vBulletin Licensing Changes

[vB.Org System]

For eight years, Jelsoft has produced feature-rich, professional products and backed them up with high quality support, while always maintaining excellent value for money.


Today, for the first time in our history, we are announcing some changes to the way in which we license our products:
Increases in the price of all products and services
Removal of the renewal fee for add-on productsThe removal of the renewal fee for add-on products is effective immediately. All other changes will be introduced on June 2nd, 2008. Further details of the changes are included below this message.

Please note that the way in which we provide the software to customers and support it will be unaffected by these changes - active license owners will continue to be able to download the latest versions of vBulletin (including future major releases) via the members’ area on vBulletin.com.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers for their continued support. Be assured of our ongoing commitment to excellence in product development and customer service.

Many thanks,

James Limm and the vBulletin Team

--------------------

The following information explains in more detail the licensing changes on a product-by-product basis. If there are any queries about these changes get in touch with our support team on support@vbulletin.com. A discussion thread (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=268828) for this announcement is available.

All pricing changes are reflected in US Dollars. Pricing in Euros and Pounds Sterling will be also implemented on the 2nd June 2008.

Leased and Owned Licenses
We currently offer two different types of vBulletin license: Owned and Leased.

The Owned vBulletin license allows you to run the software on your site indefinitely. Along with this license, you will receive one year of free updates. Beyond the first year, a renewal fee is payable to obtain updates for an additional year.

The Leased vBulletin license allows you to use the software on your site for one year and gives you access to product updates for that year. After one year, the license may be renewed to continue using the software, or removed from the site.

Both licenses include unlimited free support via email.


From 2nd June the following prices will apply:
Owned license - $180
Leased license - $100Bulk order pricing for both license types will remain consistent with the current discounting levels.

License Renewals
For a Leased license, it is necessary to purchase a license Renewal in order to continue to run vBulletin on your site. For Owned licenses, it is not necessary to renew in order to continue using vBulletin, but is required in order to extend access to software updates.


From the June 2nd, the following changes will be coming into effect:
Leased license Renewal pricing will be $100.
Owned license Renewal pricing will be:
$40 if purchased before the license expires or within 60 days after expiry
$60 if purchased at any other time
vBulletin Renewals will now also renew linked add-on products (details below)If a Renewal is purchased before the license expires, the existing expiry date is extended by one year. If the Renewal is purchased after the license expires, access to software updates is restored, and the expiry date will be set to one year from the date of Renewal purchase.

License Upgrades
License Upgrades allow you to convert a Leased license into an Owned license. There are two products available, depending on when the Leased license was purchased.

If the Leased license was purchased less than 60 days in the past, a special offer is available that will convert the license from Leased to Owned without changing the expiry date of the license. From the 2nd June, the price for this option will be $100.

If the Leased license was purchased more than 60 days in the past, the standard license Upgrade option is available. From the 2nd June, the price for this option will be $180. This option will set the new expiry date to be one year in the future from the date of Upgrade purchase, as is currently the case.

Add-on Products
As well as the vBulletin forums product, Jelsoft also offers two additional add-on products that integrate with vBulletin and add extra functionality to the community - vBulletin Blog and vBulletin Project Tools.

Add-on products are linked to either a Leased or an Owned vBulletin license. Currently, buying an add-on product will give you access to software updates for one year from the date of purchase - and a further year of updates would incur an additional fee.

From today, the renewal fees for add-on products will be removed, and access for add-on product updates will correspond to the status of the linked "parent" vBulletin license. While the vBulletin license is active, you will be able to download software updates for any linked add-on products.

From 2nd June, the cost of vBulletin Blog and Project Tools will be $60.

Additional Products

From 2nd June, the Branding Free option price will be $170 and the Professional Installation and Professional Upgrade prices will be $150.


More... (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268714&goto=newpost)

For questions, please use the vBulletin Licensing Changes Discussion (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268828) thread on vBulletin.com

[KURTZ]

it's the market guys ... :( the Dollar right now is too weak ...

