The Canva and Affinity Pledge (perpetual subscriptions forever)

If nothing else, it’s clear communication and shows they have seen the online discourse. We’ll see if they follow through.

There’s a certain logic to it too: they’ll be far more interested in upselling to existing Canva subscribers than selling Canva to the far smaller Affinity userbase.

From the affinity forum, posted by the CEO of Serif:

https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/201412-aff...

Cautiously optimistic.

There's a long, long, long, long history of bought companies making all kinds of promises and pledges, often sincerely and with the best intentions, only to go back on them when the acquirer's VCs--the real people in control--come knocking.

I will remain skeptical.

I really honestly want to believe, but pledges hold no legal weight.

I guess this means we’re probably OK for v3 when it comes out, but by the time we’re in v4 land it’ll be (guessing) 4-5 years later, at which point the pledge can be forgotten and swept under the rug.

I really hope I’m wrong, but the reality of an unknown financial future tells me otherwise.