Autodesk: Difference between revisions
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}}[[wikipedia:Autodesk|'''Autodesk, Inc.''']] is an American software company headquartered in San Francisco, California, that provides software products and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, who was a co-author of the first versions of AutoCAD.<ref> | }}[[wikipedia:Autodesk|'''Autodesk, Inc.''']] is an American software company headquartered in San Francisco, California, that provides software products and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, who was a co-author of the first versions of AutoCAD.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Alex |date=6 Mar 2024 |title=John Walker, Tech Executive Who Popularized AutoCAD, Dies at 74 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/technology/john-walker-dead.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708174807/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/technology/john-walker-dead.html |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> | ||
Autodesk primarily develops and maintains computer-aided design (CAD) software used globally across many engineering and design industries. Autodesk's vast array of proprietary software allows their programs to interoperate, allowing for cloud-based building information management (BIM) collaboration between owners, architects, engineers, and contractors.<ref> | Autodesk primarily develops and maintains computer-aided design (CAD) software used globally across many engineering and design industries. Autodesk's vast array of proprietary software allows their programs to interoperate, allowing for cloud-based building information management (BIM) collaboration between owners, architects, engineers, and contractors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro: Create, collaborate, and stay up to date |url=https://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-collaborate/overview?plc=COLLRP&term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014051/https://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-collaborate/overview?plc=COLLRP&term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> | ||
Modern versions of Autodesk Products, such as Inventor or AutoCAD, have been known to operate via [[Digital rights management#Always-online DRM|always-online DRM]],<ref> | Modern versions of Autodesk Products, such as Inventor or AutoCAD, have been known to operate via [[Digital rights management#Always-online DRM|always-online DRM]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Install network licensing software |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/download-install/admins/network-deploy/install-licensing-software |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014417/https://www.autodesk.com/support/download-install/admins/network-deploy/install-licensing-software |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> and have served to provide significant inconvenience for consumers if their internet goes out or their license verification servers are offline for maintenance | ||
== Consumer impact summary == | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
=== '''User Freedom''' === | |||
Autodesk ceased to sell perpetual licenses for HSMWorks (2016) and will eliminate access altogether (2025–2028), rendering locally stored information unusable. | |||
Future Fusion versions will lack support for Windows 10, with unclear consequences for existing installations. | |||
=== '''Business Model''' === | |||
Transition from perpetual licenses to subscriptions (2016) and removal of legacy entitlements (e.g., HSMWorks from Fusion 360), in addition to the refusal to honor permanent licenses (e.g., Product Design Suite 2013). | |||
=== '''User Privacy''' === | |||
Faulty piracy detection led to unjust fines and pressure to upgrade licenses. | |||
=== '''Market Control''' === | |||
HSMWorks data incompatibility with supported products (Fusion 360/Inventor CAM) forces costly transitions. | |||
==Controversies== | ==Controversies== | ||
| Line 35: | Line 44: | ||
|HSMWorks End of Life | |HSMWorks End of Life | ||
|2028 | |2028 | ||
|In 2012, Autodesk acquired HSMWorks, a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) product for programming Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, with the intention of integrating the technology into their own software and cloud services.<ref>https://investors.autodesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/autodesk-acquires-hsmworks-technology</ref> HSMWorks could continue to be purchased with a perpetual license until 2016, when Autodesk announced that all Autodesk products, including HSMWorks, would transition to a subscription model, ending support and maintenance plans for perpertual licenses. <ref> | |In 2012, Autodesk acquired HSMWorks, a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) product for programming Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, with the intention of integrating the technology into their own software and cloud services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2012 |title=Autodesk Acquires HSMWorks Technology |url=https://investors.autodesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/autodesk-acquires-hsmworks-technology |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> HSMWorks could continue to be purchased with a perpetual license until 2016, when Autodesk announced that all Autodesk products, including HSMWorks, would transition to a subscription model, ending support and maintenance plans for perpertual licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson Swan |first=Keli |date=14 Jun 2021 |title=Recent Developments in Autodesk Licensing and Audits, Part I |url=https://scottandscottllp.com/recent-developments-in-autodesk-licensing-and-audits-part-i/#:~:text=Autodesk%20introduced%20subscription%20plans%20in,previous%20versions%20of%20perpetual%20software. |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=scottandscottllp.com}}</ref> In 2019, Autodesk transitioned HSMWorks subscribers to Fusion 360 subscribers with entitlement to download and use HSMWorks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Apr 2019 |title=HSMWorks 2020 now included with Fusion 360 subscriptions |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/4ZktnaH9yvV8DxOnwA0LCv.html |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> In February 2025, Autodesk sent an email to Fusion 360 subscribers that HSMWorks entitlement would no longer be included on new subscriptions after March 25, 2025. and entitlement would end March 25, 2028 for all subscribers. "''At that point you will no longer be able to download, access '''or use''' HSMWorks.''"<ref>{{Cite web |last=@lenny_1962 |date=3 Feb 2025 |title=HSMWorks End Of Life March 25th, 2028 |url=https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-support-forum/hsmworks-end-of-life-march-25th-2028/td-p/13297431 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> | ||
|<u>'''Projected aftermath:'''</u> | |<u>'''Projected aftermath:'''</u> | ||
Because HSMWorks was subscription only, or entitlement through Fusion 360 subscription only, from 2016 onward, any person or organization who used up-to-date versions of HSMWorks since then will cease to have access to all data associated with HSMWorks, despite the data being locally stored and HSMWorks being installed (albiet unusable). HSMWorks data is not compatible with Fusion 360 nor Inventor CAM (products that share some technology with HSMWorks), thus no solution exists to bridge user's data to actively supported software. | Because HSMWorks was subscription only, or entitlement through Fusion 360 subscription only, from 2016 onward, any person or organization who used up-to-date versions of HSMWorks since then will cease to have access to all data associated with HSMWorks, despite the data being locally stored and HSMWorks being installed (albiet unusable). HSMWorks data is not compatible with Fusion 360 nor Inventor CAM (products that share some technology with HSMWorks), thus no solution exists to bridge user's data to actively supported software. | ||
| Line 43: | Line 52: | ||
|Discontinuing Win 10 support | |Discontinuing Win 10 support | ||
|2026 | |2026 | ||
|In 2024, Autodesk announced that Autodesk Fusion would no-longer be supported for Windows 10 users after the start of January 2026. Stated in their support article, "Autodesk will no longer consider Windows 10 for Validation, bug fixing, and product support of future releases." The phrasing has rightfully baffled consumers and with a lack of elaboration from support teams, it is unknown whether or not existing installs will no-longer function, especially the line "existing installations cannot be repaired or reinstalled." is confusing and leaves questions open. <ref> | |In 2024, Autodesk announced that Autodesk Fusion would no-longer be supported for Windows 10 users after the start of January 2026. Stated in their support article, "Autodesk will no longer consider Windows 10 for Validation, bug fixing, and product support of future releases." The phrasing has rightfully baffled consumers and with a lack of elaboration from support teams, it is unknown whether or not existing installs will no-longer function, especially the line "existing installations cannot be repaired or reinstalled." is confusing and leaves questions open.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Dec 2024 |title=Fusion Announcing End of Support for Windows 10 |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Fusion-Announcing-End-of-Support-for-Windows-10.html?_ga=2.208606034.1190329573.1738186074-1680147263.1738186073 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130015007/https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Fusion-Announcing-End-of-Support-for-Windows-10.html?_ga=2.208606034.1190329573.1738186074-1680147263.1738186073 |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> | ||
|Discontinuation yet to occur | |Discontinuation yet to occur | ||
|[[Autodesk Fusion ends support for Windows 10]] | |[[Autodesk Fusion ends support for Windows 10]] | ||
| Line 50: | Line 59: | ||
|Ending existing lifetime subscriptions | |Ending existing lifetime subscriptions | ||
|2023 | |2023 | ||
