I just stumbled upon THIS LINK which is part says of CorelDraw, "Later this year, upgrades (download and box products) will no longer be available. Add Upgrade Protection to your purchase to get future versions at a fraction of the cost or choose a subscription, to always stay current." I did not take part in the webinar from earlier today, which I assume detailed what will happen later this year. Does anyone know? Does this mean Corel is moving to a subscription-only model for Draw? Am I correct to assume that anyone who has a licensed product before a subscription-only model begins will be able to keep that license, to use that version, regardless of his or her subscription status?
Thanks for your time.
I agree, Bobby. I made a similar point in a post that for some reason vanished after I clicked the "Reply" button.
In addition, I ask how the new "Upgrade Protection" approach changes anything for those who currently pay for what used to be called a "Premium Membership." Until recently, Corel issued a new edition of the Draw suite every two years, for the upgrade version of which it charged $199US. At the same time, so-called "Premium Membership" participants paid $99US/year and received new editions without additional charge. So, for $198US ($99x2) premium membership people received a product that to non-premium membership purchasers cost $199. Basically, no savings.
But Corel seems now to have moved to an annual update of the suite. Does this mean that each year's "upgrade" edition will still cost $199, but "Upgrade Protection" customers will get them for $99/year? As you ask, Bobby, what does a "fraction" of the price mean? A "fraction" of what? What will be the final cost to a) brand new Corel Draw customers? b) customers who buy every new version of the suite, but do not enroll in the Update Protection program? c) customers who maintain a current membership in the Update Protection program? d) customers who buy new editions of the suite, but not every new release?
I've maintained a premium membership for four years or so, and received a serial number for version 2019 without additional cost. Assuming I maintain my Upgrade Protection membership, will I pay any additional charge for the next edition of the suite?
Hoping for additional clarification.
"Upgrade Protection" has taken the place of what was called "Premium Membership" a few versions back. The program you are signed up for is the Upgrade Protection and that's why you received the Graphics Suite 2019 Upgrade in an email at no additional cost. As long as you're signed up in the Upgrade Protection Program you receive the new releases for perpetual use.And the annual Upgrade Protection fee is what we refer to as "a fraction of the cost" of an Upgrade version you purchase.
Thanks for the additional information, Klaus, but I'm still not 100% clear as to the ramifications of the new approach. Hence, I ask:
Thanks for your consideration of my questions, Klaus!
The link provided by bcoley at the start of this thread as well as the link in his reply to Bob, is from the official Corel page/source. It is not good online etiquette to imply about' fake news' ... and
'incorrect assumptions' - These plans/offers are intentionally worded this way, vague and ambiguous, so the reader would draw 'incorrect assumptions' This is the corporate standard method so the company stays protected in case of any legal issues that may result from any such statements the company makes.
Words such as Premium, Protection etc are used to play on the psyche of the customer. Again purely to either give the customer a sense of belonging to some exclusive club or build a sense of insecurity about what would happen in the future if they didn't buy the plan now.
If at any point of time in the future,if things should come to a head or legal complications, the company will be able to reinterpret the same words to their advantage.That is the corporate way of doing things.
If Corel had wanted to be clear, which they could have been if they had intended to, we would not even have this discussion!
What I say means that it is useless to start discussing personal interpretations. I have read that some people are saying "It is the latest version in box" "in the next version there will only be subscriptions like Adobe", etc. And so as not to lose time in that kind of subjective interpretations, of what I think, I believe or I can deduce, it is best to read the answer of someone who is part of the Corel staff: Klaus Vossen. If you read it, it's clear: they have no plans to move to subscription only. The standard "perpetual version" will be available on the future, along the subcription option.