How to prevent Distribution / Piracy

[xfratboy]

So, let's say I come up with the next great App or something and I want to prevent easy distribution of my labor...How do some of the experts here do it? From reading the forums, it looks like you have to make some sort of protection scheme that checks an online DB for a valid key and then do something locally to unlock the product. However, if the user activates/unlocks the app successfully, can't they just copy that exe file off their computer and give it to someone else? Seems like there's got to be a fairly simple process to prevent casual exe sharing.

[richmond62]

Somebody will always find a way to pirate your software if it is 'that good' and so expensive that many people cannot afford it.

Low price and not getting "too sweaty about piracy" will probably be a better bet in the long run than investing lots of
effort in fancy database checking and so forth; and then finding your program has been pirated anyway.

[Mark]

xfratboy,

Unless you compile a unique copy of your software for each customer, you can't store the serial number in your executable file anyway. Therefore, copying only the executable wouldn't make much sense.

I am currently working on two protection schemes. One with an on-line database which is checked upon registration, one with just a simple key. Personally I prefer the latter, because it may cause your customers some trouble if the database can't be checked. My customers,, who are software publishers themselves too, sometimes want additional protection. Hence the home phoning approach.

Best,

Mark

[kotikoti]

See if this solution meets your securing rev needs

http://www.enigmaprotector.com/en/tutor ... rial4.html

He has an example of how-to there as well

[bn]

have a look at:
http://www.hyperactivesw.com/solutions_zygodact.html
http://www.runrev.com/products/related- ... /zygodact/
It is a revolution solution around registration and stuff, It coasts 65$, but if it solves your problem

So, let's say I come up with the next great App

it might well be worth it since it is only a fraction of all the money that will be poured on you...
regards
Bernd