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  • VST plugin: definition, glossary and user guide
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    Posted in: Software and plugin
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Featured posts

  • AI Music Creation Is Here and ACE Studio Is at the Heart of It
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    Posted in: Software and plugin
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Ultimate guide to licence transfer software, plugins and vst

10651 Views Posted on: April 3rd 2024
 

Welcome to the Green Musicians blog, your go-to destination for everything related to audio software and plugins, whether new or used. Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of used license transfers, a crucial topic for all musicians and producers looking to refresh their digital arsenal without breaking the bank.

At Green Musicians, we are proud to offer an exclusive service that allows our community to sell and buy used music software and plugins. Our platform stands out for its ability to facilitate these important transactions, ensuring musicians and producers access to quality tools at a reduced cost. This unique service is designed to support creativity and innovation in the music industry by giving a second life to software and plugins, while fully respecting the intellectual property rights of the publishers.

The license transfer process via Green Musicians is designed to be both secure and transparent, ensuring a hassle-free experience for sellers and buyers. All necessary information exchanges for the license transfer must be conducted exclusively via our secure messaging. This approach guarantees the confidentiality and integrity of the data exchanged between parties before the completion of a sale.

To facilitate these transactions, sellers are encouraged to create a specific delivery method titled "License Transfer" when posting their ad. This delivery method, which is displayed only for ads in the category of used software and plugins, guides buyers through the necessary steps to complete the license transfer in accordance with the policies of the concerned publishers.

We are committed to making the used musical software market as accessible and secure as possible. By establishing clear procedures and providing a secure platform for these transactions, we help our community explore new creative possibilities while benefiting from the flexibility and savings the second-hand market can offer.

Understanding License Transfer

License transfer allows musicians to sell or buy used audio software and plugins while remaining compliant with copyright laws and the terms of use established by the publishers. However, it's essential to know the specific conditions set by each publisher, as they determine when and how a license transfer can take place.

Publishers and Their Transfer Policies

To help you navigate the sometimes complex landscape of software and audio plugin publishers' license transfer policies, here's a synthesized overview of various publishers' stance on this issue. At Green Musicians, we strive to provide you with up-to-date information to make your buying or selling experience as smooth as possible, as we commit to offering this type of service 100% securely.

Here is an overview of the transfer policies of some popular publishers in the audio industry:

Transfer Allowed

Non-transferable

Allows license transfers with certain restrictions, such as the prohibition of transferring academic licenses.

AIR Music Tech allows license transfers after deactivation and under specific conditions.

For products using iLok, Apogee allows license transfer via iLok License Manager, with associated fees by Pace.

Arturia offers notable flexibility by allowing the transfer of products or licenses through a structured process. By filling out a specific resale form, users can initiate the transfer of ownership of their Arturia product, whether it's to unregister the product from their account or to transfer it directly to a new owner.

Allows license transfer with an administration fee, providing an option for users looking to resell.

Cherry Audio allows license transfers until a certain date, after which new restrictions apply.

Authorizes license transfers, provided the process is followed through their user area.

Eventide allows license transfers, often managed via iLok, with associated fees.

FabFilter authorizes the transfer of its plugin licenses to a new user, highlighting an open approach to the second-hand market.

Flux facilitates license transfers through the iLok license manager, according to Pace's policies.

GForce Software authorizes the transfer of licenses to a new user, emphasizing the ease of this process for its customers.

  • iLok and eLicenser

Used by many publishers to manage licenses, they allow transfers for a fee.

Moog offers the possibility to transfer your rights under certain conditions, such as prior notification and the full transfer of the application without retaining a copy.

Plugin Alliance allows the transfer of licenses with applicable transfer fees, thus facilitating the resale of its products.

Authorizes the transfer of licenses, subject to specific conditions, such as the need to know the new owner's email.

Allows transfer under conditions, including the payment of transfer fees.

Sonible authorizes the resale of license keys, provided that the new owner's email address and the license key to be transferred are provided. Sonible will contact the new owner to finalize the transfer. No warranty is provided for licenses sold privately or iLok transfers.

  • Steinberg

Steinberg has specific conditions for transferring licenses, notably via the Steinberg Key for some products.

u-he allows transfer after a period and under certain conditions, such as the purchase of tokens for early transfers.

Waldorf offers some flexibility in the transfer of licenses, provided certain conditions are met. To transfer a Waldorf license, the user must ensure the license is registered in their current system and appears under "My Licenses" in the user's myWaldorf account. The transfer process requires sending a message to Waldorf support with the name and email address of the new owner and proof of purchase. Waldorf will then transfer the license to the new owner, who can register the product under their own account. This policy allows for the resale of Waldorf products but requires the seller to provide the necessary information for a successful transfer.

Waves Audio allows the transfer of perpetual plug-in licenses and certain types of hardware, subject to certain conditions:

- The product must have been registered for 3 months or more.

- The product (except hardware) must be covered by the Waves update plan.

Waves Creative Access subscriptions are not transferable. Transfer fees, based on a percentage of the product's catalog price, are applied, with a minimum and maximum set per transfer.

XILS Labs allows the resale of second-hand products. For a license transfer, XILS Labs simply requires the name and email address of the new owner to update their database. If the product is protected by iLok or eLicenser, the transfer fees associated with these services must be managed by the user.

Transfer possible under certain conditions, notably ensuring the license is neither NFR (Not For Resale) nor OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer).

    Acon Digital offers a license that allows the use of their software on multiple machines, as long as the user remains the same and the software is not used simultaneously on multiple stations. However, the license is not transferable.

