Hauptwerk expiration of perpetual license download

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Milan Digital Audio, developers of the Hauptwerk virtual pipe organ software, refused to provide installation files for older versions of their software to customers who purchased perpetual licenses, redefining the scope of perpetual licenses to exclude download rights after product discontinuation.

Background

Milan Digital Audio LLC is a United States-based software company that develops and markets Hauptwerk, a virtual pipe organ software application that allows users to play sampled pipe organs through MIDI keyboards. The software has been through many versions since its original development in 2002, with the company transitioning from a USB dongle-based licensing system to the iLok platform by Pace Anti Piracy starting with version 5.

The company offers both subscription and perpetual licenses for its software. According to the company's current pricing structure, perpetual licenses are marketed as one-time purchases that allow indefinite use of the software. Prior versions of the software, including Hauptwerk 7, were sold with download buttons in user accounts that displayed "never" under the "expires" field, suggesting permanent download availability.

Incident

Screenshot of the affected customer's download page for Hauptwerk v7, showing "Never" beneath the "Expires" header and the infinity symbol (∞) displaying to the left.

In November 2025, a music conservatory instructor who teaches organists and film composers attempted to download Hauptwerk version 7 after switching from macOS to Windows. Despite having purchased a perpetual license and having access to a download button in his user account, the download failed to complete.

When he contacted Milan Digital Audio support, he received a response from François Ratté, Support Manager, stating that "Hauptwerk 7 is no longer supported or distributed" and directing him to purchase an upgrade to Hauptwerk 9. When he requested that the company fix the download link or provide the software he had licensed, Ratté responded that "the installation file is no longer available" and elaborated on the company's interpretation of perpetual licenses.

Company position

According to the support correspondence, Milan Digital Audio maintains that a perpetual license grants only the right to use software indefinitely, not the right to download it indefinitely. Ratté stated in his response: "A perpetual license means that you can use the software for as long as you wish and as long as it is compatible with your hardware, but it doesn't mean you will get infinite support (and downloading the installation file is part of that support)."

The company further justified this position by claiming that "most software companies end the distribution of the previous version as soon as a new one is available" and that Milan Digital Audio provides support only for the current version (Hauptwerk 9) and the preceding version (Hauptwerk 8).

Legal and industry context

The definition and scope of perpetual software licenses has been a subject of ongoing debate in the software industry. Generally, perpetual licenses are understood to provide indefinite usage rights to a specific version of software after a one-time payment. Industry sources indicate that while perpetual licenses typically do not include rights to future updates or new versions, they are generally expected to include continued access to the purchased version.

The practice of discontinuing downloads for previously purchased software has become a contentious issue in consumer rights discussions. Some legal discussions have suggested that denying access to installation files for perpetually licensed software may constitute breach of contract, though not criminal theft.

Consumer impact

The denial of download access particularly affects users who:

• Need to reinstall software after hardware failures or operating system changes
• Switch between different operating systems (as in the case of moving from macOS to Windows)
• Require the specific features or compatibility of older versions
• Have invested in perpetual licenses with the expectation of long-term access

Industry comparison

One may contrast Milan Digital Audio's practices with those of Vienna Symphonic Library: Customers can still download software from the Vienna Symphonic Library that's nearly ten years old. Vienna Symphonic Library continues to provide download access for legacy eLicenser-protected products even after transitioning to the newer iLok system, maintaining download managers and installation files for older versions.

What this means for you

This demonstrates several disturbing trends in modern software licensing:

• Redefinition of ownership terms: Companies unilaterally reinterpreting the scope of "perpetual" licenses after purchase.
• Forced obsolescence: Using technical means to compel users to purchase upgrades.
• Download dependency: The vulnerability of users who depend on vendor-controlled download servers for software they have purchased.
• Platform lock-in: The inability of users to transfer licenses across operating systems despite having paid for perpetual use.

The case has been cited as an example of the erosion of consumer ownership rights in the digital age, where the traditional concept of purchasing software is being replaced by increasingly restrictive licensing models.

Company response to criticism

When confronted about the misleading nature of the "Download" button with "never expires" labeling in user accounts, and the comparison to competitors who maintain legacy downloads, Milan Digital Audio's support reiterated their position that keeping installation files is the customer's responsibility. The support representative added that "downloading the installation file is part of that support" which the company is not obligated to provide indefinitely, despite the perpetual license.

See also

• Right to repair
• Software licensing
• Planned obsolescence
• Digital rights management
• Consumer protection in software