Why do I have to pay renewal to download IPB?

[Dmacleo]

my subscription to technet expired 2 months ago so cannot verify but I think nt is there. know 95/98/98se was as I needed them myself last year. afaik thats only way to get the EOL (NOT legacy) items (which vista/win7 are not) legit from ms.

[JordanH]

How so?

Sorry ment to say ΑndyF LOL

fixed :$

[AndyF]

Really?

I didn't misread you, the two are not at all the same. It's an invalid arguing point.

You also ignore the fact that it's completely possible for your license to expire and you will not have access to the latest current version of the software. We're not talking about legacy versions which do not receive any official support.

That's different as newer MS software is available as digital downloads and the link you provided contains supported products, ie Win7. I know 8 is out but 7 is still supported. I do not see any XP / 2K downloads from there. :smile: Perhaps using MS products was a bad example.

If your licence expires you won't have access to the current / new versions and won't have access to support, its always been that way afaik. Its similar to how say the Spam Service addon amongst others will cease to function if your support expires.

I gave thought to closing this topic as this subject has been discussed before that I can remember and we do not really seem to be going anywhere, however currently I'm leaving it open as apart from a dislike to closing topics where not necessary I'm happy for the feedback to be posted for staff / management to read and review if you feel there should be a change to this policy.

[wjrizk]

That's different as newer MS software is available as digital downloads and the link you provided contains supported products, ie Win7. I know 8 is out but 7 is still supported. I do not see any XP / 2K downloads from there. :smile: Perhaps using MS products was a bad example.

If your licence expires you won't have access to the current / new versions and won't have access to support, its always been that way afaik. Its similar to how say the Spam Service addon amongst others will cease to function if your support expires.

I gave thought to closing this topic as this subject has been discussed before that I can remember and we do not really seem to be going anywhere, however currently I'm leaving it open as apart from a dislike to closing topics where not necessary I'm happy for the feedback to be posted for staff / management to read and review if you feel there should be a change to this policy.

https://www7.downloadoffice2010.microsoft.com/o12/registerkey.aspx?ref=o12&culture=en-GB - Office 2007 PKC Download (Legal)

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/buy/using-the-product-key-card-FX101853163.aspx - Office 2010 PKC Download (Legal)

Microsoft release ISO's to the public for example (Digital River) which are available to download (Office 2007, Office 2010 and Office 2013) - Take office 2007 for example that product was released in Jan 2007 .. Is still available to download. ISO are available everywhere now (Legally)

Logic tells me - If I pay for a product, I legally own it - I should have access to it. Id also pretty much prefer to keep a license key on a file rather then a CD/DATA (We are in 2013 now, not the 90's) We now rely on Digital Downloads - IPB need to really need to have an Option A and Option B.

Could you imagine Origin or Steam only allowing you to download a game once

Take for example a Computer Fails, a backup fails, DATA loss, Corruption, a Bad sector happens to hit a folder containing a copy of Invision Power Board.

I want to be able to input my Login details and I want invision to tell me "WILL, YOU ARE LICENSED TO DOWNLOAD THESE PRODUCTS!"

[Mark]

Hi Dean,

The way our system works is that when the license is active, you're able to download the latest version. It's really more of a technical limitation than anything else; being able to download the version up to what you had sounds like a great idea to me, I'll bring it up with the rest of the team :)

As for the URL change - we allow users to change their URL once every 6 months for free, and subsequent changes incur a fee. Unlike all our competitors, your IPS license key includes some IPS-server-side services such as the spam monitoring service, and these services work off of the license key. We had a problem (we used to allow unlimited changes) where people were essentially using their license key on multiple sites, so the limitations on the change was implemented for that reason. I would imagine it's pretty unlikely you'd need to change your URL more than once every 6 months, but if there's a genuine reason (like you changed it to the wrong URL accidentally), just let us know and we might be able to waive that fee.

I hope that addresses your concerns. Please let me know if you need anything else :)

[Makoto]

As for the URL change - we allow users to change their URL once every 6 months for free, and subsequent changes incur a fee. Unlike all our competitors, your IPS license key includes some IPS-server-side services such as the spam monitoring service, and these services work off of the license key. We had a problem (we used to allow unlimited changes) where people were essentially using their license key on multiple sites, so the limitations on the change was implemented for that reason. I would imagine it's pretty unlikely you'd need to change your URL more than once every 6 months, but if there's a genuine reason (like you changed it to the wrong URL accidentally), just let us know and we might be able to waive that fee.

I think that's perfectly reasonable and understandable, thanks for clarifying.

[Lindy]

To be clear on how licenses work, while we do not shut off or disallow use of the software after your license is expired, it is indeed NOT an active license. While we do not actively track the version that was accessible, common sense does prevail, we can look at dates and you'd be surprised at the number of people that abuse the system, have not renewed their license in 3 years, yet somehow are running the latest version of the software. Since illegal downloading was mentioned here, I will note that amounts to piracy and licenses are terminated in such cases.

I don't know the policies of our competitors in regards to downloads, but I do know that we do not charge $149 to install or upgrade software, we do not make you re-purchase the whole suite with every major version and we include many services and addons that aren't available with others, such as spam mitigation. If we're drawing comparisons, let's be fair about it. :)

I'll skim over the silly "cash grabbing aholes" comment and clarify: we are indeed an established business of over a decade; we do not hide that. While up front purchases cover operating overhead, renewals are what keep development moving. Restricting access to downloads for expired licenses is not a new concept - please google "extended download service" and you will see we're certainly not the only ones.

