Introduction To Oracle ULA (Unlimited License Agreement)

Introduction To Oracle ULA (Unlimited License Agreement)

Oracle ULA ( Unlimited License Agreements ) are enterprise licensing agreements offered by Oracle Corporation that provide customers unlimited deployment rights for a selected set of Oracle products for a fixed period. At the end of the contract term, customers can renew or certify (exit) the agreement, after which the unlimited period concludes.

The customer then reports their deployment quantities to Oracle, which are converted into perpetual licenses. From that point forward, the customer only pays annual maintenance fees.

The primary challenge is ensuring compliance with contractual restrictions and avoiding deploying non-ULA products.

Understanding the Oracle ULA: Basics and Functionality

1. Agreement Structure and Reporting: ULAs include a one-time license fee that grants unlimited deployment rights for a subset of products for a specified period, typically 1-5 years. Reporting requirements only arise when the agreement is about to expire.
2. Renewal, Migration, or Certification: Approximately six months before the ULA expires, Oracle will inquire whether the customer wishes to renew, migrate to a Perpetual ULA (PULA), or certify the agreement. If certification is chosen, the customer must report deployment numbers to Oracle, similar to an Oracle license audit.
3. Support Costs and Compliance: Support costs remain constant throughout the ULA and do not increase based on certification quantities. The most common mistake companies make deploying non-ULA software, leading to non-compliance during the certification process, often resulting in costly ULA renewals or additional Oracle software license purchases.

Pros and Cons of Oracle ULAs

Oracle ULAs offer various benefits, such as fixed cost options for purchasing licenses, flexibility to deploy on virtual environments without worrying about license compliance, and the opportunity to improve licensing terms.

However, they also have some drawbacks, including restrictions on merger and acquisition activities and the potential for non-compliance if companies lack Oracle licensing knowledge.

Key Terms and Clauses in Oracle ULAs

Understanding essential terms and clauses in Oracle ULAs is crucial for avoiding non-compliance issues. These include the customer definition, territory, ULA certification clause, technical support, and merger and acquisitions clauses.

Types of Oracle ULAs

There are several types of Oracle ULAs available, each catering to different organizational needs:

1. Oracle ULA: A standard licensing agreement that offers unlimited deployment rights for a specific set of Oracle products for a fixed period.
2. Oracle PULA (Perpetual): A ULA variant with no expiry date.
3. Capped Oracle ULA: A ULA that caps the number of licenses used during the agreement term, limiting the organization’s usage to the agreed-upon cap.

Cost and Conclusion of Oracle ULAs

The cost of an Oracle ULA can range from 1M to 50M USD, depending on factors like the number of Oracle products included, contract length, and negotiation outcomes. Oracle does not provide a price list for unlimited license agreements.

At the end of the ULA, customers must notify Oracle if they intend to renew or certify the agreement, complete the ULA certification process, and migrate deployed licenses into perpetual Oracle licenses based on the deployment quantities during the term.

Oracle ULA Certification Process and Challenges

The Oracle ULA certification process is initiated when customers notify Oracle of their intent to exit the ULA. It involves an Oracle license deployment report that calculates the number of Oracle licenses deployed at the end of the ULA, similar to an Oracle license audit.

Challenges in the certification process include certifying Oracle deployments in public cloud platforms like AWS and Azure, calculating Oracle licensing in virtual deployments, and identifying all installed and used products. Organizations must be vigilant in addressing these challenges to ensure a smooth certification process and avoid non-compliance issues.

Overcoming ULA Limitations and Challenges

1. Public Cloud Deployment: Organizations should familiarize themselves with Oracle’s designated rules for AWS and Azure and any contractual restrictions regarding cloud deployment.
2. Virtual Deployment Licensing: Understanding Oracle’s partitioning policy and applying the correct licensing counts are essential when calculating Oracle licensing in virtual deployments.
3. Installed Product Identification: Oracle LMS scripts ?can detect active and historical product usage and help identify all installed products. Ensuring that only ULA products are deployed is crucial to avoid unwanted renewals or non-compliance penalties.