|Youtuber Ian Davis owned a permanent standalone license for Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate 2013 which failed to renew itself. Autodesk refused to issue a new license without an additional subscription purchase. <ref> | |Youtuber Ian Davis owned a permanent standalone license for Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate 2013 which failed to renew itself. Autodesk refused to issue a new license without an additional subscription purchase.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@amymuckin |date=21 May 2023 |title=Need Activation Code for AutoCAD 2013 (full version) |url=https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/previous-version-support/need-activation-code-for-autocad-2013-full-version/td-p/11978768 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014846/https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/previous-version-support/need-activation-code-for-autocad-2013-full-version/td-p/11978768 |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> | ||
|None | |None | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 57: | Line 66: | ||
|Telemetry bugs and harmful fines | |Telemetry bugs and harmful fines | ||
|2017<!-- From source used --> | |2017<!-- From source used --> | ||
|Consumers reported Autodesk's telemetry<ref> | |Consumers reported Autodesk's telemetry<ref>{{Cite web |title=AUTODESK ANALYTICS PROGRAMS |url=https://www.autodesk.com/company/autodesk-analytics |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> on paid versions of software detecting pirated versions of their software on PCs, and they explicitly send large fines as a punishment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/ |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> This software has also been caught malfunctioning and Autodesk scaring consumers into purchasing expensive versions of their licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses (Reply) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/comment/lod8lo2/ |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><!-- Useful info, not so valuable for this specifically though. | ||
https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/15uzp3q/f_autodesk/ | https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/15uzp3q/f_autodesk/ | ||
| Line 68: | Line 77: | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Products<!-- I personally remember taking a class that used Inventor, and the spotty internet connection some computers in the industrial building would have on occasion would make it HELL for me to do classes since if the internet went out and I did not save before then, I had to start from scratch! LITERALLY forced me to drop my class halfway through because of this, and I did not get my money back for it! - JamesTDG --> == | ==Products<!-- I personally remember taking a class that used Inventor, and the spotty internet connection some computers in the industrial building would have on occasion would make it HELL for me to do classes since if the internet went out and I did not save before then, I had to start from scratch! LITERALLY forced me to drop my class halfway through because of this, and I did not get my money back for it! - JamesTDG -->== | ||
*AutoCAD - Autodesk's flagship CAD software, used for freeform 2D and 3D design. | *AutoCAD - Autodesk's flagship CAD software, used for freeform 2D and 3D design. | ||
*Revit - 3D design software that is primarily used by architects, engineers, and structural designers to design, draft, and model buildings and other structures. | *Revit - 3D design software that is primarily used by architects, engineers, and structural designers to design, draft, and model buildings and other structures. | ||
Revision as of 16:42, 2 August 2025
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Autodesk, Inc.
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1982 |
| Legal structure | Public |
| Industry | Software |
| Official website | https://autodesk.com/ |
Autodesk, Inc. is an American software company headquartered in San Francisco, California, that provides software products and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, who was a co-author of the first versions of AutoCAD.[1]
Autodesk primarily develops and maintains computer-aided design (CAD) software used globally across many engineering and design industries. Autodesk's vast array of proprietary software allows their programs to interoperate, allowing for cloud-based building information management (BIM) collaboration between owners, architects, engineers, and contractors.[2]
Modern versions of Autodesk Products, such as Inventor or AutoCAD, have been known to operate via always-online DRM,[3] and have served to provide significant inconvenience for consumers if their internet goes out or their license verification servers are offline for maintenance
Consumer impact summary
User Freedom
Autodesk ceased to sell perpetual licenses for HSMWorks (2016) and will eliminate access altogether (2025–2028), rendering locally stored information unusable.
Future Fusion versions will lack support for Windows 10, with unclear consequences for existing installations.
Business Model
Transition from perpetual licenses to subscriptions (2016) and removal of legacy entitlements (e.g., HSMWorks from Fusion 360), in addition to the refusal to honor permanent licenses (e.g., Product Design Suite 2013).
User Privacy
Faulty piracy detection led to unjust fines and pressure to upgrade licenses.
Market Control
HSMWorks data incompatibility with supported products (Fusion 360/Inventor CAM) forces costly transitions.
