Don't alienate users:

give users control over their licensed software

• enable licensed software to be installed upon, and moved to, any applicable system
  
  
• enable licensed software to be backed up and restored without having to locate the licensing code
  
  
• no actions take place without direction from the user

Don't alienate users:

protect a user's information and situation privacy

• user can password-protect access to licensing operations
  
  
• no user-identifying or business-related information is transferred to the licensing server ... only numeric (not named) system identification and licensing information
  
  
• we tell the user how to verify the content of all information that originated on their system and was sent to the licensing server (see the LicenseControl FAQ)
  
  
• only licensing operations, not application startups, require communication with the licensing server so there's no way to monitor a user's usage patterns, location, etc.

"try before you buy" Trial mode of operation


secure Licensed mode of operation


Upgrade licenses (including upgrades from legacy, non-LicenseControl licenses)


Add-On licenses (especially important for corporate users)


Licenses for delivery via e-store sales


Licenses for delivery via pre-boxed "brick 'n mortar"/walk-in store sales


support for time-limited Licensed Trials and for 1-time license validation (to thwart fraudulent purchases)


support for end-user and corporate/multi-system licensing administration


support corporate/multi-system administration scenario, including cloned/replicated systems delivery


Licenses that require a one-time "refresh" (e.g., to support payment verification and thwart fraud)


multi-language localization support


existing support for virtually all kinds of e-stores


existing Kagi e-store and PayPal integrations


formalized support for custom e-store integrations


support for varied business models


an underlying willingness and ability to address other requirements when they arise

Don't complicate:

respect the user's existing infrastructure

• LicenseControl doesn't use or rely upon non-standard "hacks" that pose a risk to the stability of a customer's system(s)
  
  
• there is no requirement for a user to install and manage a licensing server, either locally or centralized

Don't allow piracy through trivial or casual efforts:

provide "pretty good piracy protection"

• while we don't believe it's possible to have completely "unhackable" protection with current systems, we do use multiple, nontrivial mechanisms based upon various technologies, including strong encryption
  
  
• multiple protection mechanisms are designed to be quickly adaptable in the face of a compromise
  
  
• there's a carefully chosen balance between ease of use, usage restrictions and anti-piracy mechanisms
  
  
• access to certain software components and different areas of software design are restricted, even within our own organization
  
  
• even when License IDs are pre-defined, they are not available for use until posted to the system as the result of a sale
  
  
• once activated, a License ID is only applicable to that system (until de-activated, by that system, for reuse)
  
  
• a License ID can only be de-activated from the system upon which it was activated (without our/Vendor intervention)
  
  
• all licensing transactions, whether successful or not, are retained in the licensing server
  
  
• anomaly monitoring can raise alerts for suspicious patterns of licensing transactions
  
  
• License IDs can easily be disabled to prevent future use
  
  
• the business process is an important part of the overall strategy
  
  
  • a pre-defined License ID is delivered at sales time
    
    
  • when a licensed product is sold, a License ID is automatically posted to the licensing server to make the (pre-existing) License ID available for use
    
    
  • activation of the License ID precludes use on a different system until it's de-activated by that system

• users cannot "pass around" License IDs for use on multiple systems without giving away their own/purchased licenses

Don't infringe upon a Vendor's domain:

give Vendor's control over their customers and business processes

• it is not necessary to provide us with detailed customer information, only a way to identify a customer for support purposes
  
  
• Vendors can generate and post License IDs via a web-based interface (valuable for 1-off volume sales as well as Not For Resale and evaluation licenses)
  
  
• posting a License ID/sale is limited to a Vendor and/or the Vendor's agents (e.g., Kagi) as defined by the Vendor
  
  
• Vendors cannot generate a License ID for another Vendor's product

Don't make it difficult:

provide easy-to-use Vendor and developer tools

• once familiar with the process, it takes only minutes to secure an application using LicenseControl
  
  
• both Developer/Vendor and end-user support is available and included in the affordable licensing fees
  
  
• web-based, real-time Vendor access is provided for setup, maintenance and reporting ... see our demo Vendor account (login as user demo, password demo)

Don't make it too expensive:

provide a solution that's affordable by even a low-volume vendor

• the per-license fees are very low
  
  
  • if you're a Kagi Supplier, the fee is automatically deducted from your Kagi Supplier revenue ... simple!
    
    
• there are no monthly fees
  
  
• there are no minimum volumes
  
  
• there are reduced rates for higher-volume Vendors
  
  
• developer code and tools are free
  
  
• testing licenses and support are free
  
  
• no charge for limited-functionality, non-licensed, Trial-mode operation
  
  
• Not For Resale(NFR)/evaluation licenses and time-expiring full-featured Licensed Trials are both at minimal cost
  
  
• startup cost is zero or effectively zero!