Licensing
Software licensing is the set of contract terms that decide what an organization may deploy, how its usage is counted and what it owes. This archive collects every LICENSEWARE article on vendor licensing: Microsoft, Oracle Database and Java, VMware by Broadcom, Red Hat and open source, SAP, IBM, Adobe and other publishers, plus renewals and cost optimization. Each vendor has its own archive; use this one when a question spans more than one publisher.
The Oracle Java 21 Countdown Is On
The September 2026 Java Cliff: Are You Ready? The end of free updates for Oracle…
For Military VMware users: When Underwater Operations Meet Licensing Flexibility
Fun fact: VMware has introduced a new “critical” license designation to accommodate environments where continuous…
The Private Cloud Renaissance: VMware Cloud Foundation Gets Smarter, Safer, and AI‑Ready
At VMware Explore 2025 in Las Vegas, Broadcom threw down the gauntlet, stating emphatically that…
Microsoft Ends Volume Discounts: Why the Change Matters for Licensing Strategy
On November 1, 2025, Microsoft is eliminating the longstanding volume-based “waterfall” discounts (Levels B–D) for Online…
The UK public-sector bet on Microsoft
In 2025 the UK government signed SPA24, a five-year Strategic Partnership Agreement that effectively commits…
Microsoft’s Pricing Changes for Online Services: What You Need to Know
On August 12, 2025, Microsoft unveiled a significant change to its pricing model for Online…
The Rising Tide of Linux on Business Desktops
According to Lansweeper, Linux usage on enterprise endpoints (desktops and laptops) rose from 1.6% in…
Oracle VirtualBox’s Hidden Licensing Shift: What SAM Teams Must Know
Oracle quietly revised the licensing terms for VirtualBox’s Extension Pack, eliminating the previous free evaluation…
Oracle Database 23ai – Release Update 23.9: What SAM Teams Need to Know
Oracle just released Oracle Database 23ai – Release Update 23.9, and it’s packed with enhancements…
From Free to Fee: Bitnami’s Bold Shift and What It Means for DevOps
Broadcom has officially confirmed that Bitnami’s free container catalog will end on August 28, 2025, replaced by…
European Cloud Providers Drag Broadcom’s VMware Deal into Court
The legal battle over Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware has entered a critical new phase, as…
West Northamptonshire Council’s Saves £1 Million on Microsoft in Post-Merger License Consolidation
In an era of tightening public sector budgets, a £1 million saving is a significant…
How Kerala’s Schools Saved $360 Million by Swtching to Open Source
In the world of public sector IT, a savings of a few million dollars is…
A Turning Point for Digital Sovereignty in the Netherlands
In a striking move on March 18, 2025, the Dutch Parliament approved a series of…
Is RHEL Free for Businesses? What Red Hat’s No-Cost Subscriptions Allow
In a move aimed at clearing long-standing confusion and countering the rise of community-driven clones,…
A New Deal for Europe: Microsoft Unveils Consumption-Based Licensing for Windows Server
Microsoft has announced a significant change to its licensing model for Windows Server in Europe,…
A Final Reprieve: Microsoft Announces Paid Extended Security Updates for Exchange and Skype Servers
Microsoft has officially announced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Exchange Server 2016…
The Price of Freedom: Confronting the Sustainability Crisis in Open Source
The modern digital world, a multi-trillion dollar economy of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and global…
Oracle’s Database@AWS Launch Signals Multicloud Pivot While Preserving License Revenue Streams
Oracle’s recent launch of Database@AWS represents a fundamental strategic shift that simultaneously embraces multicloud flexibility…
VMware Extended Support Lifecycles Signal Strategic Retreat Amid Customer Backlash
In a significant strategic pivot that reflects mounting enterprise resistance to Broadcom’s aggressive licensing overhaul,…