Best activation key software for .NET application?

Question

We're looking to replace our current, in-house developed trial-version activation system for our .NET application with something off the shelf.

To clarify the question I'm asking, let me point out some ground we've already covered (and related questions already asked here), and some other requirements we have:

• We're convinced that we do want to use an activation key system -- we don't want to release the software without any form of protection. (See for example http://stackoverflow.com/questions/109997/how-do-you-protect-your-software-from-illegal-distribution and http://stackoverflow.com/questions/104291/trialwarelicensing-strategies.)

• We accept that pirates will probably be able to crack whatever system we use, but since our software is targetted at business executives, we don't expect that there will be a big demand for cracked copies.

• We want an off-the-shelf system, not to develop our own (whether based on public key cryptography or other technicques). We've already experienced the cost of having our developers working on the licensing system when they could be working on the application, and we want to move away from that. (See for example http://stackoverflow.com/questions/49662/software-evaluation-licensing and http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5606/license-models.)

• We want the system to integrate easily into an online store such as Kagi.

Given these requirements, what's the best license/activation system for us?

Answer 1

One solution we're considering is Nalpeiron, which seems to fit our requirements reasonably well.

Answer 2

We have been using Desaware and with its extensibility and out of the box functionality, its quite a great piece of licensing software.

Not to mention, its made by Dan Appleman

http://www.desaware.com

Answer 3

Microsoft have launched their own Software Licensing and Protection Services product. I haven't used it so can't vouch for it, but Microsoft software is normally built to a high standard, and they certainly have plenty of experience of this type of thing with Windows and Office.

Answer 4

Seriously take a look at Intellilock. It is an off the shelf type system that is very cost effective. You control the level of locks and how many hoops you want your customer to jump through. Don't accept a one size fits all solution when you can customize it.

We have used the Desaware system in the past and I personally found it to be a much lower level implemenation that I really wanted. You end up writing a lot of the backend systems yourself to manage keys and users.

Don't use the Microsoft one. It is crazy expensive for small business. Unless you have a mega huge budget I wouldn't use it. I personally could have hired a programmer for a full year for the price it was going to cost us to implement their SLPS system! Yikes. I would rather spend that time making the product better.

Answer 5

Microsoft has discontinued SLPS; I suggest the you take a look at the OffByZero Cobalt software licensing solution for .NET. You can check out a short screencast to see how easy it is to integrate Cobalt with your software.

Cobalt also features web service end-points that allow easy integration with existing websites; take a look at this PHP sample for a demonstration of licence creation & emailing.

Obligatory disclaimer: Cobalt is produced by a company I co-founded.

Answer 6

CryptoLicensing does what you want. It comes with a ready license server for activation and hardware-locking. It also supports e-commerce providers for integration into your order fulfillment process.