PROGRAMMERS HATE COPY PROTECTION
PROGRAMMERS HATE COPY PROTECTION
PROGRAMMERS HATE COPY PROTECTION
It's basically the worst thing in the world for a programmer to have to deal with, because it just gets in the way of trying to work. If it annoys YOU as a customer, using it, say, once... consider how much it annoys ME using it several thousand times.
Reasons to not have copy protection:
1) I hate it.
2) Our software gets cracked the day it comes out, and people are using cracked copies on the day of release ANYWAY.
3) It annoys the HELL out of users.
Reasons TO have copy protection:
1) It protects the investment of customers.
Unfortunately, as utterly bizarre as it sounds, that's a really strong reason.
If you're a customer, we have to put something in place which makes our software not free, because otherwise we're being disrespectful to you by asking you to pay for something which there are no restrictions to using free of charge.
Personally, I'd like to give stuff away free to everyone, but alas, I'm not naive enough to believe that I'd be able to go on doing that for very long before someone asked me for some rent, and I realised I was skint... the more money we make, the more plugins you get. [Or, in the case of recent history, the more mindblowingly groundbreaking a product you get...]
So in our case, you who pay for software invest in the future of that software... and for R&D that will give you more of that quality software that you love
So... our copy protection has a bit of an issue. In its eagerness to NOT annoy the user with windows telling you things like "err, hang on, you need to actually register this", after it has expired, it just locks itself into bypass [or won't pass audio]. So, when your 30days demo has expired, it doesn't tell you... it just stops working. To a legitimate user who didn't realise that they had to register it, after 30 days, our software appears to break!!! You open up your session and it just sounds different... and you wonder why!
We're thinking about how we can improve things. This issue of dilligence to protect investment means that we MUST do SOMETHING.
Currently, you go to the registration site, enter your details, and it sends you a license file
which will register your plugins and make them work forever. (though it has to be done manually)
We need to wire SOMETHING into the installer to sort this. But what if your studio computer ain't on the 'net?
Things we've been considering:
1) I got some speak'n'spell samples. I'm going to splice them up, a-la Cassetteboy, to say "Your Sonalksis
2) A BIG MESSAGE BOX TO TELL YOU THAT THEY HAVE EXPIRED AND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO REGISTER THEM.
3) A page in the installer that tells you ALL about registration (because you really care), or perhaps something that takes your details, and tries to connect to the 'net (or generates a link file if it can't?) and downloads+installs your license file.
4) A license manager application which is your friend.
Basically though, you know way more about this than we do, so we want you to know that we're taking it seriously, but really we want to know what you think.
Please tell us! I hate copy protection.
Dave.
20 comments:
I know some people will disagree - bit I have come to prefer iLok copy protection. It comes so very handy when one is working on different computers. Registration is simple - you do it once and forget about it...
Never had any issues with pace.
I know it does not come for free - but I gladly pay more for the convenience of it.
vladoc
Yes, I also have no problems with iLOK. I can't stand people who use cracked versions.
But please don't ever choose Syncrosoft. Too many problems with those.
hi dave,
i guess that is a clear 'NO' : )
well, I can see the points - too bad, since from my (user) perspective it still seems like a very convenient system. Here's why:
I went through 4 computers in the last 2 years. presently I have 2 macs in my studio running OS X and XP on both of them. I might get a MacPro too. With the iLok plugged in I can just work on any of my computers. I miss the plugs that are not on the iLok....
So please give us a solution that provides this kind of user- friendliness.
p.s. I think it is no problem to pay 'extra' for this kind of service (not necesserily to Pace). I - like many others - own 1000s of € worth of plugs. I use only plugs that I payed for but if I am asked to pay additional licenses to make the same plug work on my laptop, I might start looking for 'alternatives'.
But after all it comes down to: some people pay for software - others don't.
best, vladoc
Vladoc I hear you loud and clear.
It certainly is very convenient to be able to move around like that...
The only catch is that the plugin installers aren't stored on the ilok. A USB key sorts that out...
A USB key also sorts out your need to take Sonalksis plugins between computers in your studio. My understanding is that your money buys YOU (as a person, rather than a computer) permission to use the plugin. You register the plugin to your name, not your computer's name.
I suggest you keep a copy of the license file - since that's what you've paid for - as well as the plugin installer.
Then when you need to move machine, you're set.
Currently, we don't lock you to one computer. That would be pretty fierce of us.
People generally won't pirate their own bought copies because they probably wouldn't want all their mates using plugins with their name in the registration... pride, professionalism, etc.
