ITPEC IP April 2025 Question 78
A piece of software is provided in a form that enables use at a set fee or for a certain period of time. Which of the following is the most appropriate term to express this form of use?
Explanation
Subscription — the user pays a fee to use the software for a set period, instead of buying a permanent licence.
Under a subscription, the right to use the software lasts only while the fee is paid, monthly or yearly, or for a fixed term; when the subscription ends, so does the right to use it. The fee usually includes updates and support, and most cloud software (SaaS) is sold this way. It contrasts with a perpetual licence, bought once and used without a time limit.
Answer (c)
Why not others:
- •(a) Activation — registering an installed copy with the vendor, often online, to confirm it is licensed and unlock it; a way of enforcing a licence, not a form of use
- •(b) Adware — software distributed free or cheaply and paid for by displaying advertisements
- •(d) Volume license — one agreement covering a set number of installations for a bulk buyer such as a company
Key rule: Subscription describes paying for a period of use, a volume license the number of copies, and activation how the licence is checked.
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