I know there have been several discussion threads over the years on this topic, but I'm looking for a, hopefully, clarifying answer.

Is this still the official position:

• Link to report: If the email contains a link to the report on the Cognos server, the recipient will need a license, such as an Analytics Viewer license or higher, to access it.
• Burst reports: All recipients of a burst report, even those receiving a static file, require a license because the server automatically generates and sends a personalized report to each one, according to this IBM community discussion. 

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Adam McIlravey
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Hi Adam

My understanding is -

Static file attachments do not need a Cognos license.  This is similar to emailing yourself the report and then emailing it from your email over to 1000 people.  The only difference is that Cognos is going to send 1000 emails to the mail server instead of you.

Link to a Report - technically, the user does not need to have a license to receive that email. But if they wanted to view the report that is "linked" - then they would need to have a license because they would have to log in to Cognos to access it.  Yes, the Analytics Viewer license would be required at a minimum. 

Burst Reports - if sent as a link - definitely need a license to access it.   Attachment - I feel IBM wants some money for this functionality based on a conversation I had 15+ years ago but I am checking for you.

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John Cusack
Analytica iQ
johncusack@analyticaiq.com
3042818589
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Hi Adam,

that topic has been around long time ago and has been clarified: It depends on your Cognos Analytics Version!

I can't tell you the exact version, but at least for CA 11.1.x each recipient of an attachement generated by the bursting feature needs a license. See IBM Terms

"Bursting Feature Requirement - Each person who is provided an output(s) of the Program through the Bursting feature or who authenticates to the Program must be covered by an appropriate entitlement."

I've checked the same document for CA 12.1 (and I know it applies to CA 12.0.x as well): IBM Terms

"Bursting Feature Requirement - Licensee using the Bursting feature must ensure that they have sufficient capacity entitlements to send the burst output to all recipients."

That means: you do not have to buy licenses for recipients of bursted emails anymore, but you need to have the capacity (of hardware) to run those bursting method (as it may require quite some work load).

Hope that helps.

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Robert Dostal
Principal Expert BI
GEMÜ Gebr. Müller Apparatebau GmbH & Co. KG
Kupferzell
------------------------------

Robert...
Well that's fantastic news!

We are on CA 12.0.4 likely moving to CA 12.1 sometime next year so it looks like we don't need to be concerned about adding Recipient Licenses for any static .pdf, .xlsx output sent via email to anyone whether bursted or not.

This is a big step forward!
I know in past lives this was always a sticking point in various projects that required some convoluted logic to move bursted report outputs after they had been saved to the file system.

Thanks for the details,

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Adam McIlravey
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Original Message:
Sent: Thu December 04, 2025 02:15 AM
From: Robert Dostal
Subject: Cognos Licensing for receiving output both bursted and non-bursted

Hi Adam,

that topic has been around long time ago and has been clarified: It depends on your Cognos Analytics Version!

I can't tell you the exact version, but at least for CA 11.1.x each recipient of an attachement generated by the bursting feature needs a license. See IBM Terms

"Bursting Feature Requirement - Each person who is provided an output(s) of the Program through the Bursting feature or who authenticates to the Program must be covered by an appropriate entitlement."

I've checked the same document for CA 12.1 (and I know it applies to CA 12.0.x as well): IBM Terms

"Bursting Feature Requirement - Licensee using the Bursting feature must ensure that they have sufficient capacity entitlements to send the burst output to all recipients."

That means: you do not have to buy licenses for recipients of bursted emails anymore, but you need to have the capacity (of hardware) to run those bursting method (as it may require quite some work load).

Hope that helps.

------------------------------
Robert Dostal
Principal Expert BI
GEMÜ Gebr. Müller Apparatebau GmbH & Co. KG
Kupferzell
------------------------------

As others have said its a question that went round and round for years. Thankfully Rachel Su put it to bed in 2023.

This was the response that Rachel Su gave on the subject 

"IF you are the sender (bursting) lets say, and you are licensed on a AU basis, you need the appropriate license to connect into Cognos and execute.

IF you are the sender (bursting) lets say, and you are licensed on a PVU basis, you need the appropriate PVUs licenses which are utilized by the dispatcher to connect and execute. 

IF you are the receiver of the report and you are logging into Cognos in anyway shape or form (Direct/API etc.) to access/use/view anything you need to have the appropriate AU licenses or PVU licenses associated to that user License.

IF you are the receiver of the report and you are accessing the report from a shared folder/email of sorts (Box folder for example and viewing a PDF or Excel output or attachment via Email) and are NOT accessing Cognos in anyway shape or form (Direct/API etc.) to access/use/view anything you do not need a Cognos license."

We then also got confirmation from IBM Product management that this change to the licencing terms, was for all versions ( an email i retain) 

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jonathan chesterton
NHS Supply Chain
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jonathan,

Thank you for recording this, and thanks to Rachel Su for making it happen with the team back in 2023.  I remember trying to figure out the licensing requirements for showing Cognos reports on a monitor in a public space!  

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Eric Pleiss
Technical Sales Specialist
BSP Software/Micro Strategies
La Salle IL
6183032966
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Fri December 05, 2025 04:29 AM
From: jonathan chesterton
Subject: Cognos Licensing for receiving output both bursted and non-bursted

As others have said its a question that went round and round for years. Thankfully Rachel Su put it to bed in 2023.

This was the response that Rachel Su gave on the subject 

"IF you are the sender (bursting) lets say, and you are licensed on a AU basis, you need the appropriate license to connect into Cognos and execute.

IF you are the sender (bursting) lets say, and you are licensed on a PVU basis, you need the appropriate PVUs licenses which are utilized by the dispatcher to connect and execute. 

IF you are the receiver of the report and you are logging into Cognos in anyway shape or form (Direct/API etc.) to access/use/view anything you need to have the appropriate AU licenses or PVU licenses associated to that user License.

IF you are the receiver of the report and you are accessing the report from a shared folder/email of sorts (Box folder for example and viewing a PDF or Excel output or attachment via Email) and are NOT accessing Cognos in anyway shape or form (Direct/API etc.) to access/use/view anything you do not need a Cognos license."

We then also got confirmation from IBM Product management that this change to the licencing terms, was for all versions ( an email i retain) 

------------------------------
jonathan chesterton
NHS Supply Chain
------------------------------