While we do intend to start tracking versions accessible to licenses at time of expiration, it's not quite as simple as providing a link to a download. Let's say your license expired with version 3.2.0 and there was a critical update for 3.2.2. I don't consider it ethical to provide a download with known, potentially serious, issues and frankly I don't consider it good business sense to provide a free upgrade to someone who has made clear their intention not to renew. :)

That doesn't mean we won't consider options, however, it's important to back up your files. Again, while you may continue using your then-active instance of the software, your license is effectively expired.

I hope this helps clarify and please let us know if you have further questions.

[Ae9803]

I couldnt agree with Lindy, more. Thats like cancelling a subscription of a magazine, then asking for the latest cover for free. But, I could see how if he wanted to still download for an older version of the software why we shouldnt have access to doing it. With the renewels, arent we paying for the support and "most latest version"? I feel like we should have the option to download the version that was included with the renewal we had. But with the limitation, I can see how that is a pain point :)

[AndyF]

I couldnt agree with Lindy, more. Thats like cancelling a subscription of a magazine, then asking for the latest cover for free. But, I could see how if he wanted to still download for an older version of the software why we shouldnt have access to doing it. With the renewels, arent we paying for the support and "most latest version"? I feel like we should have the option to download the version that was included with the renewal we had. But with the limitation, I can see how that is a pain point :smile:

Trouble is some would then run that version if they were limited to their last "when active" download, be that 2.x or 3.0.x. The concern then is they may run into problems / bugs and be annoyed that they cannot get a great deal of help for an outdated version, not to mention potential exploits.

As I've mentioned before the best advice for those who do not plan to renew for whatever reason is to keep the original .zip somewhere safe, be that on your hard drive or a backup device / optical etc. This way you always have it to hand if you should need it. I still have the majority of mine.

[Adriano Faria]

While we do intend to start tracking versions accessible to licenses at time of expiration, it's not quite as simple as providing a link to a download...

I think it's a great first step: to show an interest in changing.

[Makoto]

Thats like cancelling a subscription of a magazine, then asking for the latest cover for free.

No it's not. Can we please stop using bad metaphors in this thread?

[Ae9803]

Well good thing this is a forum and we are all entitled to our opinions, Kirito.

[Makoto]

Well good thing this is a forum and we area all entitled to our opinions, Kirito.

Are you not entitled to your own opinion elsewhere? How is the fact that this is a forum relevant?

Please stop using invalid metaphors. It's annoying and nonconstructive.

[Adriano Faria]

Are you not entitled to your own opinion elsewhere? How is the fact that this is a forum relevant?

Please stop using invalid metaphors. It's annoying.

Kirito, no reason for a war here! Just IGNORE his posts and be happy! :thumbsup:

[Ae9803]

Considering, a forum is a place to express your opinions, I just thought I would point that out to you since you appear insult my intelligence. If you cant say anything nice, dont say it at all.

[Makoto]

Considering, a forum is a place to express your opinions, I just thought I would point that out to you since you appear insult my intelligence. If you cant say anything nice, dont say it at all.

I prefer logical correctness over being nice.

When people continually resort to using silly metaphors to try and falsely make one side appear in the wrong, it gets us nowhere.

Regardless, Lindy has made his stance pretty clear here, eh? There might not be much of a reason to keep this thread open now.

[Ae9803]

Well, then maybe you should reread that, because I was not taking any side to it. Anyways, its done.

[Royzee]

It boggles my mind why those complaining about no downloads for older versions didn't think ahead and save a backup of each zipped download. I have every board version archived back to v2.2.

It is just common sense to archive important files. It is your obligation to archive them, not IPS.

[Makoto]

It is just common sense to archive important files. It is your obligation to archive them, not IPS.

If hard drives never crashed, corruption didn't exist, thefts never happened and natural disasters never occurred, your point would hold much more merit.

But the fact of the matter is bad things happen, it's nice to be able to go back and retrieve a copy from IPS directly when all else fails.

You should definitely keep backups regardless though. I'm not arguing against that point, but I don't consider it relevant.

[bfarber]

If hard drives never crashed, corruption didn't exist, thefts never happened and natural disasters never occurred, your point would hold much more merit.

But the fact of the matter is bad things happen, it's nice to be able to go back and retrieve a copy from IPS directly when all else fails.

You should definitely keep backups regardless though. I'm not arguing against that point, but I don't consider it relevant.

And none of those things are our fault or responsibility to protect against. If you are that concerned about losing the files, make offsite backups. Store a CD in a safety deposit box. Store a copy of the zip on a computer not at your location.

[Makoto]

And none of those things are our fault or responsibility to protect against. If you are that concerned about losing the files, make offsite backups. Store a CD in a safety deposit box. Store a copy of the zip on a computer not at your location.

Of course, it's not your responsibility. It would still be nice to have that option though.

If you want to just say that we're SOL if we lose our copy of the software, that's fine.

Going back a bit, Lindy made a point of issues with security vulnerabilities in old versions of the software. In that sense it makes sense to cease offering access to EOL versions of IPS software, I agree. But it shouldn't be an issue for the versions of IP.Board that security patches are still released for anyways.

But again, you don't have to care. You certainly have no obligation. If this suggestion (which I still think is reasonable) is too much trouble for IPS, it is what it is then.

[Lindy]

I think this thread has run its course and has devolved into a flame-fest between members. Time to stick a fork in it!

If you have further concerns, please feel free to open up a customer service ticket. Thank you kindly! :)