwise rendered unusable for existing users.		There's also concern as to whether the older versions of Affinity that provided a perpetual license may some day be revoked.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2025-10-03 \|title=Revealing the future of Affinity \|url=https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/235901-revealing-the-future-of-affinity/ \|access-date=2025-11-02 \|website=Serif / Affinity Forums \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251103042619/https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?%2Ftopic%2F235901-revealing-the-future-of-affinity%2F \|archive-date=3 Nov 2025}}</ref> The EULA for the V2 Affinity applications indicate that Serif or Serif Licensors could suspend remove, modify, disable, or impose limits on access to Serif Software without notice or liability to the user, further increasing concern over if and when V2 or other Affinity Software may eventually be un-installable or otherwise rendered unusable for existing users.

	==References==		==References==