Oracle Unlimited License Agreements (ULAs)

An Oracle Unlimited License Agreement (ULA) is a contract that gives you the right to use an unlimited quantity of specified Oracle products for an agreed time period, usually 3 years. At the end of the unlimited period, Oracle will grant you a fixed quantity license on the basis that you have made a declaration of usage which Oracle believes to be accurate and realistic.

The cost of a ULA is fixed when you purchase – it is crucial to understand that ongoing support payments, even after declaration, are the same as when negotiated at ULA entry.

Oracle ULAs are still popular and represent significant revenue generation for Oracle. Many companies believe they are the answer to their licensing needs, however, Oracle ULAs can sometimes be more beneficial to the vendor than the customer – and that’s why it always pays to get expert advice before signing on the dotted line.

With the increasing moves to hyperscale and mid-size Cloud vendors it is important to understand the caveats to ULA use and declaration in such environments.

Our software asset management and license team have over 350 person-years of Oracle experience and in-depth understanding of every phase of the ULA lifecycle – we can help you make the decision that is right for your business.