Software with "interesting" license terms

[metaside]

Not sure where I’m going with this thread, but this is just too strange for me to not post about it…

So I was looking for voice-changing software for both music and game dev and found the new Vocoflex by Dreamtonic (the Synth V guys).

Then I looked at the EULA:

This agreement between us and you shall be terminated if any of the following items apply.

When you stop using this software.
Up to 30 days after the release of a new major version of this software.
When you purchase a new major version of the software and a new contract is signed.
When a breach of contract is applied.
Until 30 days after notice of discontinuation of this software.
If we give notice of the termination of this Agreement.

Upon termination of this Agreement, you must destroy the products and all copies in your possession. Clause 6, 15, 21 and 23 in this Agreement shall remain in effect even if this Agreement is terminated.

Vocoflex EULA | Dreamtonics株式会社

Do I understand this correctly and 30 days after they release a new version or terminate the agreement for any other reason I have to destroy all copies of the software I purchased Mission-Impossible-style?

On other sites I read that they also have strict ID verification and that you need to provide government ID like a passport scan to be checked by some identification verification company.

Am I getting too old and terms like these are becoming normal these days? Or did I misunderstand everything? Are there even more interesting terms out there I have not encountered yet? Is stuff like that even allowed in the EU? I’m confused…

[KvlT]

I think I mentioned this recently but the terms on most synths are like, “Hey, don’t use our oscillators to make sample packs… OR ELSE”.

I can probably dig up hilarious examples but if you read any TOS for long enough, you usually end up in absolute what-the-fuck-am-I-agreeing-to territory. What’s next? “Only post the music you’ve made with our synths to soundcloud, not bandcamp!”

Destroying copies of your software cracks me up, too. I have a license for a semi-popular program (I mention it elsewhere all the time) that won’t even give out the version I bought and prompts you to pay for the new one. Let’s just say the internet at large always has your back to get the things you paid for back into your hands, because even seemingly decent companies are trying to upsell you on shit you don’t even need constantly.

Software is a shitshow these days 99% of the time, and I say that as someone who goes out of my way to support devs and still need to find ‘convenient workarounds’ for the things I’ve paid out the ass for

[White_Noise]

Without reading the whole thing, my guess (besides them forcing you to delete software off your PC being unenforceable at best) is that they want to explicitly limit their warranty on the software to 30 days after a major version update and they wrote it really badly. Like, maybe they have bad experiences of people clogging up their customer service with version 1.1 from 2 years ago when the recent version 1.5 has none of the issues being complained about. IDK.