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Why Do I Need Software Protection?
Chances are Software Piracy is something you would
rather not have to worry about. But even your most honest and best
intentioned customers may be misusing your software license and they may
not even know that they are. Then there are the folks who know that
they are "stretching" your license a bit. Still there are others who may
be blatantly violating your software license. You may even have a
corporate customer who will not buy your software if your cannot assure
them that they will not be able to violate your license.
In any case, these days software protection is the
standard and customers have come to expect it and accept it.
Protecting ToolBook Projects Is Unique
Most software protection is designed to protect one application (an
exe) that is
being run from either a local machine or across the network. Basically, the user goes into the application, does something, and then
exits the application. ToolBook projects, on the other hand, may
consist of many different books that users are going in and out of. This
complicates how the software is protected, especially when the program is
running over a network where there may be multiple machines and/or users
accessing the ToolBook files at one time.
A good example of how complex software protection can get is a customer of
mine that has eight courses, all managed through a customized version of my
SLMS :-). Each of the eight courses
consisted of two to eight ToolBooks. For network versions which were
sold on a per concurrent user per course basis, we had to have a way to
keep track of the number of users in each course. But, because users
could move between courses with the SLMS bookmarking system, we also had to
be able to decrease the
number of users in one course and increase the number of users in
another course as users accessed the other courses through their
bookmarks. Very tricky stuff, but we were able to do it in a
professional and secure way.
How Software Protection Works
When users login for the first time they are asked to register their
product. They can do it automatically on-line or they can register
by phone, fax, or e-mail.
When the authorization has been accepted, the application is authorized
:-)
Protection Plus from Software Key
I wasn't interested in building a protection system from the ground up
because there are lots of off-the-shelf systems available on the market
today. After some research and input from customers I settled on
Protection Plus from Software
Key. The Protection Plus System provides a great deal of
functionality including automated on-line unlock and the ability to
upgrade or modify licenses over the phone or through the internet which
means no need to send or e-mail new license keys or software packages.
Integrating Protection Plus with ToolBook Projects
Unfortunately, because of the unique nature of software protection needs
with ToolBook Projects, a fair amount of customization of the Software Key
System was required. The good news is that this work is done :-)
So, to build Protection Plus software protection into ToolBook projects
now is much easier.
Because software protection is only as good as the integrity of the entire
software protection system, I custom tailor the Protection Plus System to each
customers needs. That way, each customer knows that they are getting
a software protection system that only they and I have the code to.
Once I design the software protection for a customer (typically through a
system book) the customer is able to maintain the system without my
involvement. Maintenance includes "unlocking" or registering
software for your customers, increasing the number of users, moving a
program between machines, or upgrading a demo to a full working version as
just a few examples. In addition, new projects will automatically
include the software protection functionality as long as they use the
software protection system book.
What Exactly Can You Protect?
You can start your program out as a thirty day
(or whatever number of days or hours or launches you wish)
demo.
Then you can provide your customer with an unlock code that will
authorize full program access on the
authorized computer or computers only.
Now let's say that your customer loves your program so much they want
to be able to run it across their LAN. No problem at all. They
simply install it on the LAN and you authorize it
for LAN use and if you want for a specified number of
concurrent users.
Maybe your customers buy a one year license.
No problem, just set the expiration date for one year. After the end of
the year, if they buy another one year license, no problem, just set the
expiration date for another year out.
All of these changes and more can be done over the phone or through an
automated on-line registration process.
What does the Software Protection System Cost?
There are two basic costs associated with this
software protection System.
Because each developer has unique software protection needs
and other circumstances, the cost to you will depend on the level of
software that you need from Protection Plus and the amount of integration
that needs to be done with your books. Therefore, it is impossible for
me to give a firm quote without talking with you first. Once I have a
better idea of your situation, I will provide you with a quote that includes
the Protection Plus Software that you need as well as my services for
integration.
Who Developed This Software Protection System?
Working with the developers at Protection Plus, I have developed a
system for integrating Protection Plus into ToolBook projects that is
being used in a very complex and demanding software protection
environment.
Software Protection Features
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Works with ToolBook versions 8.1 and 8.5.
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Professional and well-accepted by customers.
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Does not take time to implement or manage
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Well-tested and very secure.
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One fixed site license price, does not matter how many ToolBook
developers you have or how many different ToolBook products you protect.
- One price fits all:-)
Please Note:
Software Protection is too important to you for me to be able to sell a
"Shrink wrapped off the shelf" solution. There are many security issues and
many different options available, you also need to be assured that your
implementation is unique.
The demonstration will show many of the features of the product and Protection Plus.
If you would like me to send you a copy of the demonstration then please
e-mail me, including information about your requirements.
Regards, Peter
$499 per
Developer License.
NOTE: Requires the Protection Plus Third Party ActiveX Control
from Concept Software.
* Because each
developer's protection needs and their ToolBook products are different,
integration of the Software Protection system book
will require some customization.
The hard work of developing the
process for integrating the Protection Plus ActiveX control into your
products has already been done and proven with a
very complex learning management system that included 10 plus courses
comprised of over 50 separate ToolBook files. This system is being
used around the world.
Now we just need to transfer that technology to your ToolBook project.
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