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|Rosetta Stone is a language learning product that used to be sold on CDs and as downloadable software. At some point they switched to subscriptions only.  

Rosetta Stone is bricking their legacy CD-based and downloadable software by blocking activation, despite perpetual license, to force owners to buy a subscription plan. They refuse to honor the EULA<ref>{{Cite web |title=GLOBAL END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT |url=http://resources.rosettastone.com/CDN/us/pdfs/eulas/eula-global-eng.pdf |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904223201/http://resources.rosettastone.com/CDN/us/pdfs/eulas/eula-global-eng.pdf |archive-date=04 Sep 2011 |archive-format=PDF |website=Rosetta Stone |via=Wayback Machine}}</ref>, which grants the owner right to use the software they own and the license does not have an expiration date. They claim it's because they no longer support the software, but the software does not require support. All that's needed is for them to stop blocking users from activating their fully paid-for software on their computer. Their decision to take down their activation servers shouldn't brick the standalone software.

There are lots of related unresolved complaints and negative reviews on the [https://www.bbb.org/us/va/arlington/profile/language-training-aids/rosetta-stone-ltd-0241-3058409/complaints BBB]<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Rosetta Stone, Ltd Reviews |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/va/arlington/profile/language-training-aids/rosetta-stone-ltd-0241-3058409/customer-reviews |url-status=live |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |website=Better Business Bureau®}}</ref> and [https://www.trustpilot.com/review/rosettastone.com Trustpilot]<ref name=":6" />. There is also related post on [https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearning/comments/1qt3jx8/psa_rosetta_stone_is_bricking_permanent_licenses/ Reddit]<ref name=":7" />, which has garnered 3K upvotes.

|<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Rosetta Stone Reviews |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/rosettastone.com |website=Trustpilot}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Rosetta Stone, Ltd Complaints |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/va/arlington/profile/language-training-aids/rosetta-stone-ltd-0241-3058409/complaints |website=Better Business Bureau®}}</ref><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=1 Feb 2026 |title=PSA: Rosetta Stone is "bricking" permanent licenses to force users into subscriptions |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearning/comments/1qt3jx8/psa_rosetta_stone_is_bricking_permanent_licenses/ |access-date=19 Feb 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>