Course-vs-subscription entitlement and course-credit policy

DEC-0046 - Course-vs-subscription entitlement and course-credit policy

Context

Course purchase boundary was known, but execution rules between course access, subscription tier, and AI credit behavior were not precise enough.

Decision

Course/subscription boundary is finalized as:

• Course purchase does not require Pro/Pro Max.
• Course checkout can show optional subscription add-on suggestion (non-mandatory).
• Entitlement is context-bound by default:
  • in course context: unlock by course entitlement,
  • in self-study context: unlock by subscription tier.
• Same-item exception applies:
  • if an exercise is touched in course context, that same exercise can be opened in self-study context.

Course AI credit model:

• Course learner can use AI for course exercises without requiring Pro Max.
• Included course credit cadence: monthly refill during active course.
• If included credit is exhausted, user can buy top-up directly (without Pro Max requirement).
• When user has no eligible subscription, course top-up usage remains course-scope only.

Post-course behavior:

• Course exercises remain accessible after course end.
• Remaining course top-up and included course credits are retained indefinitely,
• but usable only for exercises belonging to that course.

Decision Value

• Removes paywall confusion for paid-course learners.
• Preserves monetization through clear course-scope credit top-up.
• Prevents accidental global unlock drift from course-only entitlement.

Rationale

Learners buying a course expect full utility inside that course. Context-bound access keeps the model fair and scalable while preventing uncontrolled entitlement expansion.