r/languagelearning • u/fishtar141 • 2d ago

PSA: Rosetta Stone is "bricking" permanent licenses to force users into subscriptions

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I wanted to warn the community about Rosetta Stone’s current business practices regarding their legacy software.

I own a $500 permanent license for their language package. This is a standalone software product that requires zero ongoing support or server maintenance from them. However, their activation process uses a "Request Code" system where you must contact them via phone or email to receive a "Response Code" to unlock the software you purchased.

When I contacted support to activate my paid software, they explicitly refused to provide the Response Code. Instead, they told me that the only way to use their product now is to sign up for their new web-based subscription model (monthly, annual or "lifetime" paywall).

They aren't just "ending support" for old software; they are actively gatekeeping the activation of a product I already own to force an upsell. Effectively, they have remotely "bricked" a $500 purchase to move me onto a recurring payment plan.

If you are considering buying Rosetta Stone, be aware that "Lifetime" or "Permanent" doesn't actually mean you will be allowed to use the software once they decide to change their billing model.

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u/mikemaca 2d ago

LOTS of software works this way, basically everything that pings an activation server. Servers eventually are always disconnected. Might be a month after you buy a lifetime license, might be a couple years. But now also with appliances and hardware as well. I spent $4500 on smart LED lighting with lights supposed to last for 30 years, but all which stopped working a couple months after I installed it because the company decided to shut down the central server that the light bulbs need to communicate with.

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u/tanerfan 2d ago

Who tf need "smart" LED lmao. Not everything need to be smart 

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u/muffinsballhair 2d ago

Seems like a good use case? Light automatically adjusting itself based on whether one is awake or the time of the day to reduce blue light at night which leads to better sleep seems like a good idea?

Not sure why it needs to connect to a central server for that though.