Autodesk's $1,000 Fee on Out-of-Country Use

I can use my notebook computer and MP3 player and video camera and PalmPilot in any country of the world, but not AutoCAD.

I could, of course, use AutoCAD outside of the country in which I obtained the software. But Autodesk levies a $1,000 fee for every country to which I haul my notebook computer. (And when flying over the ocean, between countries.) Unreasonable? Sure: the US Government charges a tax of "only" $50 on Canadian professionals who travel to the US to perform temporary work (under the TC-1 visa). And Autodesk wonders why piracy is rampant.

You can read the details (including the misspelled "Signapore") at the Autodesk Web site.

AALTA

Paul Waddington thinks the tax could become another revenue source for airlines:

This is an opportunity for airlines to become ‘Autodesk Authorized License Transfer Agencies’ (AALTA). The airline hosts would facilitate license transfers, collecting the $1,000 fee before you touch down at your destination. This would allow an almost continuous use of the software from jurisdiction to jurisdiction!

Comments

[Tony Tanzillo]

I heard that one of Autodesk's marketing execs was once a flight attendant, which would seem to explain a lot.

[To Much Blog]

Can you read any harder between the lines?

It says - Can I use a software that has been PURCHASED OUTSIDE my country?

It does Not say - Can I use my software that I purchased, outside my country?

[ralphg]

Buy it one country, pay an extra $1,000 to use it in another. Not too difficult a concept to grok, To Much Blog.

[Koji Gushi]

The issue is this I think. 1.
1. I visit US and bought a software here. Technically if I takeit overseas and use it there PERMANANTLY , then I would be violating some Export laws since US government regulates (now less) software and computer hardware. Like if you buy a high end Silicon graphics computer you will bein deep doo doo if you try to export it without clearance, since it can be used for military purposes. Remember the 128bit vs 56bit encryption onInternet explorer/Netscape. You had to prove that you were downloading from US (they checked IP) before they let you install the 128bit encryption.

WEll back to the subject. The idea is if I viist US and I find the software cheaper here and bought it. I cannot USE it in Singapore or India permanently. Also I think if a company is based in US and overseas the overseas branch has to purchase software lcally licensed inthat jurissdiction. So If I move my company or take the software to singapore , I will have to pay a transfer fee. I think it is not for say I am visiting as a consultant to Singapore temporarily for a project and I am base dout of US I will not have to pay such fees.

[Henrik Vallgren]

Since this is a transfer - shouldn't you pay again once you return?