[waza]

that sucks, it was getting cheap for me to pay with euro's.

However the british pond has also gotten more weak, so I doub't that's the reason for the increase in price.

*** Edit ***

[codershark]

sorry but I find the new prices to expensive !!!!!

[waza]

But of course, after 8 years everything has gotten more expensive

[codershark]

and what about purple ??? wbb etc. isnt so expensive!!!!!

[malag]

I HATE YOU ! suck! ;/

Professional Installation and Professional Upgrade prices will be $150.
lol lol lol lol :)

[MaryTheG(r)eek]

You can count 3 renewals less :D

[Jasem]

I think the new prices relatively good

[rapidphim]

It's not good for someone just having/doing the forum just for hobby/fun.

[bobster65]

It's not good for someone just having/doing the forum just for hobby/fun.

There are free options available for that.

[rapidphim]

where would that be? because it's getting too pricey for me since I am just doing for fun at my leisure time

[King Kovifor]

where would that be? because it's getting too pricey for me since I am just doing for fun at my leisure time

There are several free options available including phpBB, SMF, myBB and more. You can find them scattered all over the internet.

[snakeair]

The new price does not bother me that much. Times are changing and 8 years ago everything was cheap including gas. Now gas is expensive and a few more dollars for vbulletin. If you can not afford to invest in your forum then, use a free forum software as mentioned earlier.

Add the donation mod to your forum and see if your members are loyal to the community and donate a few dollars each year.

3.7 has a lot of cool features and i'm sure the next version 4 will be twice as good. It's money well spent.

[Ohiosweetheart]

It's been a long time coming. I feel that the price increased is fair and justifiable.

[Lizard King]

The price increase is not bad however the new license renewal option is terrible.

[Acers]

^^ I share Lizard's views. Differential renewal rates based on elapsed time are not good imo. It takes away customer choice. The price increase as such is minimal and justifiable over this long a period.

[SEOvB]

Can't really complain, its still worth every penny, and everything else has gone up in price why shouldn't forum software be included.

And you can always fine free alternative, and people willing to do installation services for lower prices then listed as well if thats part of your concern

[Ohiosweetheart]

The price increase is not bad however the new license renewal option is terrible.
I'll agree with you there. Increasing renewal to $40 is fine. But a $20 "penalty" if you don't renew within a set amount of time is silly.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Some will see it as a penalty, others might see it as a discount if you renew within 60 days of the expiration date.

You can explain this in anyway you want i guess.

[Paul M]

I dont think anyone will see it as a discount - people dont think that way when money is concerned. :)

[cheat-master30]

The add on product auto free renewal seems to be a great deal though, as it now means that I don't think I have to renew my vBulletin Blog license...

[NeuroLancer]

I don't mind the price hike because vBulletin is certainly worth it IMO.

LOL@discount. Calling any form of a price increase a 'discount' is not a good idea, because if you can call a $40 fee a discount then you must accept one may also call a $60 fee a punishment. Best not to label any of it and just say 'this is how it is now' because it is how Marco says, some will go one way, and others will find the negative. I personally choose to think of it as a loyalty scheme. Makes me feel like im a good vbulletin client, and not someone who's extra cash has gone into buying the developers more wine and lanyards ;)

[chick]

Price increase is of course understandable but everything goes up to reflect all the goods increases except MY pay. I hope I'm still alive (due to current age) when the world implodes and everything collapse, so I can see it. Sooner or later!

Price increase will drive more illegal software users. jmo

[rapidphim]

You are right chick. There are so many warez sites that redistribute vB's products (software, styles, Mods).

This is so unfair for someone paying for the product (like us) and paying the yearly renewal fee (like us) while others could get them for free.

[cheat-master30]

You could always report them, or report them to their host...

