Defending against an Autodesk audit:
Know your rights, avoid costs

Not automatically. Whether you are required to install ScanWin depends on the exact wording of your Autodesk license agreement. Autodesk often derives this requirement from a cooperation clause. Whether this is legally valid must be examined on a case-by-case basis. ProLicense analyzes your contract documents and tells you exactly what you are obligated to do and what you are not.

There is no blanket requirement to respond immediately. The applicable deadlines and the appropriate course of action depend on the specific terms of your contract.

Important: Any response to Autodesk should be strategically considered. Ill-considered responses can weaken your negotiating position. ProLicense recommends obtaining a professional initial assessment before responding.

In such cases, Autodesk often escalates the matter to its own legal department or to outside attorneys. That sounds more threatening than it actually is. We’re familiar with this pattern from other manufacturers. In most cases, the pressure is greater than the actual legal situation. With the right strategy and professional guidance, an Autodesk audit can still be successfully defended against or significantly mitigated even after an escalation.

This varies considerably—from a few thousand euros to six-figure amounts. Autodesk often relies on an initial projection that far exceeds actual usage. How much is ultimately paid depends heavily on how well the other side is prepared and how consistently you assert your rights. In many cases, ProLicense has significantly reduced or completely successfully defended against autodesk’s additional claims.

In many cases, yes. At least in its originally planned form. The key is to respond early: Those who are familiar with the Autodesk audit clause and present the right arguments from the start can stop the process or limit it in such a way that it has no negative consequences. ProLicense analyzes your situation and develops a strategy aimed at preventing the Autodesk audit or limiting its scope to what is contractually permissible.

An Autodesk audit can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on how quickly data is provided, how complex the licensing situation is, and whether any additional charges are disputed. With ProLicense by your side, the process is actively managed: You provide only what is contractually required and no unnecessary information that could give Autodesk additional leeway.

Experience shows that this is significantly more than necessary. Companies that go into an Autodesk audit unprepared provide more data than required, receive an inflated additional bill, and accept amounts that would have been significantly lower—or avoidable altogether—with proper preparation. The free initial consultation with ProLicense is the best investment you can make before an Autodesk audit.

No. the specific audit rights Autodesk actually has depend on the exact wording of the respective contract, and not all Autodesk license agreements are identical. There are significant differences, particularly with older contracts, subscription models, and enterprise agreements. ProLicense will review your specific contract documents and tell you exactly what rights Autodesk actually has in your situation.