Max Wanadoo
max.wanadoo at gmail.com
Sat May 2 05:16:59 CDT 2009
Susan, I would store it in a User Defined Property on the BE and the FE. The UDP would store BE HD Srl No. (Plus anything else you want to create info for, eg Date installed, Company Licensed to, etc, etc). Each time the BE fires up it checks the HD Srl No. Each time the FE fires up it checks the entries on the BE - it also increases the number of logged users by 1 and checks if they have reached the licensed limit. You can also limit the number of installations this way. Make use of the UDP to store and record all sorts of stuff. Limited only by your imagination and your needs. When the BE first fires up, the HDPs won't be there, so you know it is a fresh install. The user never sees these properties and wont know they are there. Use them in conjunction with an encrypted MDE to log events etc. Max -----Original Message----- From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Susan Harkins Sent: 01 May 2009 15:47 To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving Subject: Re: [AccessD] Copy Protection Needed I'm kind of with John on this one -- I'll man those phones! ;) In my delirium I came up with two possible copy-protection ideas, and I'd like to hear pros and cons: 1.) Create a key in the registry with a simple Boolean value, when the application is first launched. Then the program is launched, checked for the key -- if it's there, proceed. If not, lock things up with the appropriate warning and contact information. If it's good enough for MS, it's good enough for me. This is a relatively simple process to implement. 2.) It seems to me that there ought to be a way to manipulate the GUID data type with some internal system value to create a one-time key value that won't change, as long as it's on the same system. If that's possible, simply compare that value each time and respond appropriately. I don't know if this is possible. Thoughts? Susan H. ----- Original Message ----- From: "jwcolby" <jwcolby at colbyconsulting.com> To: "Access Developers discussion and problem solving" <accessd at databaseadvisors.com> Sent: Sunday, April 26, 2009 8:08 PM Subject: Re: [AccessD] Copy Protection Needed > >The consequence of which is that the customer has to contact direct by > >email or phone with a > hardware-related 'Fingerprint number' on first installation, and you have > to run a utility and email > back their unlock key. Which obviously would be a drag if you are talking > high volume sales. > > ROTFL. Answering an email to provide a key to obtain a $400 sale is a > PITA? Hmmm... I'll do it > for 50%. > > John W. Colby > www.ColbyConsulting.com > > > Steve Schapel wrote: >> Ricky, >> >> For several years I have been using Sagekey Security >> http://www.sagekey.com/security.aspx >> >> Of course, you have the expense of a licence from Sagekey. But in my >> opinion it's well worth it. >> >> There is a web component, but I don't bother with that. The consequence >> of which is that the customer has to contact direct by email or phone >> with a hardware-related 'Fingerprint number' on first installation, and >> you have to run a utility and email back their unlock key. Which >> obviously would be a drag if you are talking high volume sales. But for >> a moderate number of end users, it's not too burdensome, and always works >> like a charm. >> >> Regards >> Steve >> >> From: Rocky Smolin >> Sent: Sunday, April 26, 2009 3:59 AM >> To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving' >> Subject: [AccessD] Copy Protection Needed >> >> >> Dear List: >> >> Susan Harkins and I are working on a project together It is a >> relatively >> small application and database for the Toys for Tots organization - >> tracking >> parents, children, donors, and volunteers. We were contacted by the >> head of >> a Michigan chapter after he had gotten bids from $2500 to $10,000 for a >> custom database - well out of his budget range. So we decided to put >> together an application for him, speculating that perhaps other Toys >> for >> Tots chapters around the country would find the application valuable. >> He's >> up and running and very happy, has provided us with a nice endorsement, >> and >> will post a notice to the TFT bulletin board for us when we get a web >> page >> up. Which should be in a couple weeks. We have priced the product at >> $400. >> > -- > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com -- AccessD mailing list AccessD at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com