Best way to add a simple licensing scheme to a .NET program?

Question

Hi,

We're releasing a shareware application.

Whats the easiest way to add a simple licensing/copy protection scheme? We don't mind paying for the results.

I'm particularly interested in what has worked in your experience, and what things to prioritize (or avoid) in a licensing scheme.

Here is my shortlist (if you could add to it I'd be interested)

• IonWorks from http://www.ionworx.com/ (gulp, when I ran their MachineID demo it locked up my machine and required a hard reset!)
• Aladdin from http://www.aladdin.com/
• PC Guard from http://www.sofpro.com/

Answer 1

It really all depends on your software. What does it do and so forth...
If it is an application that need remote data to operate you should implement a server based scheme. (Think MMORPGs like World of Warcraft).

If it is marely an application that is to be run locally without any "outside" dataconnections then there is no foolproof way of doing it since all software can be cracked.

Well... my two cents anyway...

Answer 2

Check out .NET Licensing Pro -- pretty simple to use and they have a version where you get their source to integrate into your app. if you want.