Embarcadero Technologies licensing covers the developer tools and the embedded database sold by Embarcadero Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation based in Austin, Texas. The products are RAD Studio, Delphi, C++Builder and InterBase.[1] Its licence agreements are published on the Embarcadero legal page of Idera, Inc. They include the RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder Software License and Support Agreement (SLA), a RAD Server deployment agreement, and perpetual and subscription agreements for InterBase.[17]
Four questions decide most Embarcadero licence positions:
- which edition was bought;
- whether the licence is a Named User licence or a networked licence managed on a licence server;
- in which country or Territory it may be used;
- whether Update Subscription is still current.
The free Community Edition adds a revenue test. InterBase uses its own server, user and device metrics.
This overview summarises those rules and links to the detailed guides:
- Embarcadero RAD Studio licensing covers paid editions, metrics and contract terms.
- Embarcadero Community Edition licensing covers the free editions.
- Embarcadero Technologies, Inc. v. NCR Corporation is the litigation history.
Editions
RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder are each sold in Professional, Enterprise and Architect editions. RAD Studio combines Delphi and C++ development in one IDE.[8] The online store sells new-user perpetual licences with a first year of maintenance (Update Subscription) included.
| Product (13.2) | Professional | Enterprise | Architect |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAD Studio | EUR 2,700 + EUR 599[8] | EUR 4,300 + EUR 1,199[8] | EUR 6,100 + EUR 1,599[8] |
| Delphi | EUR 1,430 + EUR 439[9] | EUR 3,400 + EUR 999[9] | EUR 5,650 + EUR 1,499[9] |
| C++Builder | EUR 1,430 + EUR 439[10] | EUR 3,400 + EUR 999[10] | EUR 5,750 + EUR 1,399[10] |
Prices are perpetual licence plus year-one maintenance, before tax. C++Builder is also offered as a Pro Term License, a subscription at EUR 520 a year.[10]
The editions differ in licence rights, not only in features:
- Database access. Professional editions may use dbExpress and FireDAC only with a database on the same machine as the application (rule).[1]
- RAD Server. RAD Server Developer Edition may be deployed for testing only, for up to five users in the licensee’s organisation. Production use of RAD Server Enterprise needs a separately sold RAD Server Software Deployment License or a RAD Studio Enterprise or Architect licence (rule).[1]
- InterBase ToGo. RAD Studio Enterprise and Architect include an InterBase ToGo mobile deployment licence. It lets the licensee ship RAD Studio apps to supported mobile platforms for unlimited users on unlimited devices (rule).[1]
- Kai. The Kai AI assistant is a paid add-on for Professional, Enterprise and Architect. It requires an active update subscription on the underlying product (rule).[1]
The Community Edition exists for Delphi and for C++Builder, but not for RAD Studio.[1] Academic licences may be used only for learning in an academic or classroom setting.[13] Under the SLA, educational licences may not be used for any commercial, business, governmental or institutional purpose (rule).[1]
Metrics
Named User and networked licences
Embarcadero offers three licence types for its developer tools:[3]
| Type | How it works | Catalog metric |
|---|---|---|
| Workstation (Named User) | For one person; registered with an Embarcadero Developer Network account; no licence server needed[3] | Named User (RAD Studio) |
| Network Named User | Designated to one person, managed on a License Server on the customer’s network[3] | Named User (RAD Studio) |
| Network Concurrent | Shared pool; the License Server tracks simultaneous users and denies access above the purchased number[3] | Concurrent Users (RAD Studio) |
Under SLA s.2.1(a), a Named User or Network Named User licence may be installed on one or more computers, provided only the designated Named User uses the product.[1] A Subscription License narrows this to three computers (rule).[1]
Under s.2.1(b), a Concurrent Users licence may be installed on a network in the Licensed Country. It may be used by up to the purchased number of users at once, and only within one Territory: Americas, EMEA or AsiaPac (rule).[1] The Special Terms for Networked Licenses add two points. A concurrent product may not be shared or used concurrently on machines in different time zones outside the Territory. A networked Named User may use the product in any of the Territories.[2] Network licences are not available for the Community Edition; they start at the Professional edition.[11]
InterBase metrics
InterBase has its own agreement. Section 25 of that agreement defines a separate licence type for each edition:[14]
| Edition | Metric | Key limits |
|---|---|---|
| Server | Server instance plus Simultaneous User or Unlimited User | One copy and one instance per licence; one Simultaneous User per client device, up to four connections each[14] |
| Desktop | Device | One device, one concurrent user, up to 8 connections, local access only[14] |
| ToGo | Device; ToGo Pro also as an annual deployment licence | One device and one concurrent user per licence;[14] ToGo Pro annual licence with no limit on deployments[16] |
| Developer | Single computer | Development only; no production use[14] |
The store lists InterBase 15.1 Desktop at EUR 81 per user and ToGo Pro at EUR 2,000 as an annual deployment licence. Server Edition is priced through sales.[16]
Counting / floors
Named and networked users
On the License Server, named user licences are counted by user name only. Concurrent licences are counted by login name plus host name.[4] A networked named licence may move to a new user when a developer leaves or a contractor finishes. It may not be moved regularly so that it works like a concurrent licence (rule).[4]
Upgrades do not add licences. An upgrade and the licence it upgrades together count as one licence, even with two sets of media or keys. A Network Named or Concurrent upgrade that includes older versions requires the upgraded licence to be deactivated once the upgrade is installed (rule).[1]
Earlier versions are included with the current version, under these conditions (rule):
- Named users must register the 13.2 serial number first and request the older licences within 180 days of purchase.
