In the latest MacUpdate Promo, there are a number of programs I’ve never heard of and some that are big name products. I purchased the bundle, downloaded the applications, and started registering them. Developers have chosen different methods for registering their products. There are a few types of schemes that are being used:
- Registration code that is just entered.
- Registration code that is entered and then validated against a server.
- Registration code that is entered and then validated against a server and then tied to a certain computer.
- Custom downloaded app that is pre-registered.
- Picture with registration information embedded.
- Registration code that requires you to visit a web site and then your code is sent to you.
When I started ReceiptWallet, I used eSellerate’s system and chose option number 2. After I received a very nasty comment on VersionTracker that my company could go under and he’d never be able to re-register the application, I immediately switched to option 1 as the user was absolutely correct. Registration schemes, for the most part, keep the honest people, honest. All of the systems above, except for the first one and fifth one, have one serious flaw. That is, the company must still be in business if I change computers or lose the registration number. In addition, their servers must be working and they can’t rearrange anything on the server or the validation may no longer work. I understand that people are trying to protect their software, but protecting the software at the expense of penalizing legitimate customers is, in my opinion, bad business. I’m sure people will disagree with me, but I’ve had a few successful programs that used method number 1. I sold something like 4000 copies of one of my programs to NASA and I wasn’t really worried about piracy.
Developers, please re-consider your registration systems and spend more time writing software and less time on registration schemes.