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Novell is restructuring its corporate licensing framework to make license agreements more flexible and accessible to users.
Beginning March 1, the Linux software company will no longer force users into CLAs (contract license agreements), which attached service and maintenance agreements to the software deal.
Customers may now purchase VLAs (volume license agreements), which are purely transactional, or MLAs (master license agreements), which are priced directly from Novell and reserved for larger sales.
Maintenance, upgrades, service and support will now be sold a la carte. Customers still interested in contracts, for legal or regulatory purposes, may purchase MLAs.
The company will also allow customers to purchase licenses on a per-device basis, in addition the current per-user agreement.
The reconfiguration makes the process transactional, allowing customers to buy what they need, when they need it, said Steve Bartell, Novells Licensing Program Manager.