We discussed software licenses in general a while ago. This was followed by a blog which explained how the license for Nuno works. Now that the UK version of Nuno is launched we are keeping the license mechanism pretty much the same but it seems worthwhile to run over it again. Just what does it cost and what do you get?

Software licenses can be a bit of a minefield. With Nuno we have tried to keep everything simple and sensible. We are also trying to provide a deal which is fair, understandable and does not contain any ‘gotcha’ clauses that mean you end up paying more than you expected.

The US version of Nuno sells for $100, the UK version sells for £120 inc. VAT. The UK version costs a bit more because we need to add VAT and also because we have to pay for the chart data. Here is how it all works. UK prices are in brackets (like this) and include VAT.

Summary

For an initial outlay of $100 (£120) you can have a license for a state of the art navigation system and a one year subscription to full support and update services. After a year you can choose to renew your subscription for a further $50 (£60).

If you want to know more; keep reading.

How to buy Nuno

On the Nuno website you create an account and pay for Nuno with your credit card, debit card or PayPal. This gets you a license to use Nuno and a subscription for a year.

How to get Nuno and Install it

You may have already downloaded Nuno to try it out before you bought it. If not you can download it now. This will be the very latest version. As soon as Nuno starts up on your computer it will ask you for your account logon credentials. This is the same email address and password you used to create your account. Nuno will use these to activate over the Internet. Once activated Nuno is fully functional.

You can have Nuno installed and activated on two computers at the same time. This is so that you can have one PC for route planning and another, maybe a laptop, for use at sea.

You can install Nuno onto a new computer. If you are lucky enough to upgrade your computer then remove Nuno from the old one, install it on the new one, set up your logon as before and you are away. Use the Import/Export facilities to transfer your overlays.

During the next year

The subscription is valid for a year and entitles you to the following:

You will be able to use our chart updating service. This is basically just one click to update all your charts.

You will be notified of any updates to Nuno.

Occasionally we find bugs or problems in the code. More often we want to roll out a bunch of usability and implementation improvements. You will be able to download, install and use the new version of Nuno with these fixes and improvements.

In the next year we are planning to add several new features including AIS support, S63 (commercial, encrypted ENC), auto-helm and a rolling road (whatever that is). You will be able to download, install and use the new versions of Nuno with these new features. Recently we added support for Active Captain to Nuno and all registered users got this as a free upgrade.

If you encounter any problems or have any issues you will be able to contact us directly and probably have your question answered by one of the programming team.

After a year

The subscription expires in a year.

At the end of the year we will invite you to renew your subscription. This will cost just $50 (£60). If you renew your subscription then you can carry on with all the good things I have just described for another year.

Expired subscription

You can still use Nuno. It is yours to keep and use whenever you want.

If you ever lose your copy of Nuno you will be able to log into your account and download a fresh copy.

You can still update your charts but not via the update service. You will need to download updates directly from NOAA and then install them manually.

You will not be able to upgrade Nuno. Activation will be frozen at the latest version on the date that your subscription expired.

Small Print

This prices are all correct as of July 2011. We reserve the right to alter them at any time. This does not mean we are going to suddenly start charging a fortune but it does mean that there may occasionally be some changes to account for inflation and the likes.

In a previous blog I was encouraging people to pay attention to what the software license actually meant. I shall now attempt to take my own medicine by describing the Nuno license sufficiently succinctly that you won’t doze off or lose the will to live before you get to the end.

On the way I may even convince you that this is a really good deal with no subtle clauses that are going to disappoint you.

Here is the small print – in headlines.

Summary

For an initial outlay of $100 you can have a license for a state of the art navigation system and a one year subscription to full support and update services. After a year you can choose to renew your subscription for a further $50.

If you want to know more; keep reading.

How to buy Nuno

On the Nuno website you create an account and pay for Nuno with your credit card. This gets you a license to use Nuno and a subscription for a year.

How to get Nuno and Install it

You may have already downloaded Nuno to try it out before you bought it. If not you can download it now. This will be the very latest version. As soon as Nuno starts up on your computer it will ask you for your account logon credentials. This is the same email address and password you used to create your account. Nuno will use these to activate over the Internet. Once activated Nuno is fully functional.

You can have Nuno installed and activated on two computers at the same time. This is so that you can have one PC for route planning and another, maybe a laptop, for use at sea.

You are now up and running with the latest version of Nuno and a complete set of up to date charts from NOAA.

During the next year

The subscription is valid for a year and entitles you to the following:

· You will be able to use our chart updating service. This is basically just one click to update all your NOAA charts.

· You will be notified of any updates to Nuno.

· Occasionally we find bugs or problems in the code. More often we want to roll out a bunch of usability and implementation improvements. You will be able to download, install and use the new version of Nuno with these fixes and improvements.

· In the next year we are planning to add several new features including Active Captain Integration, AIS support, S63 (commercial, encrypted ENC), auto-helm and a rolling road (whatever that is). You will be able to download, install and use the new versions of Nuno with these new features.

· If you encounter any problems or have any issues you will be able to contact us directly and probably have your question answered by one of the programming team.

After a year

The subscription expires in a year.

At the end of the year we will invite you to renew your subscription. This will cost just $50. If you renew your subscription then you can carry on with all the good things I have just described for another year.

