12/08/2017

The archive contains older posts which may no longer reflect my current views.

# Wojtek over at Infinite Diaries suggests that:

to alleviate concerns over “renting software” instead of owning a copy, Ulysses (in this example) should still be fully functional when a user ceases paying their subscription

What they wouldn't get, in his scenario, is app updates and new features.

As things stand, when your Ulysses subscription lapses the app drops to read only mode - a common practice.

While it would be nice to retain editing functionality this is not, in my opinion, a viable option. People would be able to get the app on the cheap.

Here's how it would go:

  • sign up for a monthly subscription
  • download the latest version and cancel within the first month
  • use the app as normal with no limitations
  • if an update is released sign up for another month, download the update then cancel again.

The developers would only get a fraction of the subscription fees while incurring the same costs. This wouldn't be workable.

Perhaps, if a minimum subscription term could be introduced, this could be prevented or mitigated but, as far as I am aware, the App Store subscription system doesn't allow for this type of practice.

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