The Canva and Affinity Pledge (perpetual subscriptions forever) (opens in new tab)

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.