There are a few reasons why we might need to include years in a software license agreement.
First, it helps to specify the time period during which the license is valid. This is important because it sets a clear expiration date for the agreement, and helps to avoid any confusion about when the license expires.
Second, specifying the year(s) in the agreement can help to avoid disputes about whether the agreement is still valid if there is a change in ownership of the software (i.e., if the company that owns the software is sold to another company). By including the year(s) in the agreement, we can make it clear that the agreement is still in effect even if there is a change in ownership.
Third, in some jurisdictions, specifying the year(s) in the agreement can help to avoid disputes about the statute of limitations. For example, if there is a dispute about the agreement, the court may be more likely to find that the agreement is still valid if it includes the year(s) rather than just the date.
Finally, including the year(s) in the agreement can help to make it clear that the agreement is still valid even if there are changes to the software itself (i.e., if a new version of the software is released).
Overall, including the year(s) in a software license agreement helps to set clear expiration date, avoid disputes about ownership changes and the statute of limitations, and make it clear that the agreement is still valid even if there are changes to the software.
