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I use sublime as my primary text editor. I've installed it using this ppa

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install sublime-text

After I use if for a while, when I try to save any unsaved work i get an warning saying "This is unregistered evaluation version"

When I click "Cancel" on the dialog box. It allows me to continue using. So is it okay to use the unlimited trial version?

Need advice from AskUbuntu experts.


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-1 off-topic. You are asking a legal question, talk to a lawyer. –  Tom Brossman Oct 3 '12 at 7:51
Need advice from Sublime corp really. I'd vote to close if I had the rep, but all I can do is argue... –  Spacedman Oct 3 '12 at 13:50
We get license questions all the time. I'm not sure if we should consider this on-topic or not (we might decide that because it's provided by a PPA, licensing questions about it are beyond the scope of Ask Ubuntu), but the answers so far seem good. I've posted on meta to try to get some consensus about this. –  Eliah Kagan Oct 4 '12 at 1:06
Legal in what jurisdiction? "So is it okay to use..." is a ethics question. Seems like questions like this one need lawyers or ethicists, but I don't think that's the likely response. It's not a good fit for our particular community, I'm afraid. –  John S Gruber Oct 4 '12 at 3:08
@TomBrossman sir, I am yet to evaluate the software for my work completely, which might take a month long. I definitely purchase the licence later, after evaluation. But my question was is it ok to use the software till that time. If you feel that this question should not be here, I will go ahead and delete it. I am sorry. –  orca Oct 4 '12 at 6:33
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closed as off topic by Tom Brossman, Takkat, Mitch, John S Gruber, jokerdino Oct 4 '12 at 3:22


3 Answers

up vote 0 down vote accepted

Sublime is provided as freeware to a certain degree. If you want nightly builds, and the ability to get support from the developer to incorporate your requests into Sublime, then you would need to purchase a license for it. The beta builds of Sublime are usually not far behind the licensed version, so there's really no point in buying a license for it unless you need the support, nightly builds, or the dialog is just simply annoying.

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Its not freeware to any degree! The website clearly states the download is for evaluation only. –  Spacedman Oct 3 '12 at 7:40
If it wasn't freeware to a degree, you wouldn't be able to use it without a license. Ever. At all. Period. Hint: "define:freeware" in Google. –  Sly Oct 3 '12 at 11:02
And wikipedia says "Freeware is software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee". For USE. Evaluation is clearly not USE, if you read the terms on the Sublime web pages. You need to pay for a license if you USE it beyond evaluation. Not just if you want nightly builds or support as you stated - whatever the definition of Freeware this is just plain WRONG. –  Spacedman Oct 3 '12 at 13:31
Exactly. This fee is optional. You don't have to pay it right now unless you need support, nightly builds, or the dialog is simply annoying.. as my answer states. I would consider this shareware if, and only if, there was a forced evaluation period. –  Sly Oct 3 '12 at 13:40
No. Its optional during evaluation only. If in your mind you are still evaluating the software, then don't pay. If in your mind you have decided to use it, then pay up. Right now. Or you are in breach of the license. Clear? I'll get someone from the company to chip in here if you want... –  Spacedman Oct 3 '12 at 13:48
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"Okay" in what sense? Are you "evaluating" the software? If so, then carry on evaluating until you can make a decision on whether to use it or not. If you have already decided you are going to use it, and have moved from evaluating it to using it, then you've broken the usage terms and you are a bad boy or girl and will go to whatever place of damnation awaits you according to your belief system.

You can prevent that eternal damnation by shelling out $59 - sounds like a good deal to me.

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Yes it is. Even though sublime says:


That does not mean that if it does not expire it is not ok to use it.

It is Sublime's problem that it does not properly expire.

Also this is a known "exploit" that many coders use. Since Sublime does not fix it then it is ok.

Hope this helps,


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Can you provide some references (or a more detailed explanation) to support the claim that if the software doesn't deliberately break itself, then it's "ok" to use it, and/or explain what you mean by "ok"? If Sublime doesn't creepily litter its users' machines with hidden data recording past usage history, mightn't that reflect a respect for the user, rather than an endorsement of the user's actions? –  Eliah Kagan Oct 7 '12 at 12:33
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