    Antares maintains that its licenses are not transferable, thus limiting the secondary distribution of its products.

    Blue Cat Audio grants a license to use that is both personal and non-transferable.

    Boom Library retains rights over its products and does not allow license transfers, thereby ensuring strict control over their distribution.

    Boz Digital Labs enforces a non-transferable license policy, with clear restrictions on altering and distributing its software.

    Imposes stricter restrictions, making transfers more complicated or impossible in some cases.

    Initial Audio allows the use of its content in your compositions but strictly restricts selling or transferring it, except for legal use by the original purchaser.

    Polyverse Music offers a revocable, non-transferable, and non-sublicensable license for the use of their software. Each user must obtain their own license directly from Polyverse Music or an authorized reseller.

    PSP Audioware adopts a restrictive approach to the transfer of its software licenses. According to their EULA, users are not allowed to transfer, modify, rent, lend, resell, distribute, or network the software. This policy clearly indicates that the license granted for the use of PSPaudioware software is intended for the end user only and cannot be transferred to another party.

    Sonoris sets strict limits on altering, lending, or reselling its software, prohibiting license transfers.

    Spitfire Audio grants a non-transferable personal license for the use of its products. This license strictly restricts resale or any other form of distribution of the products or their derivatives. Spitfire Audio products must be used in such a way that the purchased sound files become substantially different from the original sound.

    Serato allows the transfer of activation between devices owned by the same user, but the license itself remains attached to the user's Serato account and is not transferable to another individual. Users must therefore be aware of the limitations associated with activation management and understand that Serato licenses are intended for personal use and not for resale.

    The above list of publishers is updated based on our VST plugin catalogue

    Before initiating a license transfer, it is crucial to:

    • Check the specific transfer conditions on the publisher's official website or by contacting their support.
    • Ensure that the license is not a NFR (Not For Resale) or OEM version, which are generally non-transferable.

    Publishers Imposing Restrictions on License Transfer

    In the diverse world of audio software and plugins, some publishers adopt a strict stance prohibiting the transfer of licenses between users. This means that, once you have purchased software or a plugin from these publishers, you are the sole authorized user, with no possibility of selling or transferring it to another person.

    This restriction aims to control the distribution and use of their software, thus ensuring that each user has a valid and officially acquired license.

    Understanding NFR and OEM Licenses

    It's essential for all users and potential buyers to understand what "NFR" (Not For Resale) and "OEM" (Original Equipment Manufacturer) terms mean when they appear in the context of a software license:

    • NFR Licenses (Not For Resale)

    These licenses are often distributed for promotional purposes, for evaluation, or as a reward for certain achievements (such as partnerships or affiliations). NFR licenses are strictly intended for personal or internal use and cannot be sold or transferred to another party. They allow users to fully test and explore the software but with the clear limitation that they must not enter the commercial circuit.

    • OEM Licenses (Original Equipment Manufacturer)

    These licenses are provided with specific hardware or included in a hardware package, designed to be used exclusively with the specified hardware product. OEM licenses are often tied to particular terms of use and are not intended to be detached from the hardware with which they were provided. Therefore, they generally cannot be transferred separately if the associated hardware is not included in the transfer.

    Tips for Green Musicians Users

    At Green Musicians, we understand that navigating the waters of software licensing can be complicated. That's why we strive to provide clear and accurate information about each publisher's license transfer policies listed on our platform. We strongly encourage you to consult the specific terms related to license transfers directly on the publishers' official sites or by contacting their customer support before making a purchase or selling a used license.

    By highlighting publishers that do or do not allow license transfers, and continuing to illuminate the concepts of NFR and OEM licenses, Green Musicians commits to making the second-hand market for audio software and plugins as transparent and accessible as possible.

    We hope this overview helps you make informed choices in your musical journey, ensuring that your investments in software and plugins positively contribute to your creativity and success.

    Green Musicians: Your Trusted Platform

    We offer a wide selection of new audio software and plugins from all the publishers mentioned above and more. We are also committed to providing a platform for musicians wishing to resell their used licenses. We continue to list all publishers accepting license transfer, as well as those imposing restrictions, to keep you informed and safe.

    Conclusion

    Transferring used licenses is an excellent way to enhance your musical creativity while respecting the rights of creators. At Green Musicians, we are here to facilitate this process and help you find the best deals, whether you're looking to buy or sell. Together, let's make music sustainably!

    And Voilà! We hope this article has answered all your questions.
    You now only need to browse Green Musicians to find your music software, plugin, update, or version upgrade at the best Internet price. 

    We offer a comprehensive catalog of music software incorporating publishers from around the world such as UAD, Softube, Plugin Alliance, Waves, and all types of VST, DAW software (Native Instruments, Ableton, Pro Tools, Reason)
    All software is available for immediate download so you can create your music at any hour of the day or night!


    Want to try before you buy?
    That's normal, which is why we offer several hundred free software and plugins for instant download.


    But that’s not all…

    Green Musicians also caters to everyone looking to sell or buy musical equipment: whether it’s you, your sister-in-law, or aunt Martine.

    Professional music stores also have the opportunity to post ads for used musical instruments and offer their services and warranties.

    If you’re looking to sell products, this is the place!

    Together, we aim to make music accessible and eco-responsible by giving musical instruments a second, third, fourth life while preserving our environment.


    For any questions or comments regarding this article or if you would like to suggest a topic for an article, feel free to express yourself below.

    You can also contact us by email at: [email protected] or via our chat!

     
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