- Older licences are tied to the user account and cannot be given away or sold.
- Network licences include versions 2007 to 11 Alexandria. Each seat runs one of those versions at a time.[12]
The command line compiler may be installed on a separate computer only so that it can run unattended builds (rule).[1]
Embarcadero License Center and registration limits
The Embarcadero License Center (ELC) is the server application that manages network licences for Embarcadero products such as Delphi, C++Builder and ER/Studio. Version 5.5 was released on 2024-10-01.[5] The support knowledge base describes the same component as the Embarcadero License Server (ELISE). The customer runs it on site and manages licences without Embarcadero’s help. With networked licensing, users are identified by their login user name rather than by a Developer Network account.[4]
Three operating points matter for licence management:
- The licence server cannot be moved to another machine without asking Embarcadero Support for a Node Change (rule).[4]
- Products send the server a heartbeat every minute, and the customer cannot change that interval.[4]
- Once concurrent users exceed the purchased count, further users are refused (rule).[3]
Named user serial numbers have a limit on how many times they can be registered. In 2019 Embarcadero’s general manager announced a change: registration limit increases for customers not on Update Subscription are routed to Sales and Renewals rather than Support. An update to the same post said Embarcadero had made several automatic increases for all customers.[6] Requests to raise a limit or transfer a licence go through the “Registration and Installation” option of the support centre (rule).[7]
Community Edition limits
The Community Edition is available only to these licensees (rule):[1]
- for-profit organisations, government entities and individual developers whose cumulative annual revenue does not exceed USD 5,000;
- non-profit organisations whose donations do not exceed USD 5,000.
Further conditions apply:
- Contract work. For individual developers, all contract revenue in a calendar year counts, whether or not the Community Edition was used for the work. A company above the threshold may not use it at all, even for internal applications.[1] Contractors must also use the Community Edition on their own computer, not on company-issued hardware (rule).[11]
- Users. No more than five Community Edition licences may be deployed.[1]
- Term. Each licence lasts one year from first download and does not auto-renew (rule).[1]
- Same machine. The Community Edition cannot coexist with a paid edition of the same version on one machine.[11]
- Usage data. Embarcadero collects information about Community Edition use for auditing purposes.[1]
InterBase counting
Each InterBase Server Simultaneous User licence covers one client device and at most four simultaneous connections. Where multiplexing or connection pooling is used, users are counted as the distinct inputs to the front end (rule). Any user reaching the server through an unrestricted-access Internet application requires an Unlimited User licence for that server (rule).[14]
The InterBase Developer Edition bundled with RAD Studio is for development and test only. Deploying an application that uses InterBase needs a separate InterBase deployment licence (rule).[1]
Virtualization & partitioning
Neither the RAD Studio SLA nor the InterBase agreement has terms specific to virtual machines.[1][14] The InterBase Server, Desktop and ToGo editions may use only the number of CPU cores identified in the documentation for their version.[14] The editions page lists these maximums: 8 cores for Developer, 1 for ToGo Lite, 4 for ToGo Pro and Desktop, and 32 for Server.[15]
Each InterBase Server licence also allows one further copy on an Idle Standby Server with the same operating system. That standby must not do useful work (rule).[14]
Cloud / BYOL
Embarcadero publishes no cloud or BYOL terms for these products. Its licences are tied to geography instead. Perpetual licences may be installed only in the Licensed Country taken from the ship-to address on the order; for the European Union, that is the EU. Moving the product to a country not on the order voids the licence, although temporary use while travelling is allowed.[1] The InterBase agreement contains the same Licensed Country clause.[14]
Programs
- Update Subscription. The first year is included with a perpetual licence. It provides updates, upgrades and three developer support incidents a year, and is renewed annually.[8] A lapsed subscription can be reinstated only within six months (rule).[1]
- Subscription License. An annual or multi-year term licence. It renews for 12 months at the then-current list price unless cancelled in writing 60 days before expiry (rule). At the end of the term the product must be uninstalled.[1]
- Community Edition and educational licences. Covered above.
- InterBase ToGo Pro. The annual subscription must be kept active to distribute new copies of applications that embed it (rule).[15]
Audits and compliance
The SLA gives Embarcadero a broad audit right. It may audit, electronically or otherwise, records and systems relating to product use, including machine IDs and serial numbers. It may inspect on 15 days’ notice. Underpaid fees are invoiced at the list prices in effect when the audit is completed, and the licensee also pays audit costs if the underpayment exceeds 5% (rule).[1] Licences cannot be assigned, including in a merger or acquisition (rule).[1]
Embarcadero has also gone to court over unlicensed downloads. In Embarcadero Technologies, Inc. v. NCR Corporation, Embarcadero sued over six alleged infringing downloads of Delphi, C++Builder and RAD Studio. The court granted NCR summary judgment on 2020-03-26, because the downloads all took place outside the United States.[18]
Out of scope
This article does not cover the following:
- Idera’s own database tools and Sencha, which are described in Idera licensing.
- Embarcadero’s other agreements, such as the RAD Server deployment agreement and the InterBase subscription agreement, beyond the points above.[17]
- Third-party components and libraries shipped with or downloaded through the products, which are licensed under their own terms.[1]