[rapidphim]

nothing could be done. I have seen so many warez sites still alive and running so well with all movie pirates, IPB (its products), vBulletin (its product)... Even there are sites using illegal copy of vBulletin and generated revenue by offering V.I.P membership for all those pirate products... and again, still alive!

in the other hand, someone paying for the products (like us) has to suffer for the current economy crisis and pricey increase all gas, corn, food... now we have to pay for the price increase in vBulletin.

Don't guess me wrong. I totally agree with this but still.... legally users/customers are getting hit strong.

[Ohiosweetheart]

$10 per year is getting hit strong?? I hardly think that a $10 once-a-year renewal fee is going to hurt that bad.
c'mon y'all - save .85 per month and you got it :rolleyes:

[itdevil]

$10 per year is getting hit strong?? I hardly think that a $10 once-a-year renewal fee is going to hurt that bad.
c'mon y'all - save .85 per month and you got it :rolleyes:

The new renewal fee is acceptable but in my personal option the $20 charge on late renewal is not right... it is like they are forcing us upgrade with in 2 months of support expiry if you want to avoid paying another $20.... :down:

[chick]

I guess I am thinking out loud and in general economic terms.

Gas is pushing $4 per gal., where I am and, (in 2 years they are reporting it will be $10 a gal. on the east coast of the US), property taxes (Mine taxes have doubled in the last 8 years, but NOT my pay, what does that mean in another 8 years? There is no way I'd be able to pay it. My pay has gone up VERY little in the last 8 years, and the rising cost of food, and just the general cost of everything. I use to be, or thought I was a real middle class person, now I know I'm a very low end of the middle class. There is no longer an even keel.

Sooner or later it has to collapse, history repeats itself and I don't think the majority of people even think about this. The 20's depression will happen again and soon.

Now back to vb. The cost is really a 1 time good size hit (software and brand free if chosen) and the renewal fees don't bother me, it's really the rest of what I've posted and it all adds up.

I have no knowledge of coding but imagine the illegal users could recode their own version of vb software and use it, if they are so skilled at making illegal copies?

[rapidphim]

I don't think they do recode any vBulletin or IPB... they actually re-distribute the original software and even created generator to generate vB customer ID. Well I've said enough. I should back to upgrading my forum to its latest release.

[aeturner89]

Some will see it as a penalty, others might see it as a discount if you renew within 60 days of the expiration date.

You can explain this in anyway you want i guess.
Its kinda hard to see it as discount when the old price is $30 and you could renew whenever you want, but meh. 14 months is plenty time in my opinion to fork out $40.

[connkid25]

I have no problem with the new license increase but I agree with everyone else with the renewal fee. It also seems like a penalty to me if you dont purchase it within 60 days. If you want to call it a discount, you must be ok with getting ripped off. If it was really worth $60, why bother offering it at $40 in the first place? Maybe because of the slow development rate and bad announcements. As for the blog, it wasn't worth the original $50 IMO. They want more money but still have not added a real gallery or CMS which many of us have been requesting for years. The blogs are amateur, the groups are useless and the support staff have developed an attitude in the forums. Worth the extra money? Not to me! 3.7 might look prettier but it's not worth the license renewal next time round. I would also assume that when 4.0 comes out in about 3 years, the price will jump again!

[matt4]

Everyone hates price increases but I think these are fair and reasonable :)

[Knightmane]

Now I am glad I renewed for 3 years instead of just 1 before today. When my renewal runs out, I'll not be able to afford Vbulletin, so at that time I'll either have to keep using the old installation, or switch to something else.

[sunnylikbeckham]

Now I am glad I renewed for 3 years instead of just 1 before today. When my renewal runs out, I'll not be able to afford Vbulletin, so at that time I'll either have to keep using the old installation, or switch to something else.

Same As Me

[Regs]

So you can afford to renew for 3 years before today ($90) but you can't afford $40 in 3 years?

Oh I get it, you are being sarcastic, that's funny! You are being sarcastic, right?

