Software Licensing in 2025: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

The Rise of Subscription-Based Models... and Their Limits

Software vendors are continuing their shift towards subscription models. Microsoft, Adobe, Oracle, and many others are pushing companies towards cloud solutions with monthly or annual commitments. But this approach is not without its problems:

• Increasing Costs: Prices regularly rise, locking companies into rigid budgets.
• Loss of Control: With the cloud, companies no longer truly own their licenses and depend on the vendor's discretion.
• Reduced Flexibility: Perpetual licenses are gradually disappearing, forcing companies to rethink their software management.

In response, some organizations are looking to optimize their portfolio by mixing subscriptions and perpetual licenses bought on the secondary market.

The Resurgence of the Secondary Market

Faced with the explosion of subscription-related costs, more and more companies are turning to used licenses. In Europe, the CJEU ruling C-128/11 continues to set a precedent, ensuring the legality of reselling perpetual licenses.

• Cost Reduction: Buying used licenses can cut acquisition costs by half (or more).
• Independence from Vendors: A second-hand perpetual license remains usable for life.
• Legal Compliance: Contrary to popular belief, these transactions are perfectly regulated by European law.

IT and financial departments are starting to consider the secondary market as a serious and strategic alternative.

Artificial Intelligence and License Optimization

Companies are looking to maximize their license usage, and AI is becoming a key tool for optimizing their software assets. In 2025, several trends are emerging:

• Automatic Usage Audits: AI-based solutions allow real-time analysis of software usage and removal of unused licenses.
• AI-Assisted Negotiation: Some platforms offer algorithms capable of simulating the best renewal or purchase strategies.
• License Management Automation: AI facilitates the reallocation of unused licenses, thus optimizing costs.

Companies that integrate these solutions gain visibility and efficiency in managing their software portfolio.

Regulatory Pressures and New Compliance Challenges

With evolving regulations, particularly regarding data protection and digital sovereignty, license management becomes more complex. Some points to watch:

• Cloud Act and Sovereignty: European companies are increasingly wary of U.S. solutions due to the Cloud Act.
• Anti-Monopoly Regulations: Initiatives aim to limit the abuses of major vendors (record fines, interoperability obligations, etc.).
• Tightening Vendor Audits: Compliance checks are multiplying, and companies must better document their license acquisitions.

The Rise of Open Source Alternatives and Hybrid Models

The rising cost of licenses is pushing some organizations to consider open source solutions. Alternatives such as LibreOffice, Nextcloud, or PostgreSQL are gaining maturity and adoption.

• System Hybridization: Some companies combine proprietary and open source software to reduce costs.
• Support and Guarantees: The rise of professional support offers for open source strengthens the credibility of these solutions in businesses.
• Expanding Ecosystem: Major players like Red Hat, Canonical, or SUSE are investing in solutions more accessible to companies.

Conclusion: Anticipate to Better Negotiate

In 2025, companies will need to be more strategic than ever in their license management. Faced with the rise of forced subscriptions, risks related to vendor audits, and cost inflation, it is essential to explore all alternatives. The secondary market, AI, and open source offer opportunities not to be overlooked.

Softcorner supports companies in this reflection and helps them regain control over their IT budget. After all, why pay more for software you should already own?