Strategies for License Compliance, Maximization, and Cost Reduction

To maximize the benefits of an Oracle ULA and ensure compliance, organizations should:

1. Assess cloud deployment: Understand the rules and restrictions for deploying Oracle products in public cloud platforms like AWS and Azure.
2. Master virtual deployment licensing: Thoroughly comprehend Oracle’s partitioning policy document to apply the correct licensing counts in virtual environments.
3. Identify installed products: Utilize Oracle LMS scripts to detect active and historical usage, ensuring that only ULA products are deployed.

By addressing these challenges and adopting a proactive approach to license management, organizations can optimize their Oracle ULAs, ensure compliance, maximize software licenses, and reduce costs.

Understanding Oracle ULA in Public Cloud Deployments

Oracle ULA agreements may not be compatible with public cloud deployments. It is crucial to examine your Oracle ULA agreement to comprehend the rules applicable to your organization during certification for public cloud deployments.

Unless specified in your contract, you should assume you do not have the right to certify deployments in the public cloud.

You can deploy Oracle ULA software in AWS, Azure, Oracle Cloud, and other public cloud providers during the ULA. Still, you must consider the territorial deployment rights in your agreement.

The primary challenge for Oracle ULA customers is the certification process, which determines whether customers have the right to claim licenses for deployments in a public cloud. If you do not have the right to claim licenses in a public cloud, you may face financial risks when your ULA ends.

Many Oracle customers have been forced to renew their Oracle ULAs due to insufficient licenses for public cloud deployments at the end of the ULA. Suppose you have an Oracle ULA that does not allow you to certify cloud deployments, and you have deployed 250 processor licenses of Oracle Database Enterprise Edition worth $11,875,000 in AWS or Azure.

In that case, you must purchase licenses for those environments when your Oracle ULA ends.

Recent Changes in Oracle ULA to Cloud Policy

Oracle has updated its policy for ULA to the Cloud. Later versions of Oracle ULA agreements now include contractual text that permits counting deployments in public cloud platforms.

However, this is based on the average number in the Oracle ULA over the last 365 days. If you deploy more Oracle ULA software in the last 3-6 months, you may be out of compliance with your ULA because you need to consider the full 12 months.

Six Oracle ULA Challenges and Solutions

1. Deploying Oracle software not included in your ULA contract: Compliance issues may arise from deploying products not included in the ULA. These deployments are often discovered when the Oracle ULA customer certifies their Oracle ULA.?Recommendation: Run Oracle LMS scripts and consult an independent Oracle licensing expert before sharing data with Oracle.
2. Running software on servers in countries not included in your territory contract: If you deploy Oracle ULA software on servers not covered by your territory rights, you must purchase additional licenses for those servers.?Recommendation: Request worldwide territory rights when entering an Oracle ULA.
3. Subsidiaries not included in your customer definition: Ensure that all legal entities are included in your customer definition and negotiate the right to add to the list of subsidiaries during the Oracle ULA agreement lifecycle.
4. Oracle audit at the end of the ULA: Conduct an internal audit as part of the certification planning, run Oracle audit scripts, and consult an independent Oracle license expert before sharing data with Oracle.
5. Including products you do not use: Only choose the products you need in the ULA to avoid locking yourself in without the possibility of changing the cost of support for those products.?Recommendation: Perform an internal Oracle licensing review without involving Oracle auditors.
6. Mergers and acquisitions: Ensure changes to Oracle ULA software usage are listed in the ULA contract, particularly when subsidiaries are acquired or leave the company group.

Planning for ULA Exit

To maximize success, review your Oracle licensing deployments and ULA agreement terms as early as possible. Best practices recommend starting an Oracle licensing assessment at least six months before the ULA ends.

Consulting firms like Gartner advise performing an independent licensing assessment to enable a successful exit from an Oracle Unlimited License Agreement.

Oracle ULA Renewal

Renewing your ULA can be advantageous, allowing you to renegotiate your existing Oracle licensing agreements. Many organizations use this chance to update their old contracts and minimize contractual risk.

When renewing your ULA, it is essential to thoroughly analyze your current agreement. This will help you identify areas for improvement and potential risks in your original contract.

Oracle ULA Renewal Options

When renewing your Unlimited License Agreement (ULA), you have the following options:

1. Negotiate to add more Oracle software products to your agreement, granting access to new features and functionalities.
2. Remove software products you no longer need or use from your ULA, helping you save costs and reduce your Oracle estate.
3. Renegotiate all contract terms, such as the agreement’s length, the number of licenses, and support costs. This can help you align your ULA with your current business needs and budget. Additionally, you can negotiate to improve your terms with Oracle and reduce any contractual risks that may have been present in your first Oracle contract.

