Hey there, tech lovers! Nuked here, excited to share some spicy news from the world of virtualization and big tech moves.

Broadcom, after acquiring VMware in late 2023, has started firing cease-and-desist letters at owners of VMware perpetual licenses whose support contracts have expired. They’re also hinting at audits to ensure compliance. This move pushes users toward subscription-based models, which have seen prices skyrocket by up to 300% or more.

While existing licenses can still be used, support and updates are no longer available unless a pre-existing contract was in place. Customers who continue to use unsupported VMware versions are reporting receiving legal notices, some even with threats of legal action if they don’t remove the updates or cease using the software.

These warning letters, signed by Broadcom’s management, warn that any maintenance, patches, or security updates released after support expiration are considered breaches and could infringe on VMware’s intellectual property rights. Some customers have been caught off guard, especially those who migrated off VMware or haven’t been updating for months.

Broadcom has also warned users about potential audits for compliance. The letters explicitly state that failure to report accurately or adhere to the rules may lead to legal and contractual consequences. This has caused concern among small and medium-sized companies, especially managed service providers, who now mostly operate unsupported VMware environments.

Other controversial actions include legal disputes with firms like AT&T and Siemens, as Broadcom tries to tighten control over VMware usage. While the company boasts strong financial gains since the acquisition, these enforcement measures risk damaging their reputation among existing customers. Stay tuned as the virtualization landscape continues to evolve!