User Licenses for Modeling Software from RP Photonics

At RP Photonics, we are proud to offer fair license conditions, e.g. without bad surprises. We are happy to explain them in some detail here:

Commercial and Non-commercial Licenses

RP Photonics is selling both commercial and non-commercial user licenses, as its software is both used for industrial development and scientific research.

Universities and other educational institutions can obtain licenses for non-commercial use at substantially reduced prices, if the software use is only for public research (i.e., publicly funded research the results of which are generally published) and education (e.g. in classes on laser technology or fiber optics). It is not permitted to use such licenses for work in collaboration with a partner pursuing commercial goals, except if this partner has a commercial license for that software himself.

We also offer special classroom licenses, when computers of a whole classroom need to be equipped with the software. Just ask us if that is of interest.

Temporary and Permanent Licenses

RP Photonics offers both temporary and permanent (perpetual) licenses.

Temporary Licenses

The license duration is typically 1 year.
We offer some discounts:
- You can get a 2-year license with a 10% discount.
- After at least 2 years of continuous licensing, you get a 20% discount on further temporary licenses or a permanent license (for a direct continuation).
You can then always use the latest version of the software, even if license prices have increased in the meantime (e.g. due to substantial added features).

One-Month Test Licenses

If you need to thoroughly test our software before fully committing to it, just buy a fully functional test license for one month. We are confident that you will be fully convinced and then decide to continue. If you go for a permanent license directly thereafter, we will fully deduct the already paid amount.

Permanent Licenses

With this license model, you pay a license fee once and can use the software forever.

Without paying maintenance charges, you get updates for the purchased version (e.g. with bug fixes). If we bring out an improved (more expensive) new version, you will get a fair upgrade offer. Even if you decline that, you can continue getting free updates, e.g. with bug fixes.

Machine-bound and Network Licenses

By default, we offer machine-bound licenses, which are bound to one computer: the software can then be used on that computer (by any number of persons, but of course only one at a time). Technically, that binding works through a machine-specific activation code. One can occasionally move a license to another computer, for example if one gets a new one.

Alternatively, we offer network licenses – always at 25% higher prices. Here, the software can be used on any computer within the customer's network, with the number of simultaneous users being limited to the number of licenses. This requires a license control program to be installed on a Windows server in the network, which is technically a bit more demanding; on the other hand, installation of the client software is then simpler because it does not require an activation procedure.

Additional Licenses for the Same Team

For us, it does not make a big difference whether the software is used one one or more computers of the same team. Therefore, we offer substantially cheaper additional licenses for use within the same team (with less support time than for the first license). Here, a team means people really working together at a location, e.g. regularly doing joint publications (for example, not separate research groups at the same university). They will have a joint support time budget.

License Prices

Technical Support

The license fee includes some number of support hours, which an essential ingredient. You can use the support not only for immediately software-related matters, but also for general scientific/technical advice in the subject area of the software.

For most customers, the support time included in the license fee is well sufficient. However, you can at any time buy additional support hours.

Demo Versions

We are sometimes asked about free demo versions of our software products, but we don't offer that. Of course, we understand well that before deciding for a purchase, you need to know well what the product can do for you. Therefore, we have created various options:

There are comprehensive descriptions on our website. That includes various videos and case studies; see e.g. the latter for RP Fiber Power.
We are happy to answer in detail your technical questions (e.g. via the form for software inquiries).
For those who are seriously interested, we also offer online demos, where you get access to our screen via Internet while we talk.
If you really need to test the software yourself, you can purchase a temporary license (see above) at a quite moderate price.

Another Option: Consultancy

You do not necessarily have to posses a license of this software to profit from it. Instead, you may obtain consultancy from Dr. Paschotta. He can actually do more for you than any software could: analyze your data, do some sanity checks, give advice for optimized designs, explain technical limitations, alternative technical approaches, etc. And of course, it takes you less time to get your results.

Of course, you may later on decide to purchase a software license. You will then obtain the script files worked out by RP Photonics for your project so that you can further refine the model or consider cases with modified parameters.