User Managed Authorizations

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pgunders
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User Managed Authorizations

Post by pgunders » Tue Dec 23, 2003 5:57 am

I've noticed that Native Instruments is trying this out, and it sounds like a good idea: Users can go to their registration page, deactivate an old authorization in order to free up a new authorization. The one catch is that a deactivated authorization (for a specific hardware configuration) may never be used again. This makes authorization schemes at least a little bit less annoying.

pgunders

tylast
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Post by tylast » Tue Dec 23, 2003 1:08 pm

I agree. I'm all for it.

Alex Reynolds
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Post by Alex Reynolds » Sun Jan 04, 2004 1:22 pm

What if you go between multiple setups and need to re-register a setup? A USB dongle neatly solves all these problems.

IMHO, and off-topic, NI's developers should really be spending less time on fiddling around with their (working) authorization mechanism and instead focus time and effort fixing serious bugs with their high-end products.

-Alex

firefly2004

user authorisation (copy protection)

Post by firefly2004 » Tue Jan 06, 2004 12:19 am

have a look at macromedia software and their copy protection/user authorisation.

1. the user is able to authorize two computers with one serial-no(home/office computer). these authorisations are registered on the macromedia server.
2. the user is able to transfer these authorisations from one computer to an other computer as often as the user like!!! by dis-authorize the software on the computer (and macromedia-server) and re-authorize the software later on the same or an other computer. No more than two authorizations are active at the same time. The macromedia-server keeps book on the authorizations.
These authorization-method is very user-friendly much more sophisticated than the ableton/NI methods.

addendum

copy protection/user-authorisation/activation

Post by addendum » Tue Jan 06, 2004 12:32 am

the technical details of the macromedia authorisation/activation method
can be found here:

http://www.macromedia.com/software/activation/

PLEASE, AbletonPeople read these macromedia-pages !!!! The copy-protection method in then actual LIVE-Software is not user-friendly..

krikor
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Post by krikor » Tue Jan 06, 2004 12:56 am

Alex Reynolds wrote:What if you go between multiple setups and need to re-register a setup? A USB dongle neatly solves all these problems.

IMHO, and off-topic, NI's developers should really be spending less time on fiddling around with their (working) authorization mechanism and instead focus time and effort fixing serious bugs with their high-end products.

-Alex
No No way of that stuppid dongle, this is the most annoying thing i have seen, i have it for SX2 and it's crap, and i don't wanna go around carrying some more stuff for my live (=dongle means USB Hub)

Guest

Post by Guest » Tue Jan 06, 2004 12:57 am

Alex Reynolds wrote:What if you go between multiple setups and need to re-register a setup? A USB dongle neatly solves all these problems.
-Alex
Dongles seem to be on their way out as a copyright protection scheme since multiple dongles can be a serious annoyance (imagine needing a dongle for every music software app you own!). Personally, I feel most confident about buying software that I will always be able to use (hey, that's what I understanding by BUYING a product). While I object in principle to these user-authorization schemes, at least NI now gives its users some control. Macromedia's solution sounds that much better. I don't like user-managed authorizations, but I dislike them less than the current situation.

pgunders

noisetonepause
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Post by noisetonepause » Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:19 am

How about some sort of 'plug in your dongle every 30 days' thing. Err. I don't know. If they're really worried about piracy, they could do it that way.

It's an annoyance, naturally, but still, if you weren't *forced* to have the dongle with you all the time, but only to have it plugged in at least once every thirty days, you'd be a lot freer... ?

-Paws
Suit #1: I mean, have you got any insight as to why a bright boy like this would jeopardize the lives of millions?
Suit #2: No, sir, he says he does this sort of thing for fun.

Alex Reynolds
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Post by Alex Reynolds » Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:42 am

Like any engineering problem, every solution is plagued with tradeoffs.

Dongles are physical and a pain in the ass to carry around and plug in.

iTunes- or Macromedia-style registration requires a network connection to manage access rights.

NI, Ableton and Cycling74-style challenge-response exchange is similar but more static, tied to the hardware, offering even less flexibility.

Maybe Ableton could just give away Live for free?

Of these three, I have to admit I'm warming up to the idea of iTunes-style authorization for software. Keeps people pretty honest.

-Alex

Tallisman
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Post by Tallisman » Tue Jan 06, 2004 3:57 am

I think the dongle is a great Idea, but only if Ableton contracts syncsoft.... then the 1 dongle could be used for Cubase, Live, Halion... very handy.
I guess I'm thinking Universal dongle...

Guest

Post by Guest » Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:43 pm

no way dongle, the last thing i need is using up a usb port on my laptop...


I'm actually perfectly happy with the current method - you only have to do it once for god's sake stop whining

Guest

Post by Guest » Tue Jan 06, 2004 6:56 pm

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually perfectly happy with the current method - you only have to do it once for god's sake stop whining
The problem is exactly that some people (namely, those who upgrade/reformat their computer on a regular basis) have to do it surpisingly often, and getting locked out of software that you purchased the right to use can be an infuriating experience.

I've mostly given up on the idea that software companies would want to make use of their product hassle-free (Cakewalk is a rare, admirable exception to the rule); user-managed rights seems like a no-brainer. It's obviously better than the current situation. It might take a substantial amount of work on Ableton's part to get going, but it would certainly entice more people to buy their product (I would certainly upgrade from 2 to 3 if I had more control over when and how I used the license I already purchased).

pgunders

Guest

Post by Guest » Wed Jan 07, 2004 2:01 am

Anonymous wrote: (I would certainly upgrade from 2 to 3 if I had more control over when and how I used the license I already purchased).

pgunders
man, you would upgrade from 2-3 regardless if you try 3 properly, it's the absolute bollox - until you've spent a bit of time using all that clip automation i cant see any self respecting musician failing to see the brilliance of it. I've barely even touched reason 2.5 since i bought it, live 3 absolutely kills it dead.

pgunders
Posts: 65
Joined: Mon Jun 17, 2002 9:58 pm
Location: San Diego

Post by pgunders » Thu Jan 08, 2004 7:03 am

Yeah, I have no doubt it's great, but I'm trying to be a little more disciplined about spending. At this point, I know I haven't been using Live 2 to its full capabilities.

pgunders

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