Multimedia Protector offers a media independent protection - the media itself like CD / DVD, download link or USB stick is not modified or protected. The copy protection does not prevent, that you can copy the data from CD to the hard disk but it prevents that the application can be started on multiple machines.
The license is bound to a specific hardware ID of the PC (e.g. MAC address). The Multimedia Player will start only, if the license file is located on the specified hardware. This works both in a single user environment and in a network environment.
The advantage of a software copy protection is:
- media independent - distribute the application via CD / DVD, download, USB stick or other media where you can store files
- the application can run without a CD/DVD inserted
- you can produce even one single CD - no need to have 1000 Cd's duplicated at once
- no problems with the CD / DVD drives or operating systems because no physical modification (like modification of the CD) is done
Binding to a Hardware Component
Volume ID
This method restricts the user to run the application only on the specified drive volume.
MAC Address
The MAC Address (Media Access Control) is the hardware address of a network adapter. This is the recommended and securest method.
Hostname
The windows PC name is unique within a network and can be used for copy protection.
NetBIOS Computer Name
The NetBIOS computer name is available on every PC. It can be used for software copy protection only on a single user installation.
Volume ID + UNC Pathname
This Installation Code combines the Volume ID with the absolute path of the licence file. Assume a situation where a Multimedia Player is installed several times on the same machine, but in different directories: The Volume ID is identical on all installations and therefore the Multimedia Player may be used by too many users (3 installations with 20 licences allow 60 users to work with your software, but you only sold 20 licences). With this Installation Code type the problem of several installations is eliminated.
MAC Address + UNC Pathname
This Installation Code combines the MAC address with the absolute path of the licence file (for details why using the pathname see Volume ID + UNC pathname).
USB-Stick 1)
This unique feature binds the license to a standard USB stick . Multimedia Protector combines the advantages of software copy protection with the advantages of hardware protection
The user can move the application from PC 1 to PC 2, but the Multimedia Player can only be started from the PC with the licensed hardware - so copy protection does not prevent the copy process but starting the Multimedia Player on non licenced machines.
Most of protection schemes work on servers or workstations. If the licence file is on a server, then the hardware (eg. Volume ID, Mac Address) of a server is used. If the licence file is on a local machine, then the hardware of the local machine is used.
1) = only available in Premium Edition.
2004, Mirage Computer Systems GmbH
