How commercial template licensing works
Perpetual, subscription and extended licences explained — and the questions to ask any vendor before buying.
UT Studio7 min read
Template licensing is where most buyers stop reading, and it is the part that decides whether the purchase was a good idea. This page describes the models generally, not only ours, so it is useful whoever you buy from.
The three models
| Model | You pay | You keep | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perpetual | Once | That version, forever | Whether updates cost extra |
| Perpetual + window | Once | Every version inside the window, forever | Window length, and when it starts |
| Subscription | Recurring | Often nothing after cancelling | Whether access ends with payment |
Subscription templates can be revoked
Some subscription licences terminate your right to *use* what you already downloaded when payment stops — not merely your right to download more. That is a very different product from a perpetual licence, and it is usually one clause deep.
The five questions
- May I use this on client work? If the answer is not an unambiguous yes in writing, assume no.
- How many developers may access the source? Seats usually count people, not projects.
- How many end products may I build? Some vendors charge per site.
- What happens when updates stop? Distinguish "no more downloads" from "stop using it".
- May I put it in a repository? Almost universally: private yes, public no.
Redistribution is the line
Nearly every commercial template licence permits using the template in something you build, and prohibits distributing the template itself. Practically, that means:
- Building a client site with it: fine.
- Publishing a public repository containing the source: not fine.
- Selling a derivative as a template: not fine.
- Selling a SaaS product built on it: fine — you are selling the product, not the template.
What "extended licence" usually means
The distinction is normally about whether end users pay you for a copy. A site built with a template is one end product. A product where each customer receives their own instance built from the template is closer to redistribution, and vendors price it differently. If your model is the second, say so before buying.
Keep the paperwork
Save the licence text as it stood on the day you bought it, along with the invoice. Vendors update terms; your purchase is governed by the version you agreed to, and an agency procurement review will ask for it.
Not legal advice
This is a practical summary to help you ask better questions. The licence you agreed to is the agreement, and a lawyer beats a guide.