Hopefully, this answers the question of why we can't tell you about all the stuff we're dying to tell you about. Also, private companies have lesser restrictions around this, though I believe they are supposed to follow these guidelines. Again, there are exceptions for products in Autodesk where we simply don't have sizable subscription revenue (non-material) and we've decided to go ahead and talk about a future release (we recently did this on Mudbox 2009). We just can't give details that would imply we've set expectations about what the next 12 months may bring you.Īs soon as Adobe adopts a subscription program, you'll see them shut up too. We can talk about advanced research and we can talk about the fact that a roadmap does exist.
The net result is that we have to keep quiet on details of future releases and even discussion of future releases. That would be chaos for anyone trying to understand our business and invest in us. I hope it is clear that as a public company, distributing subscription revenues over 12 months is better than recognizing a lump sum all in one month - and have it possibly vary by product - or change based on which product releases is in which quarter. You can't run a business that way (for long). As you can probably imagine, this would have a major impact on Autodesk's ability to provide predictable guidance to the street/public on our future earnings. So, if we were counting on recognizing $100M in 3ds Max subscription revenues in Q1 (I'm making all the numbers up) and we inadvertantly released information to the public about a future release in Q4, then we would have to withhold from reporting 100% of the subscription revenues from the date of the announce until the date we actually shipped something. As soon as we talk about a future release (or features of a future release) then we must withold 100% of the subscriptoin revenues of the product we talked about from the date we talked about it.
Because we don't talk about future releases, we're able to recognize the fees over 12 months. We do not promise any such releases, but if they happen, then subscription users get them. They are very important numbers.Īs part of subscription, subscription users get the benefit of any possible future releases during their subscription period. These are the same numbers we report as a company on a quarterly basis. We have to recognize it over the course of 12 months. Subscription is unique in that the subscription fee you pay us, is not recognized when you pay us. I'm hoping people will just link to this blog when someone else asks the same question for the thousandth time.īecause we have a subscription program, and because it is widely popular with our customers, it means that significant revenue is associated with it. I wanted to write down in a single place (instead of the many forum posts I have to do on the subject) an explanation of why things are they way they are. Subscription changes the game for any company that has significant revenues dependent on subscription. Can you guess what it is? It's called "subscription". There is one big difference between all those other companies and Autodesk. I keep seeing posts from people that don't understand why we're so quiet about future features and releases while Adobe and others appear to yack about it all day long. Autodesk is not allowed to talk about roadmaps.
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