Local Issue

Autodesk offers 900-peso CAD software to students
First posted 03:26am (Mla time) July 08, 2005
By Alexander Villafania

AUTODESK will begin selling 900-peso student copies of its globally popular computer-aided design (CAD) and rendering software aimed at the country’s educational institutions, as well as the curbing of rampant distribution of bootlegged versions of its products.

The Student Copy editions of Autodesk’s AutoCAD 2006, Revit, Civil3D and Inventor at 900 pesos each will be available to students through a packaging deal with the school administrators who will avail of an Autodesk Education Solutions set.

These student copies will have the same features as the commercial versions, except that their software watermarks embedded in all the saved files will have a “students-only” label to prevent their use for commercial purposes.

Commercial designs done in CAD software have unique serial codes for identification and are strictly required by civil engineering and architectural firms for authenticity.The Autodesk student copy editions are available to students in Southeast Asian countries and would cost nearly the same in each country.

The 900-peso pricing scheme is Autodesk’s most drastic move to lessen piracy of their products, which are among the world’s most widely pirated software. Most of its products cost between 1,000 US dollars to more than 3,000 US dollars, depending on the package.
Autodesk South Asia vice president Andre Pravaz said the student copies were created for two reasons: first to provide immediate access of CAD applications to engineering, architectural and object design students while widening the company’s base of legitimate users.

The second goal is to give an alternative method of using CAD software without having to buy pirated copies that commonly sell for 100 to 200 pesos a copy.
“The way we made this program is to make sure that students use their copies only for learning. When their professors ask them to do a project the students can continue working at home and report back to their teachers,” Pravaz said.

Reaction:

Autodesk had a nice offer to students, it would be a big help especially to student to avail the CAD software with its low price and also to prevent piracy. On the other hand we can’t blame people if they rather choose pirated than the original copy plus the license of softwares because of the economic situation in our country. With this action piracy would probably lessen.

900-PESO of CAD software is a good bargain to students, for them to immediately access of CAD applications to Engineering, architechtural and object design while widening its legitimate users. Student copy of CAD software is more reliable and secure than with that of pirated so it’s ideal to have it.

Reference: http://news.inq7.net/infotech/index.php?index=1&story_id=42722

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