How to licence an application

[JezB]

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 ?

 

[Bob Powell [MVP]]

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

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[William Stacey [MVP]]

You could also try MSs sharewarestarterkit.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.