Where can I find the EULA of the academic version of Media Composer?  I am particulary interested to know whether, since I am a college student, I can still use Media Composer for commercial work, both when I am in college and when I have graduated.

The Academic versions can "never" be used for commerical or revenue generating purposes.  If you're making money with it, then legally, you are required to upgrade to a full version.

Meanwhile .. I have no idea where the EULA is.

Thank you for your help.  Yes, I am disappointed that the EULA never seems to be easily available.  Unfortunately this means I will be buying Adobe Premier Pro instead.

Thanks again!!

"Unfortunately this means I will be buying Adobe Premier Pro instead."

Perhaps after you graduate, you should consider Business School too.  Just a thought.

andy120:

Unfortunately this means I will be buying Adobe Premier Pro instead.

Andy, we're all users here, so what your editor of choice is doesn't really concern us.  But I have a question for you.  Are you intending to work professionally in this field or not?  Because if you are you should be making your choice not on whether an academic tool can or cannot be used to make money.

In any case your choice on those grounds is invalid.  Adobe expect you to use their academic releases for academic purposes only too.

I meant no offense by mentioning Adobe...I do wish I could use Avid as I know it is industry standard! However, as far as I know Adobe's EULA for academic versions does allow them to be used for commercial use; making it a better value for me at this time. I will of course be doing further research to confirm that. I am an undergraduate communication student, but I am looking for a video editing software to practice my production skills until I begin to take post production courses. Since I also own a small media production company, I was hoping to also use the software for the occasional client production. I thought I'd see if I could use Avid for both purposes. I am sincerely thankful for everyone's advice! As a new student, it can be intimidating to see all these different types of software and EULAs and have to decide which ones will fit my need best! I am sure I will eventually purchase Avid but at the moment this college student's funds are a bit low! Thank you again...the Avid community here seems to be very welcoming and helpful and I hope to drop by often!

 On behalf of everyone, you're welcome and we'd like to see you stay and become a member of the Avid Editor family. Avid is increasingly focusing on it's outreach to the educational sector and as such offers very attractive pricing within the educational community and also good, affordable upgrade paths to the commercial version at a later time. I would suggest to you that it's worth the minimal investment to acquire the educational MC, use it for school projects and in due course get to know and love Avid for the powerful, flexible editing engine that it is and then, with some good product under your belt to show, you just might be in a position to have enough new PAYING projects to be able to afford the upgrade. Just a thought.

In the meantime, here are some free online tutorials that will help you get acquainted with the software, toolsets, and some of the really cool things Avid can do.

Good luck and have fun!

andy120:

I also own a small media production company

Now see... this is where I have a problem with things.  I too own a small business (I'm self-employed, therefore I am a business)  I go out of my way to make sure that I'm doing things legitimately.  Software/equipment purchases, taxes, health care, insurance, mileage, banking records, the whole nine - I even have an accountant. 

I cannot begin to express using text how much it angers me when someone who "owns a company" asks things about using discounted educational software for profit.  Then, when told it's not legal via the Avid EULA, proceeds to state that they will go to a competing product in order to carry out the unethical task.  It doesn't matter that Adobe or Apple or whatever doesn't explicity outline in the EULA that you are prohibited from using an educational version for profit - it comes down to your own ethics. 

I don't care if you're a student or a grandma from Tucson, if you are truly the owner of a business and you use software or other goods/equipment acquired through an "educational advantage", then in my book it is an immoral and unethical business practice. 

The economy has hurt everyone... I have a mortgage, a wife and two kids, two cars and so on.  I don't get price breaks on software because I can't afford it right now, it is the cost of doing business.  If a person wants to be a professional and be respected as a professional then it is up to them to make professional and ethical choices. 

Now excuse me while I try not to hurt myself as I step down from my soapbox.

 

 

 

 

That is why I asked this question: I do not intend to break any license agreement.  Many 'academic' version software allows student users to use the software for commercial use.  As far back as I can remember, Adobe has been this way.  In fact, I have seen this advantage used as a selling point!!

 

I fail to see any ethical dilemma when they explicitly tell me I can use the software for commercial use.  Now that I understand Avid's policy is not to allow noneducational use, I will not buy their software for commercial products.  It's as easy as asking the owner what their guidelines and permissions are!  

 

I also go out of my way to make sure my business is legitimate.  I buy licenses for fonts, for graphics, for audio, and for software.  Using an academic licensed software which a company specifically makes so that students can use it in commercial projects is in no way unethical; saying that it is implies that the company itself is promoting an unethical task which is illogical.

 

As the owner of the software, Adobe has the right to decide what is ethical use of its software and it has: in its license agreement.  Customer service representatives confirm this.  (see: http://virb.com/royhu/blog/130496).  To call that use unethical does not quite make sense.

So, here's the alleged conversation from that link ...

rep: you don't need to upgrade to work on commercial sites...
me: ...huh? what do you mean?
rep: you don't need to upgrade to work on commercial sites... (sarcastic sob!)
me: yeah... i heard you but, how is that possible?

rep:macromedia studio 8 had that restriction... but when adobe bought macromedia, the restriction was taken off... so you can use the academic version for commercial purposes...

me: are you sure?
rep: yeah, they try not to advertise it too much...
me: ok... thanks...

Then, on the Adobe site, at:

https://store1.adobe.com/cfusion/store/html/index.cfm?event=displayEduConditions&store=OLS-EDU&nr=1

... it says:

What are the restrictions in using education versions of Adobe products?
A customer may only purchase one copy of any product. Education versions of Former Macromedia products only (Studio 8, Dreamweaver, Flash, etc.) are intended for instructional and administrative purposes only and may not be used for any commercial purpose.

andy120:

I do not intend to break any license agreement.

I fully respect your intention and do appreciate the fact that you investigated the matter before acting. 

If they (Adobe) have no issue with their product being used commercially or academically for the same price, then why the heck did I pay $1700 for the Production Premium Package?  Shouldn't the price just be one set thing for all customers?  I suppose now my soapboxed comments should be pointed towards Adobe for "penalizing" me for not enrolling in some arbitrary course and taking advantage of their discounts.  

BTW, what is the Academic Price of CS3 Production Premium?

 

 

Yes, the Macromedia software did have that restriction and it may currently.  However, Adobe Premier Pro is not and has never been a Macromedia product.  The line you quoted from the Adobe website implies that Adobe products never had that restriction, only Macromedia products.  Further inquiry to Adobe will be made before I purchase the products.

"BTW, what is the Academic Price of CS3 Production Premium?"

$599

https://store1.adobe.com/cfusion/store/flex/index.cfm?store=OLS-EDU&nr=1

Discounts from Adobe are not nearly as much as Avid offers...I assume their allowance for commercial use is part of that reason.

 

Usually you have to be enrolled as a full time student at an accredited academic institution to receive the academic discounts, though I am not certain.  I do appreciate their academic prices since at the moment I must pay nearly $50,000 for school!

 

I believe there is nothing wrong with "shopping around" for the best possible price, as long as you do your research and make sure you are following their rules!

"The line you quoted from the Adobe website implies  ..."

No, the point of my post was that the conversation in the link you provided was in conflict with Adobe's current published licensing policy.  Therefore it is not of any use in justifying your case.  I never said anything about the licensing of Premeire Pro.