Controversies
| Controversy | Year | Background Info | Aftermath | Related Article | Related Video(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSMWorks End of Life | 2028 | In 2012, Autodesk acquired HSMWorks, a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) product for programming Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, with the intention of integrating the technology into their own software and cloud services.[4] HSMWorks could continue to be purchased with a perpetual license until 2016, when Autodesk announced that all Autodesk products, including HSMWorks, would transition to a subscription model, ending support and maintenance plans for perpertual licenses.[5] In 2019, Autodesk transitioned HSMWorks subscribers to Fusion 360 subscribers with entitlement to download and use HSMWorks.[6] In February 2025, Autodesk sent an email to Fusion 360 subscribers that HSMWorks entitlement would no longer be included on new subscriptions after March 25, 2025. and entitlement would end March 25, 2028 for all subscribers. "At that point you will no longer be able to download, access or use HSMWorks."[7] | Projected aftermath:
Because HSMWorks was subscription only, or entitlement through Fusion 360 subscription only, from 2016 onward, any person or organization who used up-to-date versions of HSMWorks since then will cease to have access to all data associated with HSMWorks, despite the data being locally stored and HSMWorks being installed (albiet unusable). HSMWorks data is not compatible with Fusion 360 nor Inventor CAM (products that share some technology with HSMWorks), thus no solution exists to bridge user's data to actively supported software. |
||
| Discontinuing Win 10 support | 2026 | In 2024, Autodesk announced that Autodesk Fusion would no-longer be supported for Windows 10 users after the start of January 2026. Stated in their support article, "Autodesk will no longer consider Windows 10 for Validation, bug fixing, and product support of future releases." The phrasing has rightfully baffled consumers and with a lack of elaboration from support teams, it is unknown whether or not existing installs will no-longer function, especially the line "existing installations cannot be repaired or reinstalled." is confusing and leaves questions open.[8] | Discontinuation yet to occur | Autodesk Fusion ends support for Windows 10 | |
| Ending existing lifetime subscriptions | 2023 | Youtuber Ian Davis owned a permanent standalone license for Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate 2013 which failed to renew itself. Autodesk refused to issue a new license without an additional subscription purchase.[9] | None | https://youtube.com/watch?v=OHY9K8X45XA | |
| Telemetry bugs and harmful fines | 2017 | Consumers reported Autodesk's telemetry[10] on paid versions of software detecting pirated versions of their software on PCs, and they explicitly send large fines as a punishment.[11] This software has also been caught malfunctioning and Autodesk scaring consumers into purchasing expensive versions of their licenses.[12] |
Products
- AutoCAD - Autodesk's flagship CAD software, used for freeform 2D and 3D design.
- Revit - 3D design software that is primarily used by architects, engineers, and structural designers to design, draft, and model buildings and other structures.
- Autodesk Inventor - 3D digital modeling
- Autodesk Fusion - 3D digital modeling
- Civil 3D - 3D design focused on civil infrastructure
- 3ds Max - 3D Animation
- Maya - 3D Animation
References
- ↑ Williams, Alex (6 Mar 2024). "John Walker, Tech Executive Who Popularized AutoCAD, Dies at 74". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 Jul 2025. Retrieved 2 Aug 2025.
- ↑ "Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro: Create, collaborate, and stay up to date". Autodesk. Archived from the original on 30 Jan 2025. Retrieved 2 Aug 2025.
- ↑ "Install network licensing software". Autodesk. Archived from the original on 30 Jan 2025. Retrieved 2 Aug 2025.
- ↑ "Autodesk Acquires HSMWorks Technology". Autodesk. 1 Oct 2012. Retrieved 2 Aug 2025.
- ↑ Johnson Swan, Keli (14 Jun 2021). "Recent Developments in Autodesk Licensing and Audits, Part I". scottandscottllp.com. Retrieved 2 Aug 2025.
- ↑ "HSMWorks 2020 now included with Fusion 360 subscriptions". Autodesk. 23 Apr 2019. Retrieved 2 Aug 2025.
- ↑ @lenny_1962 (3 Feb 2025). "HSMWorks End Of Life March 25th, 2028". Autodesk. Retrieved 2 Aug 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Fusion Announcing End of Support for Windows 10". Autodesk. 4 Dec 2024. Archived from the original on 30 Jan 2025. Retrieved 2 Aug 2025.
- ↑ @amymuckin (21 May 2023). "Need Activation Code for AutoCAD 2013 (full version)". Autodesk. Archived from the original on 30 Jan 2025. Retrieved 2 Aug 2025.
- ↑ "AUTODESK ANALYTICS PROGRAMS". Autodesk. Retrieved 2 Aug 2025.
- ↑ "Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses". Reddit. Retrieved 2 Aug 2025.
- ↑ "Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses (Reply)". Reddit. Retrieved 2 Aug 2025.