Actinic issue No.1

Yesterday, a client of mine got in touch to ask if I knew of someone who'd like to buy his old copy of Actinic Business (the next version up from Catalog). Also, would I try to sell it for him.

I didn't really want to put time and effort into this, because I'm far too busy, but when he mentioned the financial recompense I thought it was worth sticking it on ebay. I told the client what I would do and he was OK with that.

Next step was to contact Actinic to check that they would support the new owner of the software if they paid the £250 + VAT per year (at least that's what it cost the last time I checked) and that's when the 'fun' began!

First of all, I spoke to sales and posed the question.

The reply took me totally by surprise. A very pleasant young lady informed me that I could not transfer the ownership of the software once the software had been used on a website. Not happy with what I'd just heard I asked for clarification, and the nice young lady passed me onto Andy.

I've met Andy before at a Developer training day and also spoken over the phone regarding numerous support issues. He's also a very helpful individual.

Andy confirmed what the "nice young lady" had said. The gist is that the licence is non-transferable once the software has been used on a website. So, if you buy Actinic software and at some time in the future decide to 'move on' just remember you'll have to ditch that investment (£799 for the 'Business' version) and write it off.

And before you think, "Well, how will Actinic know if I do sell it on?" - remember this. Whenever you, as owner of the software, or your developer have sought support from Actinic, Actinic have recorded your Name, licence number and the website you were using it on. So it doesn't take a genius to realise that any subsequent buyer is going to end up in a very awkward position if they ever do need support, upgrades etc. from Actinic.

I pointed out to Actinic that they could be making ongoing revenue from the £250 ex vat per year support fees if they did allow the software to be transferable. This Andy acknowledged, but Actinic's policy was a 'non-transferable' one.

When I pointed out that this policy didn't help businesses who wanted to move on to other software. Andy replied by saying 9 out of 10 businesses stayed with Actinic. Of course I'd prefer to have verifiable statistics on that issue, but I don't foresee those being forthcoming! I also see this as a way of tying in businesses - good for Actinic, but in my opinion bad for their customers.

I got back to my client and told them I couldn't act as an agent in the sale of the software. Said client was dismayed. Well actually that's the polite version - £799 down the 'swanny'.

I have another major issue with Actinic concerning VAT, decimal places, shipping and rounding, but that will have to wait for another time...

Actinic website: www.actinic.co.uk