The PDFImport Neo plugin (for DraftSight) is available in two different licensing types:
Annual License
Perpetual License
What differentiates them?
As the name suggests, the Annual License is valid for 12 months, and the Perpetual License is indefinite, for the versions "covered" by the License entitlement.
Both Licenses grant the user the entitlement to use the software, and software updates/access to Technical Support for 12 months (Maintenance). The difference between them emerges once the User reaches the 12 months:
Annual License: In order to continue to use the software, the User will need to renew the License.
Perpetual License: The User can continue to use the software, however, it will loose the entitlement to software updates and Technical Support. A Perpetual license doesn't mean perpetual free upgrades. As long as the user doesn't update the DraftSight version installed, he can continue to use up to the last version of the plugin, available at the time of the Maintenance Expiry Date (12 months, counting from the date of purchase).
We do our best efforts to ensure forward compatibility for our plugins. But the natural evolution of a software and of the APIs in DraftSight imply that from time to time a new version, or a new generation of the plugin has to be released.
This is especially true for a plugin that, by definition, relies on the technology and licensing of a base software which technology is also significantly evolving. In the specific case of PDF Import for DraftSight, we have released a total new generation of the product. Hence the new name Neo.
When you buy the PDF Plugin in our estore it is specified for which version of DraftSight it was designed for. If you have a Perpetual license of DraftSight and don't expect to update it every year, buying a Perpetual license of the plugin can still make sense as you will stay on the same version of DraftSight for long. But if you buy an annual license of DraftSight, we always recommend to buy an Annual license for the plugin too, to get regular updates for the plugin too.