There are two things that keep me from agreeing to the new EULA:
The current EULA makes no mention of us being able to keep using the software after the 12 month upgrade period. (They have said they are fixing this to say we can keep using the software without upgrades after a year, but it’s not in the EULA linked a couple posts above.)
But, even if they do update the EULA to say we can use the software after the year is up:
They have have a rug-pull clause in the amandment section. They say they can change the agreement at any time and we will then have to accept the new terms, or stop using the software altogether.
So the perpetual license will only be perpetual until they decide it isn’t.
Just got notified that if I don’t agree to auto yearly updates for $99, I will be charged $119 for an update if I do it manually. Quite honestly, the original $200 was more than I have ever paid for any software. Topaz is good, but for me to shell out another $119 next April, it would have to become way way way better than it is now. In fact, I cannot think of anything they could do to it to make me come up with another $119. I am most surely not doing auto.
Thanks for linking, but my comment was more of a rhetorical nature for the people at Topaz.
Considering there was quite a bit of ruckus in a previous thread about changing the EULA and also that I (at least) feel that promises were made to clarify the points people had doubts about the first thing that should have been done (in the first post) would be
A link to the new EULA
A link to a page/discussion where any doubts could have been resolved - call it a FAQ or whatever. Something like "Doubt #1 - clarification #1 - this is the part of the new EULA that covers my clarification #1.
Instead - the way it was presented just dropping “Update to the new EULA” without any further comment says things more in the line of “things were done that we would prefer not to talk about, so let’s hope that it gets by without notice” than anything else.
BTW - I just skimmed through the legalese in the supposedly new EULA and kind of “understood” half of it. I still can’t find anything saying that what i have I can still be using even if I stop extending my license…
Me I still read “When you stop paying, the EULA stops being valid and you should delete everything” (not in those words).
Could someone perhaps please point me in the direction where it says that I just don’t lose the use of the software I currently have when my “time” runs out in a Adobe Subscription type of way?
Got the email, and two alternative routes crossed my mind:
The email said that I have until October 3rd to opt in:
Standard upgrade price increases to $119 October 3.
So me being cheap was thinking “maybe I’ll just update at the current price, sit back and watch what direction this is going”. But I guess October comes early this year (there’s no way of getting around it by the way it loooks):
My next thought was… what happens if I accept the auto renewal, let if come into effect and then immediately “Opt Out”?
Because say what they want, I don’t think there’s any law anywhere in the world (with few exceptions) allowing anyone to be “locked up” to this kind of agreement indefinitely. At one point - no matter if I go blind tomorrow, change my preferences of software, or otherwise decide to move on - there’s got to be a way to Opt out, right? So what If I let it renew and then Opt out?
I got one thing clear… I’m the kind of stupid that I’ll rather pay $119 for my freedom than 99 (now discounted to $84) so I’m just gonna wait this one out.
BTW - This new way of doing things seem to have hit all apps, not just PAI:
In the current EULA are no informations that we’re able to keep using the software after the 12 month upgrade period without paying the annual fee for getting updates. They have said they are fixing this in the next update to say that we can keep using the software without upgrades after a year.
But I don’t find anything about it in the EULA linked a couple posts above.
We need a final and clear statement from Topaz about what will happen after 12 months if the fee is not paid. Can PhotoAI continue to be used or not? We must then be able to rely on these statements!!
I paid my annual fee in the belief that the EULA would be changed accordingly.
If the EULA is not adjusted accordingly, I will look for alternatives.
I would like the strength preference settings for sharpen and denoise to be reinstated. I understand that there is a new feature that supposedly learns my preferences, however I have no interest in this because my preferences vary depending what the photo will ultimately be used for. The strength preference settings gave me a predictable baseline starting point that worked most of the time without adjustment, which I could set in advance depending on my goals for a particular set of photos.
As it stands, I have no interest in upgrading beyond 3.1.3 if the strength preference settings are not reinstated as an option.
it would be nice to also offer a monthly subscription? Just kidding. So for the prices quoted, this product’s mediocre performance is too expensive and I won’t be updating it next year. Because paying by credit card is out of the question for me, I only pay for everything with PayPal over the internet and I certainly won’t be updating for $119. Kind regards from Vienna
The stupidity of this has gone on too long without clarification for me. So, I am simply going to let this die and walk away. To me this is ever changing and without stability is not worth the hassle.
This is a bit concerning for those of us on low budgets (like me on disability pension). This potentially clashes with buying updates when there are specials (Black Friday, Boxing Day).
The opt in date is only a couple of days away, and it requires paying for all three apps at the same time rather than staggering them.
If one is planning on paying the $8.25 a month yearly as in a subscription to Adobe, then it doesn’t really make any difference. But many of us found the original $200 rather expensive to begin with(certainly 2 years of subscription which is now one year instead), and now we are being forced into even more money without any assurances that it will be that much worth it. And to top it off, there is a rip-off clause in the Amendments allowing them to change anything any time, and the only recourse is to throw away their $200 software. Bad business model if you ask me.
While I’m 100% agreeing with your concerns as whole I’m not sure you get billed instantly. I clicked a few steps more, and the next screen gives you the option of either opting in for the lower price or selecting the one time purchase option where the opting in returned the price to be paid $0
So my guess you get billed at a later stage (perhaps when your current year runs out?)
Me I’m already browsing around looking at the competition, and I have no intention of renewing neither PAI by the end of November nor Gigapixel in mid February until I have a clear statement (reflected in EULA) about what happens when the 12 months run out… Heck - another thing I’d like to know as well is what happens if I don’t do anything to my current settings at Topazlabs.
On the other hand - it sure would be nice to see the people in Brussels opening a can of Whop-ass on Topazlabs for auto-renewing something we didn’t ask for.
It wouldn’t be the first time the EU ended up siding with the users… ask Google & Microsoft.
We can screw you because our software is better than anyone else. But times change. And soon everyone’s software will be as good as yours, but your business model will send you to the bin of Sears, Chi Chi’s and AOL. People won’t come back, and many of us will remember what you did here to your clients.
