Thx for your reply.
After my initial shock, I just now realize a new, subscription-based license will be required. I heard like 45 euros per year. Not sure I'm really willing to pay that, tbh. The SlySoft License said: "Free updates until: Forever." Kinda miffed about RedFox reneging on the deal.
Well, I really do understand your initial '
shock'. Yet, that also implies that the one expressing such
shock perhaps does not think through the period of shock; objectively as a business person would.
While we may never know the real reason for the demise of
SlySoft, the lack of a renewable license may very well have been a contributor to our loss.
For any business to survive, there must be a revenue stream. As difficulties increase to provide such capability as the product provided (servers, staffing, decoding technology, etc.) costs increase. Forever licenses fail to provide that revenue stream that insures such an infrastructure exists. Remember too, that all license provisions normally include a statement which essentially means, "
Terms and Conditions may change with or without notice." I acquired
AnyDVD long before
HD came along. I found it to be a robust, trustworthy product, with a staff diligent in making sure the product operated correctly before we-the-customer obtained any new release. It maintained its connection to the real-world, developed needed technologies to address changes in the marketplace, and provided those solutions to their customer base in a timely and efficient distribution. It really is unknown at this point how many users of the original
SlySoft AnyDVD HD (or family of products) have obtained that use w/o properly ensuring that the authors received their compensation for the work performed (this may very well be a contributor to
SlySoft's demise) and to maintain their business structure to support such activity.
Had SlySoft published a notice to their loyal customers outlining the change in licensing, I would have been on the bandwagon the second it was published. It is an integral component to the needs of my environment. I have found nothing else on the market that was as easily installed, worked and
so well supported by a Customer Centric staff. So, yes, an annual renewal is needed. I for one want
RedFox to far outlast
SlySoft; and revenue is required to do that.
Jim