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How to licence an application

I have a windows application that I'd like to sell eventually. What's the
simplest way to provide a secure licensing mechanism ? I'd prefer to have a
licence key that can't simply be distributed across the pirate community
(eg. astalavista) that will then work on any pc, so I was thinking of
somehow tying it to the machine (some unique ID like the NIC number, but I
realise some computers without a network card don't have one!). I'd need to
store a record of the licence keys provided by e-mail address/machine ID so
that I can provide a new licence key to paying customers who move to a new
machine. I'd also like to build in an expiry date if possible.

Anyone have any good advice on this ?
Nov 17 '05 #1
2 2579
I reccommend the Infralution licensing system. It's cheap, reliable and
comes with source that you can embed into your project.

Remember that whatever licensing system you use it will be useless without
obfuscation.

--
Bob Powell [MVP]
Visual C#, System.Drawing

Ramuseco Limited .NET consulting
http://www.ramuseco.com

Find great Windows Forms articles in Windows Forms Tips and Tricks
http://www.bobpowell.net/tipstricks.htm

Answer those GDI+ questions with the GDI+ FAQ
http://www.bobpowell.net/faqmain.htm

All new articles provide code in C# and VB.NET.
Subscribe to the RSS feeds provided and never miss a new article.

"JezB" <je***********@ blueyonder.co.u k> wrote in message
news:ev******** *****@TK2MSFTNG P15.phx.gbl...
I have a windows application that I'd like to sell eventually. What's the
simplest way to provide a secure licensing mechanism ? I'd prefer to have a
licence key that can't simply be distributed across the pirate community
(eg. astalavista) that will then work on any pc, so I was thinking of
somehow tying it to the machine (some unique ID like the NIC number, but I
realise some computers without a network card don't have one!). I'd need to
store a record of the licence keys provided by e-mail address/machine ID so
that I can provide a new licence key to paying customers who move to a new
machine. I'd also like to build in an expiry date if possible.

Anyone have any good advice on this ?

Nov 17 '05 #2
You could also try MSs sharewarestarte rkit.com
I think they will also host host out the $/reg part eventually to third
party hosters probably with some % of sale charge. So the sw is free. You
could also host the backend yourself if you want to go that route.

--
William Stacey [MVP]

"JezB" <je***********@ blueyonder.co.u k> wrote in message
news:ev******** *****@TK2MSFTNG P15.phx.gbl...
I have a windows application that I'd like to sell eventually. What's the
simplest way to provide a secure licensing mechanism ? I'd prefer to have a
licence key that can't simply be distributed across the pirate community
(eg. astalavista) that will then work on any pc, so I was thinking of
somehow tying it to the machine (some unique ID like the NIC number, but I
realise some computers without a network card don't have one!). I'd need to
store a record of the licence keys provided by e-mail address/machine ID so
that I can provide a new licence key to paying customers who move to a new
machine. I'd also like to build in an expiry date if possible.

Anyone have any good advice on this ?

Nov 17 '05 #3

This thread has been closed and replies have been disabled. Please start a new discussion.

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