:rolleyes:

[roalaik]

Nothing justifiable there. There is nothing to warrant increase here. Thats why guys now go open source and freeware. I wish I used SMF

[LT Mote]

I have a 50/50 stand on the price increase, granted it will be a small jab in our pocket books!

But @ the same time, considering this day and age, everything is going to be increased price wise... Even fast food restaurants jack their prices from time to time...

I have only been using vB for a couple years now, and find it to be the best software out there for community based sites... And over the short amount of time that I have been a consumer, I have seen great things happen with the software, and am very impressed to say the least... The development team of vB work hard to better the system for US... I know that it may not seem fair that they are upping the price, but do they not deserve higher pay in a general sense for their hard work & dedication...

It isn't like they are increasing it each year (least I hope they aren't planning to)

The 20$ extra for not renewing with in a 60 day time from is a little bogus, as well as the Brand Free fee, but the license price parts, seem fair...

Not to offend anyone, but if you seriously don't think you can handle this price increase, you might want to start looking for some Open Source forum software... but vB is the best your gonna find period...

[Harley77]

I renewed my license about 2 days prior to the increase (lucky me). As for paying for the price increase, donations and adsense more than cover our costs at my forum and its not a big board by any means.

[COBRAws]

It isnt that bad

[edytwinky]

What's this owned license renewal? Sorry i'm still new to a lot of the vb stuff.

[King Kovifor]

What's this owned license renewal? Sorry i'm still new to a lot of the vb stuff.

Owned licenses give you a free year of updates. After that year (starting June 2), you must renew. The prices will be:
Within 60 days of the expiration: $40
Over 60 days: $60

This will provide you updates for a year as soon as payment is received.

[mastertek2000]

I'll agree with you there. Increasing renewal to $40 is fine. But a $20 "penalty" if you don't renew within a set amount of time is silly.

i also see it as a penalty

[w1z4rd]

Don't see why people are complaining really. You get to use the best and most intuitive forum system available on the market for what amounts to less then ten bucks a month. Consider the prices of other "premium" php applications and you will start to see what I mean. That's not even mentioning vB's excellent record of competent security updates and support.

I have tinkered with virtually every open source and retail php solution out there during the last ten years and whether it was a cms or forum script vBulletin still is and always has been heads and shoulders above the competition. To be honest they could double the price and I would still use and recommend the software above anything else.

[LT Mote]

Don't see why people are complaining really. You get to use the best and most intuitive forum system available on the market for what amounts to less then ten bucks a month. Consider the prices of other "premium" php applications and you will start to see what I mean. That's not even mentioning vB's excellent record of competent security updates and support.

I have tinkered with virtually every open source and retail php solution out there during the last ten years and whether it was a cms or forum script vBulletin still is and always has been heads and shoulders above the competition. To be honest they could double the price and I would still use and recommend the software above anything else.

Hooah! Well put! I personally don't think I would pay double xD but follow you with the rest

[Alfa1]

I dont care what Jelsoft charges, as long as they keep ahead of competing software in terms of features. The price is well worth it IMO.

[Angel-Wings]

Another thing to increase piracy, then say due of piracy prices should be increased which again increases piracy - that's just usual.
And reporting sites - do you really believe this would change something ? A DB and some files are faster moved and opened somewhere else a support mail is being replied.

But well - it's still ok though like above - recommending someone to pay the double price doesn't mean someone would follow this recommendation.
Open Source products get better and better over years - let's see

[kiril_cvetkov]

I am really sad for the price changing too
but...Vbulletin is simply the best, it's not all in the price, look how is code vbulletin, then how is code board like phpbb and others..
Look the support on the other boards, and look the support on vbulletin.
Look the modifications for vbulletin - then look the modifications for the other boards
Look in the admincp/ and the other features in vbulletin and then look in the other boards
Look the product manager

The most important... if you have vbulletin is like to drive ferrari, if you have other kind of forum is like to drive Zastava..

