Autodesk: Difference between revisions

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==Consumer impact summary==

===~~'''~~Ownership degradation~~'''~~===

===Ownership degradation===

In the last 2 decades Autodesk has been slowly discontinuing its perpetual licenses into mandatory subscription models. Such events include:

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Autodesk is allowed to audit a users premises to verify compliance. If the user or company is found to have overextended licenses, Autodesk requires the user to purchase additional licenses to cover the overextended licenses in question.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoDesk License and Services agreement |url=https://download.autodesk.com/us/FY17/Suites/LSA/en-us/lsa.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/iIM3C |archive-date=2026-03-09 |access-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref> However, the software does not limit the number of machines that can sign in and activate it simultaneously.{{Citation needed}} Autodesk compliance agents threatened to increase fines if legal counsel is hired against Autodesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vondran |first=Steve |date=2023-04-12 |title=Autodesk Internal Getting Very Aggressive in 2023 Beware of Over-Assigning Licenses |url=https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250730215441/https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |archive-date=2025-07-30 |access-date=2025-10-23}}</ref>

===~~'''~~Market control~~'''~~===

===Market control===

Autodesk is the biggest player in the CAD and BIM software markets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoCAD market share |url=https://6sense.com/tech/cad-software/autocad-market-share |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250715185010/https://6sense.com/tech/cad-software/autocad-market-share |archive-date=15 Jul 2025 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=6sense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Revit market share |url=https://6sense.com/tech/bim-and-architectural-design-software/autodesk-revit-market-share |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250624143838/https://6sense.com/tech/bim-and-architectural-design-software/autodesk-revit-market-share |archive-date=24 Jun 2025 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=6sense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Market Overview Of BIM And CAD Software Usage Of European Architects |url=https://www.usp-research.com/insights/news/market-overview-of-bim-and-cad-software-usage-of-european-architects/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260322121604/https://www.usp-research.com/insights/news/market-overview-of-bim-and-cad-software-usage-of-european-architects/ |archive-date=22 Mar 2026 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=USP}}</ref> The company has done many things throughout the years to achieve this market dominance, apart from being a voluntary choice for some consumers, including:

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 ==Consumer impact summary==
-==='''Ownership degradation'''===
+===Ownership degradation===
 In the last 2 decades Autodesk has been slowly discontinuing its perpetual licenses into mandatory subscription models. Such events include:
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 Autodesk is allowed to audit a users premises to verify compliance. If the user or company is found to have overextended licenses, Autodesk requires the user to purchase additional licenses to cover the overextended licenses in question.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoDesk License and Services agreement |url=https://download.autodesk.com/us/FY17/Suites/LSA/en-us/lsa.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/iIM3C |archive-date=2026-03-09 |access-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref> However, the software does not limit the number of machines that can sign in and activate it simultaneously.{{Citation needed}} Autodesk compliance agents threatened to increase fines if legal counsel is hired against Autodesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vondran |first=Steve |date=2023-04-12 |title=Autodesk Internal Getting Very Aggressive in 2023 Beware of Over-Assigning Licenses |url=https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250730215441/https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |archive-date=2025-07-30 |access-date=2025-10-23}}</ref>
-==='''Market control'''===
+===Market control===
 Autodesk is the biggest player in the CAD and BIM software markets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoCAD market share |url=https://6sense.com/tech/cad-software/autocad-market-share |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250715185010/https://6sense.com/tech/cad-software/autocad-market-share |archive-date=15 Jul 2025 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=6sense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Revit market share |url=https://6sense.com/tech/bim-and-architectural-design-software/autodesk-revit-market-share |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250624143838/https://6sense.com/tech/bim-and-architectural-design-software/autodesk-revit-market-share |archive-date=24 Jun 2025 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=6sense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Market Overview Of BIM And CAD Software Usage Of European Architects |url=https://www.usp-research.com/insights/news/market-overview-of-bim-and-cad-software-usage-of-european-architects/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260322121604/https://www.usp-research.com/insights/news/market-overview-of-bim-and-cad-software-usage-of-european-architects/ |archive-date=22 Mar 2026 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=USP}}</ref> The company has done many things throughout the years to achieve this market dominance, apart from being a voluntary choice for some consumers, including: