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I don't really understand the term.

I got a survey about either getting gift card or a complimentary license for a SDK control set.

But I really wonder what's complimentary license means?

I tried to search in their official site but didn't say anything about it...

Is it last for the life and I can use the controls in all my personal software and publish it?

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Without any context, we can't tell you. – birryree Nov 28 '12 at 18:34
1  
Best guess: you don't have to pay for it. See definition 2 here: merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complimentary – Robert Harvey Nov 28 '12 at 18:36
@birryree what context? I thought complimentary license is a type of license that same for every company? No? I found couples company have form for request complimentary license too, but they didn't say what it is.... – King Chan Nov 28 '12 at 18:37
Yeah, but complimentary, while meaning free, doesn't specify anything else about it. – birryree Nov 28 '12 at 18:41
@birryree But that's what it said in the email :/ "select your choice of either a $10 Amazon Gift Card or a complimentary license for Telerik’s brand new Rad Controls for Windows 8". So I have no idea what is the limitation :( – King Chan Nov 28 '12 at 18:53
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closed as off topic by Robert Harvey, Walter, ElYusubov, ChrisF♦ Nov 28 '12 at 22:35

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2 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

"Complimentary" means free of charge, i.e. for free. Whether that means "free for X days", or "free for this version but not for any updates", or "here's a free product key that you can use just like a key bought for money" isn't said. In general, companies only give away things for free if they think they will somehow get a net profit from it. Most normal products are given away for free in the hope that the user will like it and buy more; with SDKs, the marketshare among programmers is often quite valuable to the vendor, so it might actually be a completely free, unrestricted one. But it's impossible to tell just from that phrase alone.

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I guess this is the most accurate answer. I wish they have a definition that tells me what's a Complimentary Lincense means... – King Chan Nov 28 '12 at 18:49
It's like a complimentary suite when you gamble big at a Las Vegas casino. They're giving you something for free in the hopes that they'll get your future business or even better word of mouth references. – Mike Brown Nov 28 '12 at 21:27
But like a complimentary breakfast, you usually get these "free" things by paying for something else. – ioSamurai Nov 28 '12 at 21:31
up vote 1 down vote

In short, that means free, aka without any charge like freeware or shareware.

Here is a reference information that states it in Wikipedia.

Many companies would often provide complementary goods and services free of charge (i.e., on a complimentary basis). For example, coffeehouses often provide Internet access free of charge to attract more customers. Hotels often provide free shuttle services. Restaurants often provide valet parking service free of charge.

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