Buying second hand Swift Create software

Tia Muller wrote:

Dear Proz,

After having completed a MA in Audiovisual translation and a PhD in subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, I am finally starting my career as a freelance subtitler.

A friend of mine bought a few years back Swift Create and as he is not using it wants to sell it to me for a reduced price. I am not sure this is legal. I have been trying to get in touch with Grass Valley, but to no avail. Does anybody on this forum know whether I can legally and rightfully buy a second subtitling software?

Also, once I own the software, can I do updates to it? My friend owns the version 6 and I see that they are on the version 8.

Many thanks for your help!

Tia

Tia Muller wrote:

Hi Max,

Thanks for your reply. And thanks for contacting your contact on my behalf. I have tried calling them in two different countries, sending them emails, but to no avail. This is worrying in case I ever need any software related assistance!

1. The price my friend is offering is €1000.
2. I'm not familiar with the price of all the other commercial subtitling software, but discussing it with my other subtitling friends, it seems reasonable.
3. That's what I've been trying to find out. Why should we pay more to get updates from this type of software if the original price is already so expensive? I thought that it would be like Trados where you pay once a hefty price and then for a yearly small fee you can get all upgrades. This is making me having second thoughts!

Reading other threads, I saw that you use another commercial subtitling software. I am used to Wincaps and really cannot envisage working with Subtitle Workshop. I have also used and liked Fab. I have never worked with Swift before, but a few of my fellow colleagues use it and swear by it.

Thanks for your help,

T