Expired subscription

You can still use Nuno. It is yours to keep and use whenever you want.

If you ever lose your copy of Nuno you will be able to log into your account and download a fresh copy.

You can still update your charts but not via the update service. You will need to download updates directly from NOAA and then install them manually.

You will not be able to upgrade Nuno. Activation will be frozen at the latest version on the date that your subscription expired.

You might think, quite reasonably, that since you’ve been to the store, handed over some hard earned money and come home with a nice new plastic wrapped box, that you had just bought some software. It says software on the outside. It contains a disc with the software on it. It is on my desk. It is mine. I bought it.

Nope you are wrong.

What you actually bought is a license. Even though you physically have the disc in your hand what you really have is a license and a copy of the software which you are only allowed to use according to the terms of the license. You did read the small print before parting with those bills I hope.

I guess the nearest thing to actually owning software might be owning the IPR in the source code but even that is often not clear cut. Several parties may have contributed. In fact this is quite commonly the case especially for any larger system. It can get very messy, very expensive and if all you want to do is use the software then it is probably very little use. You really don’t actually want to own the software – you just want to be able to use it whenever you want – kind of like owning it.

Let’s get back to the store. The crux of all of this is not legal ownership so much as allowing you to do what you want to do with the thing you have paid for. So you buy a license which lets you take it home and use it. Feels a bit like I bought it and there doesn’t seem to be much practical difference so is that the end of it?

Well no – I wouldn’t be blogging about it if it were that simple (ok - I might, but in this case I’m not).

Software is very different to most things you buy. By comparison to, say, a puppy dog, it makes less poo (usually), it does not age and it is easy to copy. In some ways it is a bit like music and shares some of the music problems:

If I buy this CD can I use it in all my CD players?

Yes, of course (^_^)

 

Can I rip it and copy it to all my MP3 devices?

Errr… not so sure (-_-)

 

Can I copy it to all my friends and use it for my vids?

Try that we’ll be round to shoot the puppy (>_<)

 

Actually software has even more problems. If your favorite singer hits a bum note then you might not expect to get an upgrade to the album with it fixed (although this can actually happen). However you would, quite righteously, expect buggy software to be fixed (although this often doesn’t happen). Then there is all the business about upgrades and new features. What about support when you can’t work out how to use it? Finally there is the service aspect. Most modern software comes with some sort of internet based functionality whereby information is provided as a service. So how do you make a license for this lot? Well there are many ways and this is where it starts to get difficult – not just for you but for the company making the software as well. I did really mean it earlier about the small print. You haven’t bought the software so what on earth have you bought?

What does a license cover?

Here are some commonly occurring elements in software licenses:

Use of the software.

This is a fairly simple consideration and also the most important so it is what is usually focused on. These conditions will usually apply to a specific version of the software.

· The software can be used for a limited time. Often called a subscription.

· The software can be used indefinitely.

Warranty

What is going to happen when (not ‘if’) bugs are found in the code? There are several common approaches including:

· Unlucky – learn to live with it.

· A fix will be released for this version. This may only be made available to people who bought it recently or who have paid extra.

· This will be fixed in the next version which also includes new cool features so we are going to charge for it.

Upgrades

It is not guaranteed but most software will continue to develop after the initial release. So what does the license say about upgrades?

· No such thing. Each new release is treated as a brand new software product.

· Ok, there is such a thing as an upgrade so we will charge a reduced price to existing customers.

· It is version specific. So the girlfriend 2.0 license might allow upgrades to girlfriend 2.1 but not to girlfriend 3.0 (with the impressive new features).

· Unlimited. The license allows all upgrades to the software as they become available.

Support

You cannot make the tachyon emitter operate at full power and you have no idea whether to reverse polarize the matter stream. How can you get some help? Just what is actually meant by support covers a wide range of notions. Here are a few:

· None. Just Google it if you have an issue.

· Some information on a website. Bit static but you may find something useful if you are lucky.

· A forum, chat room or notice board. Bit more interactive but can have a poor signal to noise ratio. Useful to chat in a more general sense but less good if you have a specific problem which is stopping you working.

· Support by phone or email for a limited period of time. This is another type of subscription but it is actual real support though – you can ask a direct question and get a response. Might not be a very good one but that’s not the point since we are looking at license models.

· Pay per use support. There are various ways to extract your money such as a premium rate line or a requiring a credit card. This type of support can lead to lovely scenarios where you end up paying a company to tell them that there is a bug in their software.

Service

This is often associated with some of the provisions above so for example software upgrades and support issues may be dealt with through a website that you need to log on to and this is part of the subscription.

Sometimes the service maybe for the provision of data, such as a global database of puppy names and what they mean.

· Always available. If you can run the software you can access the service.

· Part of the subscription. You can access the service while ever the subscription is up to date.

· Pay as you go. You pay for what you use when you use it.

Checklist

So here is the quick and easy checklist for a software license. Go on… have a look at the small print. This is what really defines what you are buying - not the picture on the box.

Use

How long can you use the software for?

How many computers can you install it on? 

Are there any other restrictions on use?

Warranty

What is the provision for patches?

How long are patches going to be available?

How do you report a bug?

Upgrades

What upgrades are likely to be available for this version?

Support and Service

How much can I get before I have to start paying?