ULA Renewal Negotiation Advice

Consider the following questions before negotiating with Oracle:

• Have there been any mergers and acquisitions during the ULA? Ensure that all majority-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures are included.
• How does your organization plan to use the public cloud? Evaluate contract terms related to cloud deployments, as Oracle’s language may have changed.
• Are there any caps on how much Oracle can increase your technical support fees?
• Will you face a significant increase in extended support fees for older versions of Oracle software? Request a waiver for extended support fees from Oracle.
• The certification clause is arguably the most important in your contract. It specifies the process for exiting the ULA. To maximize leverage during the certification process, consider negotiating the number of days until reporting to Oracle, the use of scripts, and the documentation to be shared with Oracle.

Important Contract Terms to Consider When Negotiating an Oracle ULA

• Customer Definition: The appendix lists all entities accessing and using any Oracle ULA software. If contracting with the parent company, request an “all majority-owned subsidiaries” definition.
• Territory: Territory defines where you can physically deploy servers running Oracle ULA software. Aim for “worldwide usage” to avoid compliance issues if you change the deployment location.
• ULA Certification Clause?specifies how you leave the Oracle ULA agreement. Consider negotiating the days after the Oracle ULA expires when you must report deployment data to Oracle, the level of cooperation required with Oracle, and what data you should share, including whether you will run Oracle LMS scripts.
• Technical Support: Oracle technical support typically increases by 4% yearly. Aim to cap the increase for up to 5 years.
• Mergers & Acquisitions: Oracle ULA customers are restricted from adding acquisitions or mergers of subsidiaries to the Oracle ULA. Carefully negotiate the right model for your company, as you should request many more contract terms during negotiation.

Oracle ULA Pricing

Pricing ranges from $1 million to $50 million, depending on the number of Oracle products included, the length of the contract, and negotiation specifics, such as competitive alternatives. Oracle typically asks for projected deployment numbers for the next three years and then applies a discount to the projected estimates.

Provide Oracle with conservative numbers to get a low price. Experience in Oracle contracts and negotiation is crucial in determining the final price.

Expert Advice for Your First Oracle ULA Negotiation

When negotiating your first Oracle ULA, you must be strategic about the Oracle products you include in the agreement. Keep the following tips in mind:

• Be selective about the products you include. Consider which products, such as the Oracle database, can be easily repurposed.
• Remember that reducing the number of licenses and support for a product can be challenging once a product is included in the ULA support contract.
• Remember that all existing licensing agreements will be renegotiated and replaced as part of the ULA. This presents a great opportunity to improve your terms but leaves room for mistakes.
• Ensure you have the expertise in Oracle contracts and negotiations to help you maximize the opportunity and avoid pitfalls.

Key Takeaways for Oracle ULA Management and Renewal

1. Understand your Oracle ULA agreement: Carefully review your Oracle ULA agreement to determine the rules and restrictions that apply to your company, especially regarding public cloud deployments and territory deployment rights.
2. Perform an independent licensing assessment: At least six months before the end of the Oracle ULA, assess your Oracle licensing deployments and ULA agreement terms to ensure a successful exit. Engage an independent Oracle licensing expert to assist with the review and avoid involving Oracle auditors.
3. Certification plan: Prepare for the certification process by running Oracle LMS scripts and having an independent Oracle licensing expert analyze the results before sharing data with Oracle.
4. Be strategic when negotiating a new ULA or renewal: Focus on improving contract terms, minimizing risks, and aligning the agreement with your current business needs and budget. Seek expert advice on Oracle contracts and negotiations to help you navigate the process effectively.
5. Monitor and manage your Oracle estate: Regularly review your Oracle deployments, keep track of subsidiaries, and stay informed about mergers and acquisitions to ensure you comply with your ULA.

By following these guidelines and maintaining a proactive approach to Oracle ULA management and renewal, you can optimize your Oracle licensing investments, reduce costs, and minimize potential risks associated with non-compliance.

If you read this far, you should discuss us helping you maximize your Oracle ULA agreement with us.