[Deimos]

Well worth the money I think.

As for gas being $4 a gallon, you should try living in the UK where it's an estimated $10 a gallon :P

[forumrunt]

Glad I got a owned license, and dont be late and you wont get hit with $20. I think honestly it is still a good deal

[lisss001]

My opinion on the matter is that the price increase is fair. At the end of the day Vbulletin are a business and need to make money. Labour costs for updating the software have increased in the past 8 years so they need to keep the charges in-line with this. vBuletin is updated frequently and the support is good. I'm not complaining.

[Jase2]

I would pay double for vBulletin any day. Just look how powerful it is. In my opinion, it should be more.

vBSEO is $150 -- and that is nothing to vBulletin its self.

[Ohiosweetheart]

Don't see why people are complaining really. You get to use the best and most intuitive forum system available on the market for what amounts to less then ten bucks a month. Consider the prices of other "premium" php applications and you will start to see what I mean. That's not even mentioning vB's excellent record of competent security updates and support.

I have tinkered with virtually every open source and retail php solution out there during the last ten years and whether it was a cms or forum script vBulletin still is and always has been heads and shoulders above the competition. To be honest they could double the price and I would still use and recommend the software above anything else.amen

I would pay double for vBulletin any day. Just look how powerful it is. In my opinion, it should be more.

vBSEO is $150 -- and that is nothing to vBulletin its self.

and amen :)

[Shelley_c]

vbulletin has never complimented my site so well since 3.7 and I don't see a problem with the vbulletin license charges or the "penalty" late payment system that some people are complaining about.

[steve1966]

I have been given 100% service so the increase is not a problem for me

[rootnik]

The first price increase in a long time. It seems reasonable, even at 20%.

I bought the blog product, so these changes actually save me money (I think).

[Fabsboards]

The new pricing structure is very reasonable. Can't afford it? Ask your users to donate a buck or two.

[King Kovifor]

The first price increase in a long time. It seems reasonable, even at 20%.

I bought the blog product, so these changes actually save me money (I think).

You can look at it that way, as you bought it for 50 instead of 60 and you now don't have a renewal fee.

[FreshFroot]

Price hike is alright. I agree with most people about the extra renewal charge after 60 days. It's total bull shit by the vB marketing/finance department.

It's almost as if they want to PRESSURE customers to renew. In the end, what's the point? Yeah you renew early and there is no real point. You see a patch update here and there. That's pretty much it. vB 4.0 isn't going to be out for awhile now.

So in the end, the members just have fork out extra money even if they don't use the renewal access.

[LocutusofBorg]

The increased license-costs are ok IMHO - at least when you earn money with your site.

After all one thing I learned (everyone must make his own experience, but this is how I see
it): When you use professional (and vB IS professional - be it security or functionality,
hands down) application and the support from time to time, it saves money, especially
compared to open source solutions. I have a one-time license fee and thats it. And I have
the right to complain, wake up vB-staff to help me etc ;)

When you have open source solution, you can have luck and have nice and responsible
persons at your site - but it is a matter of trust, a matter of luck and - most important -
a matter of motivation! I saw countless! applications, be it win32, unixoids or webbased
apps that leaved abandoned/orphaned behind and I was the lucky one who fixed that shit
because I was dumb enough to believe anyone would care about them.

Obviously this is not the case with e.g. phpBB - but to be honest, I NEVER wanna miss the
support and attitude to things of vB-staff and before I must shutdown vB and use some
other opensource/free software again at my productive sites - I tend to better lack some
cinema-visits, buy a cheaper whatever or smoke some cigarettes less (anyway good idea
to quit smoking ;))

I agree that its harder for hobby-admins, although I would use vB even for hobby-sites
before I switch back to phpBB (maybe because I never forget how many countless hours
I spend to fix/add/edit core-files) - everyone who reviewed phpBB code and compared it
to vB-sources must agree - or is blind (imho)

just my 2cent.

