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Trials

A trial is a time-bounded evaluation window for a catalog Product — typically a license issued under a trial License Plan or with trial dates on the license. Commercial rules (who may start a trial, duration, conversion) live in Management; Runtime enforces expiry and deny outcomes on validate / activate / refresh.

What Runtime enforces​

  • Trial end (and related grace if configured on Policy) — fail-closed after expiry.
  • Same packaging layers as paid licenses: FeatureLimits, entitlements, optional custom data.
  • Modes from Licensing Models still apply (node-locked trial, floating trial seats, offline trial lease windows).

Trials do not weaken signature or JWKS requirements. Clients always verify the signed snapshot.

Trial vs PlatformPlan trial​

  • Product trial — evaluation of your software under a License Plan.
  • Platform evaluation / SaaS trial — access to the Licensing platform itself (Checkout).

Keep naming distinct in Console copy and integrator docs.

Conversion (upgrade path)​

  1. Customer converts to a paid License Plan (or purchases seats).
  2. Management updates the license binding / entitlements.
  3. Next Runtime refresh / validate returns the new signed snapshot.
  4. Client re-verifies JWS and unlocks paid features (Entitlements).

Exact conversion APIs follow shipped OpenAPI — this page does not invent endpoints.

Related​

Next steps​