Plugins/Companies using serial, a keyfile, or watermark copy protection

[audiojunkie]

Someone needs to write them and directly ask the 3 criteria questions and get their responses. However, if it is tying itself to hardware, and indeed needs to be deactivated, then it doesn't meet the criteria. Try installing it onto some additional computers and see if it lets you. Maybe they upped the number of installs to be more than two, since their forum post was responded to.....

I've been sending my criteria list and asking vendors every other day or so. I've only heard back from a few, but I'm trying to post their response into the thread as backing evidence as to whether a company does or does not meet the criteria.

I think posting the developer response here is a good idea.

[audiojunkie]

BTW, for those interested, KV331 -- Synthmaster 3, and KarmaFX.net -- KarmaFXSynth Modular v.2 are both on sale right now! I picked up both really cheap! I intend to use them in my Linux system through WINE/yabridge. Don't miss out!

[noiseresearch]

▒▒░░▒▒░░▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
▒▒░░▒▒▓▓▒▒░░▓▓▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░▓▓░░▒▒░░░░░░▓▓▒▒░░▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▓▓▒▒▒▒░░░░▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒░░

[PebbleInAStream]

Not at all. There are different types of “watermarks”. A developer can custom compile the plugin with customer information, such as name, address, etc. It has been known to be done in the past. It doesn’t have to affect the audio at all. Now, if a person were selling samples, they could watermark the samples by adding code to the audio that is outside the range of hearing, and still be undetectable. The watermark could be added to the picture graphics in a picture. There’s lots of ways to identify who it is that originally purchased a plugin that was spread on the net, without affecting the sound. It’s not a very strong form of copy protection, but it works.

Oh, fascinating, custom compilation does seem like a much user-friendlier way to watermark. Thanks for the explanation

[audiojunkie]

Imagiro https://imagi.ro/
Plain serial

Phonolyt https://phonolyth.com/
Plain installer

Excellent!! Thank you for your contribution! I have added these to the list!

[audiojunkie]

Not at all. There are different types of “watermarks”. A developer can custom compile the plugin with customer information, such as name, address, etc. It has been known to be done in the past. It doesn’t have to affect the audio at all. Now, if a person were selling samples, they could watermark the samples by adding code to the audio that is outside the range of hearing, and still be undetectable. The watermark could be added to the picture graphics in a picture. There’s lots of ways to identify who it is that originally purchased a plugin that was spread on the net, without affecting the sound. It’s not a very strong form of copy protection, but it works.

Oh, fascinating, custom compilation does seem like a much user-friendlier way to watermark. Thanks for the explanation

It is MUCH friendlier, but it is also a lot more work for the developer. Which is probably why it isn't used more often. Some programs take hours to compile, and having to compile a custom version for each person would take way too much time. I have seen some watermark applications, but not too many.

[audiojunkie]

I think we can keep Melda Production. I'm satisfied with his response. I really DO hope that he makes the ability to install and archive software off line easier!

viewtopic.php?p=8953273#p8953273

Here is what he had to say:

audiojunkie wrote: ↑21 Aug 2024 20:48
I get the feeling you don't want to answer my questions. I want you to understand that copy protection is important to us users, as it is to you as a developer. We simply want to be able to continue to use the product we purchased if the company were to go out of business. Would you please tell us about your copy protection?

1. What type of copy protection does MeldaProduction products use? ie. serial number, keyfile, challenge/response, etc...

2. Does the copy protection tie itself to any piece of hardware or software other than itself?

3. After purchase, do MeldaProduction products have any need to contact the company for any reason?

Please let us (potential customers) know this information!
Nothings changing here. It has always been as friendly to customers as it can be - keyfiles, no limits on computers. The new plugin manager just simplifies the process by getting everything automatically from your account. But feel free to download everything yourself or doing the offline download, which basically stores everything including your licences in a folder, which you can then backup for safekeeping.

As for 3. plugins do contact our servers from time to time to ask for updates and give us info about what what DAW and OS you are using - valuable for us, so that we know what to test the most. You can disable it in "Settings / Anonymous online platform reporting" if you are somehow concerned for some reason.

Frankie.T: You keep hating everywhere and honestly it's kinda getting annoying. We are working hard here to make things work and with this response it's makes me feel "why bother"... Anyways the reality is, 99.999% people are online now, so the system is now made so that it is as friendly as possible for them. If you want to be offline, it will be a bit more complicated, sorry. It's not possible to make everyone happy, so we try to make the vast majority happy.

Edit: We are actually thinking about some offline installer, we'll see.

[audiojunkie]

I also received a response from BLEASS. While they don't use the copy protection that our list requires, and thus won't be on our list of companies that meet the criteria we are requiring, I must say that I found that their support response was absolutely fantastic. They were prompt, friendly, and extremely helpful! I really like these guys! So, as an FYI for those who have no problem with using copy protection that ties itself to a machine and uses the internet, I think these guys are highly recommendable!

Here's what they say:

-------------

Hi Sean!

Thanks a lot for your email and for your interest in the BLEASS Plugins!
An easy way to test out our licensing system is by using BLEASS Monolit, our free plugin, which you can buy "for free" from our website. Yet I'll be happy to send you some NFRs for you to know the BLEASS Plugins a little bit more. feel free to ask.

To answer you,

1. you need a serial that is copy / pasted in the plugin to activate it after purchase. When activating the plugin, you need to be connected to the internet for the activation to work
2. once the plugin has been activated, you can use it in offline mode "forever" until you connect to the internet
3. you can use your license on up to 5 computers. If you want to reset these devices tied to your license, you can ask the BLEASS Support at the moment. (later this year, you will be able to use it by connecting to your BLEASS account)
4. To install the plugin, you basically just have to download the installer from the BLEASS Website. In some cases (BLEASS SampleWiz 2 for example), when you buy additional presets, you need to be connected to the internet when you validate your additional preset purchase, and be able to download the presets from our servers. But aside from the presets, the Synths work right after installation (not like Cherry Audio synths for instance)

I hope this answer most of your questions.
Would you have another please let me know.

Vianney
www.bleass.com

---------------

I responded with:

Awesome, thanks for the info!

And they wrote me back again saying:

------------

HI Sean no problem!

After rereading my email regarding number 3, I just want to clear out the fact that that later on this year, with your BLEASS account, you will be able to "reset" your attached device in order to easily transfer your license to another computer; (it's currently already the case but users must reach the support via email at the moment)

I remain at your disposal
thanks for your support for the BLEASS Pugins
Vianney
www.bleass.com

---------------

So, in short, the software does use the internet, and ties itself to the hardware, but these seem to be really cool guys! If you don't mind the risk of not being able to use the software if they go out of business, these guys seem like a pretty good company!

[audiojunkie]

▒▒░░▒▒░░▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
▒▒░░▒▒▓▓▒▒░░▓▓▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░▓▓░░▒▒░░░░░░▓▓▒▒░░▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▓▓▒▒▒▒░░░░▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒░░

What happened to your post? I've been seeing a lot of these things lately...

[noiseresearch]

▒▒░░░░▓▓░░▒▒░░░░░░▓▓▒▒

[FatGuy]

this is a great topic, exactly what I was looking for

[sQeetz]

Is this the "I hate iLok" club? Unsubscribing right away.....

[aanano]

this is a great topic, exactly what I was looking for

Me 2

[audiojunkie]

Adding Maizesoft

[audiojunkie]

I cleaned up the first page a little bit. Everything is still there, but in one list, rather than several.