8 July 2026, 13:08: The previous Legacy Software Shop (https://ruf.asknet.de/) was closed by its operator, AcademicSoftware, on 30 June 2026

#ufrstatus #stoerung #wartung The previous legacy software shop (https://ruf.asknet.de) was closed by the operator, AcademicSoftware, on 30 June 2026. The university is terminating the underlying contract and will not be switching to the new generation of the shop. In future, the Computer Centre will distribute SPSS licences directly; the installation packages will be available to university members via ILIAS. Microsoft licences are not affected and will continue to be covered by the campus licence agreement. The MATLAB campus licence had already expired. The products previously available in the shop (e.g. Parallels Desktop, CorelDRAW, Camtasia, ABBYY FineReader, EndNote) can now be purchased independently on the open market at EDU rates. The University’s procurement guidelines apply in this regard. Further information and details can be found in the main text of this notice.

The University of Freiburg’s previous legacy software shop (ruf.asknet.de) was closed by the operator, AcademicSoftware, on 30 June 2026. The University is terminating the underlying contract and will not be switching to the operator’s new generation of shops. The shop will not reopen for software and licence purchases.

Background to the decision

The decision not to continue operating the shop is based on several factors. Following a lengthy notice period, the operator is migrating the outdated platform (partly for security reasons) to a new generation of online shop, the implementation of which would entail considerable effort for the university and a massive increase in operating costs. At the same time, sales via the platform have fallen significantly in recent years. The product range available via the shop has also been steadily reduced: the MATLAB campus licence has not been renewed; the university has deliberately chosen not to join the Adobe framework agreement; and Microsoft licences are provided under the existing campus agreement. The effort and costs involved in running the shop are therefore no longer proportionate to the benefits.

What does this mean for you?

SPSS: The University IT Services will in future sell licences for IBM SPSS Statistics directly, as is already the case with MAXQDA and Affinity. The internal processes for this are currently being set up; as a result, licence enquiries may be subject to delays during the transition period. We thank you for your understanding. The installation packages are now available for download via ILIAS: ILIAS: SPSS software downloads (for members of the University of Freiburg only; login with your university account required). Detailed information on terms and conditions, licensing models and terms of use can be found on our SPSS page.

Microsoft: Microsoft licences are covered by the existing campus licence agreement and are not affected by the closure. Further information: Microsoft Windows and Office for staff

MATLAB: The MATLAB campus licence has already expired and was no longer available via the shop. Affected institutions should procure the required licences individually and locally. Further information: MATLAB

Adobe: The university has deliberately chosen not to sign up to the Adobe framework agreement. Where required, Adobe licences can be procured locally via the open market on EDU terms.

Other products: The other products previously offered via the shop can also be purchased on the open market from distributors and system integrators at EDU rates. Among the products most frequently purchased via the shop were Parallels Desktop, CorelDRAW, Camtasia and Snagit (TechSmith), ABBYY FineReader, EndNote and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (selected versions). If you have any questions about specific products or how to purchase them, we will be happy to advise you.

Guidance on the decentralised procurement of software and licences

When procuring software independently on the open market, the University of Freiburg’s procurement guidelines apply (Intranet, login required). An overview of the key points (selection; the full list can be found on the Intranet):

Up to €1,000 net: Direct award without prior price research. The order is placed via a shopping basket in SAP SRM.

From €1,000.01 to €100,000 net (direct contract): Price research involving at least three quotations is required; three documented enquiries are sufficient; if no response is received, a single quotation is sufficient. If, for specific reasons, only one supplier is eligible, this must be documented in a statement justifying the sole supplier selection.

From €5,000 net: For software and licence purchases, please consult the IT Centre in advance: lizenzen@rz.uni-freiburg.de

From €10,000 net: In accordance with the state government’s guidelines, it is mandatory to conclude an EVB-IT contract with the contractor.

Framework agreements and special cases: Existing framework agreements entered into by the University and the State (LZBW) must be used as a matter of priority. Where services involve the processing of personal data, particularly cloud services, data protection and information security must be taken into account at an early stage. In the case of third-party funding, different requirements set by the funding body may apply.

If you have any questions regarding software licences and how to obtain them, please contact: lizenzen@rz.uni-freiburg.de