We'll look into things like a site you can log into and download personalised installers (that you can just download and use on your own computers), or a site that lets you retrieve your license files in case you lose them.
These feel like much easier and more painless solutions to your problem!
Hey electrock!
We can be anti-dongle buddies! :D
I won't be implementing anything to do with dongles here... although I AM liking the personalised installers idea...
If any of the guys start talking about dongles I'll start ranting. And get them blind drunk so they forget all about the dongles idea. That's a promise ;)
Felix. The above promise does NOT count as an invitation to get free beers.
i'm very glad to hear your thoughts on this!! i'm very happy with your compressor, and its value increased alot with your thoughts and opinions in this blog.
i've experienced a lot of copy protection over the years. i'm a musician, living off record sales and touring, and piracy of music is the same problem.
i hate it all. but the last and worst thing that one can do, and sadly there are so many stupid softare companies and record companies - DO NOT TREAT YOUR CUSTOMERS AS THIEVES!!! if you treat everybody as potential criminals.. oh why do i have to explain this over and over to humans..! :)
dongles are evil. my logic dongle was stolen once, i was without my work environment for two weeks. everytime i suggest another solution to apple/emagic, they treated me as a pirate. i really dislike that kind of bureaucratic mindset and social unintelligence. their "product" is so valuable it must be protected at all costs (and i'm paying the cost)
online unlock challenge/response pr computer is a pain. what happens when the company disappears? and why is it always limited to two computers? i change computers maybe once or twice a year!!
the best, and most convenient, copy protection IMO is a simple serial number locked to your name. without serial number, the software works in demo mode. to unlock, enter your name and serial number. you can do this on as many computers as you want. and most people would be reluctant to give their own registration away to friends/spread it, since their name is assosicated with it.
now, when you (as developer) release an update, users must submit their username and serial number to download the update. this way you have an opportunity to weed out any "registrations on the run" for each update.
i'm sure there are disagreements with me, and things i didnt think or write about. and of course the registration algorithm will be cracked for each update. but during the years, the software that used some kind of variant of this copy protection, has always been the most convenient usage for me. and i return to purchase their products.
I think how it works is (and here, when I say "I think", what I really mean is, "I'm TOTALLY convinced") there are people who aren't going to pay for your software, and there are people who are.
People who aren't going to pay:
1) Skint people, who may one day become customers, when their career starts rolling, and money isn't so tight.
2) "Curious" people, who aren't really interested in shelling out for this or that, but want to take a look.
3) Committed pirates, who won't pay for software on principal. I suspect there to be VERY few of these indeed.
4) Uncommitted hobbyists. It's just a bit of fun, and not worth them spending any money.
All of these people (except type 3, of course) may one day become customers, and if they've had access to your software and they liked it, they'll remember your name. Being totally arch about it, "having access to your software" means getting the crack. A demo period is good for potential customers, who want a clean, crack-free system... but for the non-paying category, they WANT the crack.
To me, it seems foolish to fight piracy.
This principal is, I think, the same in music. They liked your last single, but not enough to buy it... so they keep the downloaded mp3... if they REALLY WANT the album, they WILL buy it. Piracy gives people the chance to warm to you as an artist. The same applies to us- we can make the best, most 'pro' eq and comp in the trade (we did!), but that's not the thing that _everyone_ wants. Not everyone WANTS a 'pro' eq and comp. But the cracks are out there... and people know who we are! ;)
Normally, in business, free advertising is a godsend- and this is free word-of-mouth advertising, which, as we know, is the best kind. If, as a software company, you accept that the people who use cracks are not your customers yet, then you start to see it how it is - you can't sell to these people, because they're not interested in buying... but you CAN get them to remember you!
By the way, dongle sellers, there's a fairly well known social engineering exploit for getting free dongles. The physical nature of a dongle is absolutely no security at all. Perhaps they know about this, and that's why they treat everyone as criminals now. And how do you reclaim the lost earnings of two weeks locked out of your studio by a software company?!? TELL ME HOW?!?!
Failure to grasp things like this DOES lead to assuming that your customers are pirates. That's not good. The relationship between you and your customer IS the TOTALITY of your business. It makes me quite sick sometimes to watch how other companies treat their users.
We basically use serial numbers. You only need to do the challenge response thing once when you buy the product, to get it registered to you - you the PERSON, not you the computer or you the arbitrary, bizarrely defined object.
I just feel that our license scheme isn't particularly well understood, as evidenced by a few people's comments, who didn't realise that the license file we emailed them was their key to unlocking the plugin wherever they need to use it.
I think we SHOULD have personalised installers (which are YOURS and have the serial number and your name integrated), and I'd like a website where you can log in to get the latest version. Actually, we may already have one...!? :-)
Cheers,
Dave.
