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We will be clarifying the language to reflect 2.0 policies before its released. The original language was written before 2.0 was even a sparkle in our collective eye. Here is the short version to summarize our intent but it does not constitute a guarantee of what the final policies will be, unless its also listed on the 2.0 FAQ.

- The Download Account gives you download access, for one year, for the version you purchased. Thus, if you purchase 1.x, you’ll have free updates to the 1.x branch for 1 year.

- There will be an upgrade fee to 2.0, regardless of your Download Account status. The upgrade fee will likely be based on the version of EE you originally purchased. We’ve gone on record saying that if you purchased 1.6.3, the upgrade fee will be whatever the price difference is between 1.6.3 and 2.0. If you purchased an older version the upgrade policy will likely be different. The upgrade fee for older versions has not been decided. When it is decided, we’ll make it public so you can plan accordingly. Our goal is to make the upgrade policy fair to you, fair to us as a commercial entity that needs to be responsible to its employees, simple, and easy to understand.

- Your Download Account will apply to the versions you own. So if you upgrade a license from 1.x to 2.0, the Download Account will automatically transfer to 2.x updates at no additional cost. So if you have 9 months left on the Download Account and upgrade to 2.0, those nine months will be automatically applied to 2.x updates at no additional cost to you.

I think that about covers it.

I also want to say that its not a good plan to look at how other companies handle upgrades and then compare it to us. Every company is different; we have different community goals, commercial goals, revenue models, and ways of doing business. Our aim is never to mimic how any other company does any particular thing. Our goal is always to do what’s best for our community and to our responsibilities as a business.

Those goals are symbiotic. If we do wrong to our community, it hurts our business. If we do wrong to our business, it hurts our community. There is always a balance to be kept and the 2.0 release and the policies that go along with it will be crafted to keep that balance healthy for everybody.

You are talking about two different things.

The download area says “updates” for 1 year, not “upgrades”.

If I buy OS X 10.5, I get “updates” to 10.5.1, 10.5.2, 10.5.3, but I don’t get “upgrades” to 10.6 for free when it comes out.  In fact I have had to pay for 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, and 10.5.

To get new features from OS X (or even Microsoft) you are buying a new version of your OS, usually the “updates” are bug fixes only, with maybe a few minor feature additions or changes.  If you look at the history of EE 1.x you will notice that every point release has had a TON of new features and functions.

Wikipedia articles (while of course not the be all, end all in answers, it describes it well).

Sofware Update

“Software update” redirects here. For the software tool by Apple Inc., see Apple Software Update.

A patch is a small piece of software designed to update or fix problems with a computer program or its supporting data. This includes fixing bugs, replacing graphics and improving the usability or performance.

Software Upgrade

Common software upgrades include changing the version of an operating system, office suite, anti-virus program, or various other tools.

I am not a person of authority at Ellislab, being I don’t work for Ellislab, this is just my personal take on this,  you paid for and have “updates” for the version of EE at the time of purchase.  EE 2.0 is an “upgrade” from the 1.x version.  Pretty standard in the software industry if you ask me.

You are talking about two different things.

The download area says “updates” for 1 year, not “upgrades”.

... you paid for and have “updates” for the version of EE at the time of purchase.

You are not right. The EE docs mention “updates” and “upgrades” mainly with the same meaning:

You can upgrade to the latest full version of ExpressionEngine using the ‘Download’ link and following the update instructions in the User Guide

My Downloads

How do I upgrade from an earlier version to the current version?

Knowledge Base

Hi all,

The questions have been answered as much as they are going to be for the moment. Sigork, you are just going to have to be patient. Thread closed.