Re: How to create a serial number for a software?

On Jan 11, 6:32 am, "Peter Duniho" <NpOeStPe...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:18:57 -0800, sheper...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<sheper...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
[...]
I want my software to generate a code based on the hardware used and
then when the customer enters that code in my web site, the web site
gives a valid serial number which activates the software (or something
like that).
Any help or idea will be appreciated.

Google can find you lots of information. In this newsgroup alone it's
been discussed to death, including very recently. Search for things like
"license", "copy protection", "obfuscation", "unique id", etc.

The bottom line: what you're talking about is basically the same as
Microsoft's "Product Activation" anti-feature, and even they can't get it
to work perfectly.

A better approach is to write software that motivates people to want to
motivate _you_ to keep writing software by paying you for it, and to
provided added value for the cost of the software in the form of customer
support, documentation, and other added benefits.

Do not forget: whatever copy protection you incorporate, someone will
figure out a way to bypass it. At that point, the only people who could
possibly be inconvenienced by the copy protection will be your paying
customers (and make no mistake, if you have any significant number of
customers, copy protection _will_ inconvenience at least some of your
customers).

Pete

Hi,
Thanks for the help.
I know there is always someone who will bypass those protection
methods, but there is not much of those ones around here. So if have a
medium level of protection for my software it will work for me. Just I
am puzzled where to start from.
Thanks again.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Universal Backs Free Music Rival to iTunes
    ... The site will distribute music as copy-protected WMA only. ... protection, and it can be a huge inconvenience. ... Once inconveniences appear, the customers start ... Protecting files isn't going to stop the thieves: ...
    (rec.music.classical.recordings)
  • Re: Universal Backs Free Music Rival to iTunes
    ... protected WMA's (though iTunes can convert unprotected WMA's). ... Their customers will not pay, but they will not own anything either. ... protection, and it can be a huge inconvenience. ... Protecting files isn't going to stop the thieves: ...
    (rec.music.classical.recordings)
  • Re: Stupid Anti-Piracy Tricks
    ... >> No copy protection doesn't mean that sales are hurt. ... >>> customer dissatisfaction which also limits sales. ... >> annoys customers and limits their ability to use it in the way they ...
    (comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg)
  • Re: Stupid Anti-Piracy Tricks
    ... >>> No copy protection doesn't mean that sales are hurt. ... >>> download the most are also the people who buy the most. ... >>> annoys customers and limits their ability to use it in the way they ...
    (comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg)
  • Re: Stupid Anti-Piracy Tricks
    ... >>> Why do companies treat their customers like bloody thieves? ... >> And that's exactly why these lame copy protection schemes are a stupid ... > airtight protection with minimal piracy and a higher degree of customer ... > dissatisfaction which also limits sales. ...
    (comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg)
Loading