[pedigree]

I still wonder why a UK company, releases and supports software in American English and sells it in US dollars.

[Ohiosweetheart]

Why wouldn't they? And they sell it in several other currencies as well.

[Antonio Pereira]

8 years ago the vbulletin :

2000: 100 Licences
2001: 1000 Licences
2002: 4000 Licenses
.......
.......
.......
2008: 10.000 Licenses =$1.100.000 or more or less ?? :D

Members: 176,515 --Vbulletin.com
Members: 22.014 --vbulletin-germany
etc.... etc....

Ok some of them is a pirate person :( other dont renew but is 50/50?? --20/80 ???

Of course this values is not true but is an example of the Jelsoft making money because every user make publicity to vbulletin, and yes is good product but i think its a shame increase the prices wen i believe 2007/2008 is the best year sales to Jelsoft.

I like jelsoft products but i dont agree with this new prices :(:down:

[xxalexkimxx]

SO can we remove the copyright?

[Marco van Herwaarden]

SO can we remove the copyright?If you purchase the Branding Free option.

[AnjX]

Well worth the money I think.

As for gas being $4 a gallon, you should try living in the UK where it's an estimated $10 a gallon :P

Lol i agree on that, UK is getting stupid and we have to put back on everything because of the price. Its a little stupid I think.

But overall, people need more money to pay for all the money increased prices around the world, so it was going to happen sooner or later..:erm:

[FOREXSEIER]

Will there be any notification on renewal...?

BTW how do u arrange handsomely the vb forum thread...very neat
hope i can follow. Tell me if theres any doc/link I should read or cover

sample see it at my forum
www.forexsexier.com be advice this is not spams ads.
If there out there someone would help me on arrangement..
trillions of thanks
sign
michelle
Malaysia

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Please do not use this thread for support questions.

[Mr. Hoddz]

Money people earn, in eight years, has gone up. The guys at Jelsoft have had the same prices which I know probably doesn't mean their wages go up but it looks that way. In eight years, it's been the same price. To me, this means either it was well over-priced to start with OR it is now to cheap.

I will continue to pay my Renewal Fee for my Owned Licence, because I know I will get a great service, and the ability to use my forum wherever I want. If one of my sites goes down the pan I still have my vB to put somewhere else.

Price increase, yeah we're all gonna say it's a bad thing because who wants to fork out money for anything... but it's life. You look at the price, and then look at the features, and then make a decision. Period!

[Mythotical]

Considering the only benefit from this up in price is if you purchase owned license, I don't see many people going leased. Now that I work at a job that doesn't give anything for a pay increase, I can't afford to continue with vBulletin products even though I love them to death. All I can say is I will not be renewing any of my licenses. I am releasing my last mod as a vB addon, from there depending on sales, will really determine if I will continue with vBulletin and upgrade to at least an owned license.

Thanks for the great products and only time will tell how many people will stick with vbulletin after this increase in prices.

Cheers

[robgeo973]

Well I guess eveything is going up, lol

[mahmood86]

Hello

The price for the license is acceptable
but for the renewal NO
It should be +15% such as the license NOT +100%
:(

I was want renew but Now I will not at this price

[cheat-master30]

You could always just wait until a few years when you have enough money and vBulletin 4 is also out.

[Orakk]

The increased license-costs are ok IMHO - at least when you earn money with your site.

I agree that its harder for hobby-admins, although I would use vB even for hobby-sites
before I switch back to phpBB (maybe because I never forget how many countless hours
I spend to fix/add/edit core-files) - everyone who reviewed phpBB code and compared it
to vB-sources must agree - or is blind (imho)

just my 2cent.
I'm a hobby admin and for the very reasons mentioned above, I wouldn't go back to open source for quids. Knowing our site will still be there the next day and not having to spend countless hours repairing generic code errors makes admin a pleasure. :up:

[zhabbo]

Yup . But they should stop nulled vb