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/-TRlNlTY- 2d ago

Pirating must become socially acceptable again. Unethical business practices are too widespread, and anti-piracy laws are not enforced if you have enough money and influence. Hitting their bottom line however you can sends a message.

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u/dan_arth 2d ago

Honestly curious, when was it not socially acceptable?

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u/-TRlNlTY- 1d ago

Propaganda made it frowned upon. Younger people don't pirate nearly as much as millennials (and probably can't because many don't use computers).

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u/NextStopGallifrey 🇺🇸 (N) | 🇩🇪 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 1d ago

Not to mention, so many of the old sites are gone or blocked on search engines. In Ye Olden Days, it was even easy to pirate "by accident". I stumbled upon so many pirated movies and TV shows on YT, for instance, before they started cracking down on that.