Here here electrock!
I think we're lucky in that because pro-audio is fairly niche, we don't suffer so much from the dodgy-cd problems.
I'll investigate the customer list thing... In theory we should be able to find you from your email address...
Well Dave I would like to take you up on something. You say " The relationship between you and your customer IS the TOTALITY of your business."
I recently demo'd your TDK filter. I had some questions about it and emailed- no reply. I emailed again- no reply. I phoned and left a message- no response. Rang again- no response. So:
"The relationship between you and your customer IS the TOTALITY of your business."
Whilst I like your plugins and your attitude your customer support is lousy!
Andy
Well that's not good enough, is it?
While I shout at the guys and ask them what the hell that's all about, send me an email, and I'll be more than pleased to answer any questions you have! dave at sonalksis dot com.
KIERAAAAAAAANNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, I beg you, no dongles, iLok especially since it's a pile of crap that doesn't protect software and makes computers completely unstable. When I install the Waves Ren demo on my PC and reboot I get the blue screen of death. Syncrosoft is ok though but still not preferred to serial number o key file protection.
My rule of thumb is, if it uses iLok, I don't care HOW good it is, I'm not buying it. It could be the greatest thing in the world, but no iLok is ever touching my system. I'd consider Syncrosoft, but I'd been very keen on serial / key file. I also completely ignore all software that uses challenge / response, not a fan.
Truthfully, Key File that you guys use (I think), is the best form of copy protection I've seen. Kjaerhus uses this also and it's great, no serials to type or copy / paste, just open the key file and BAM, you're done.
I think that the nag screen should appear every time the plugin is opened after the 30 day period ... maybe even during the trail period ... but definitely not when registered.
The nag screen is a great way to remind the user they are using a demo :D
Fots
I've actually come up with an idea.
Peronsalised installers would be pretty complex since you would have to produce an installer for each and every customer and this could get REALLY messy and time-consuming.
Howbout this ... keep the system exactly the way it is now, however, if the installer finds the license file in the same directory as itself, it tells you that the plugins have been registered during install and you won't have to manually register it.
This way, people will have their installer and key file in the same folder, and portability and installation is very easy.
I personally always have my installers organised like this...
e.g.
Software Library \ Music Software \ Voxengo Marquis Compressor 1.4
Under the folder itself, I have the newest installer, and usually all associated key files / PDF files with my order details and serial numbers (if applicable).
If people simply keep their software organised, this idea will work wonders, since the installer will detect everything automatically :D
Just a thought
Fots
We do actually check a few sensible places for license files (like the desktop) when we boot the plugs. I should get the installer to do the same thing. Good call ;)
Hi all
for what it's worth.. I tried Sonalksis demo's and loved them (best digital eq I've ever heard). Generally all my software is bought & paid for (except MS office). I've never paid large-ish money for plugins before. My demo's ran out. I was dithered. Funds were low as I've moved to the country. I spent a night searching and found an eq crack. I installed it and felt bad. I felt really bad. I uninstalled it and though I couldn't really afford it bout the eq/comp bundle. I felt great! Then, a rush job came in, I used the sonalksis plugs, the client LOVED the mix, said "send us a big bill". Plugs instantly paid for themselves (oh - I did a good mix too!). Karma. BTW, the dodgy eq plug I had left some "corrupted" vst data in my project. More Karma. That's my 2c.
Peace.
Mr Bucket.
Oh, and getting on topic, I think the current reg system is great. I appreciate being personally licenced, not the pooter. I keep a copy of my reg files alongside the installers, in my installers folder, which gets backed up. What could be easier?
Mr Bucket
Well, my preferenses when it comes to copy protection:
Best: No copy protection, just a personal serial number or reg file. Also, the license should be tied to me as a person, and not to a specific computer.
OK: Dongle. That way, the license is in a way connected to me, since I can install it on multiple computers, and then just move the dongle. Will also work (for a while at least, as long as the dirvers work) if the company goes away.
Bad, bad enough for me to not buy the software: Challenge/response. Really HATE those. Needs to have internet connection on my studio computer, meaning anti virus and other stuff cluttering the system. (unless I want to register manually and wait for a week or so every time)
Also, when softwere using challenge response systems or dongles are available cracked the same day they are released, what's the point? All the copy protection does is make life harder for the people who actually shelled out their hard earned cash...
rydan, I could not possible agree more... and "best option" is what we currently provide. :-D
I intend to go one better, at some stage, and give you user-customised installers, so you only have one file to keep track of ;)
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