What exactly does " FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY" mean?
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Just finished my first 8 hrs for SKP 2013. Had to agree with the terms.
But what exactly is the meaning of “ Non- commercial use only” . I am a freelance designer, I've been designing interiors using the free software since version 6.
If I make 3d models or renderings as a freelance for somebody who use it for their business- not necessarily for design , but for building it. – Am I breaking the terms.
If I continue to use version 8 free, then I wont be liable. Isnt it? Then why don't I use both for their intended use. Version 8 free for commercial, then version 2013 for non commercial?
What If I take models from the warehouse (which is supposed to be free) and use them for my freelance projects. Am I liable?
It is the output that will be evaluated here. What difference does, sketchup 2013 and sketchup 8 free has in terms of “output” .If it is rendered rasterized image, who could tell whether it is made in latest or earlier versions?
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What is commercial work? Is my SketchUp project commercial work?
Just like most companies, we’re not legally permitted to interpret our terms of use. We trust our users to choose the right version of SketchUp for them. If you’re unsure what version to use, here’s some more information about the differences between SketchUp Pro and SketchUp Make.
http://www.sketchup.com/products/sketchup-pro/why-go-proClear as muck
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@rich o brien said:
Just like most companies, we’re not legally permitted to interpret our terms of use.
Why is that ?
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The below casts some light.
Corporate personhood
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_personhood -
@rich o brien said:
W...here’s some more information about the differences between SketchUp Pro and SketchUp Make.
http://www.sketchup.com/products/sketchup-pro/why-go-proClear as muck
Certainly no distinction legally... Just "reasons way pro..."
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If I might interject...
This is almost impossible for Trimble to police this restriction [not that I am advocating side-stepping any ''moral' commitments, let alone 'legal' ones...]
Obviously Pro has many benefits over Free/Make - and is highly recommended, whatever version you opt for...
But let's assume you can't get by with 'v8 Free', but you can get by with 'v2013 Make'...
If you use SketchUp 2013 'Make' to create your models and export just images etc, then unless you give those models to 3rd parties, then who will ever know they were made in v2013 - they look just like v8's images ?
So whether they are produced for 'personal' or 'commercial purposes' is a very blurry area to police...
AND if you did have to give your SKP models to 3rd parties... and your were of a devious disposition... then you might use 'save_as' into a v8 [or even v7] SKP - taking it back when there was no restriction on 'commercial use' - and now the there is no objection or [probable] 'traceability' of the original SKP version in that copy...
So I think it'll be all but impossible to 'police' this - IF they ever tried.
BUT... if you are true 'mensch' you will never do anything you know to be 'wrong' - even when no one else will ever know what you might have done... BUT you would know about your deeds [and if there's a God, so will 'he/she/it' too] - so you don't do it
So - to inherit a motto - 'do no harm' [unless it involves tax-avoidance???]
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i'm going to go out on a limb here and hazard a guess but i don't necessarily think trimble is 'out to get' the sole graphic artist that might use a couple of items made in sketchup then brought into illustrator (or whatever) for compositing.. they're probably only a tad more concerned about joe's handyman service using sketchup to layout his framing for a wall repair or deck extension (or whatever)..
i'd guess their main concern (and rightfully so) would be something like a 10 station arch firm which has one or two pro licenses for file import/export while the other 8 people are using suFree.
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somebody said.. "If you use it for profit", then its commercial. Can somebody tell if anyone of us here use sketchhup strictly ,solely for play or hobby. Why pursue something if it cant be "of profit".
Even hobbies, when excellently done can fall into the hand of a businessman and trade it for profit.
I guess, its not much of what uses one has for it, but who uses it. I mean If I am a person whose career is related to industries like architecture , interiors design, engineering, 3d production and such, (even though I don't have registered company name at all), Then I should only be using "PRO version" Is that it?
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I know there are tons of people who just use it for hobby... I use it for work and then use it for my hobby, Online Simulated Racing. I build Cars and Tracks. I think HellnBack is one of them who is hobby only... He puts tons of time into his stuff and I don't know that he sells any of it. Then there is a guy doing all the old Firehouses in Michigan or Wisconsin or something.
Never underestimate the amount of time people will put into something that makes them no money or even costs them money.
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@cuttingedge said:
I guess, its not much of what uses one has for it, but who uses it. I mean If I am a person whose career is related to industries like architecture , interiors design, engineering, 3d production and such, (even though I don't have registered company name at all), Then I should only be using "PRO version" Is that it?
no, not necessarily.. i'm willing to bet there are many practicing architects, engineers, etc out there who have free sketchup and aren't using it in a way as to necessitate them buying a license.
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I think there are also numerous students using Sketchup, or schools, or...
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@unknownuser said:
i'm going to go out on a limb here and hazard a guess but i don't necessarily think trimble is 'out to get' the sole graphic artist that might use a couple of items made in sketchup then brought into illustrator (or whatever) for compositing.. they're probably only a tad more concerned about joe's handyman service using sketchup to layout his framing for a wall repair or deck extension (or whatever)..
i'd guess their main concern (and rightfully so) would be something like a 10 station arch firm which has one or two pro licenses for file import/export while the other 8 people are using suFree.
Most probably this is the case. The "rule" is there but they will probably not going to go after small freelancers and such as it's not worth the effort, time etc.
I remember when the first free version (5) came out this was the case, too. I actually started with that version and only paid for a license when version 6 came out (where actually this rule was lifted) and when I had my first commercial project (also needed fbx - or 3ds? - export).
So it is not about worrying that Trimble-Police will be after those who abuse this new rule but about your own concerns - and maybe other concerns (like in my country we can be checked any time if we use pirated software or software like this with non-commercial clauses if we run a business)
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@tig said:
AND if you did have to give your SKP models to 3rd parties... and your were of a devious disposition... then you might use 'save_as' into a v8 [or even v7] SKP - taking it back when there was no restriction on 'commercial use' - and now the there is no objection or [probable] 'traceability' of the original SKP version in that copy...
Im thinking that Trimble might soon disable the ability to save in lower versions (free versions) especially if new functionalities are introduced in future updates. This will then give the Pro subscribers advantage over the SU free users. -another way of making free versions obsolete.
Not that I dont want to subscribe to pro for my own personal freelance work,but until I see a difference in functionality in the SUv8 and SU2013 (apart from the import export formats, and Layout which I dont use at all) I wouldnt mind going back to my SU v8 with the useful 3rd party plugins Ive always been using.
Then I will uninstall SU 2013 altogether if my conscience has to hunt me about the terms and condition I agreed with.
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