I'm having a heated discussion with someone else on another forum, and I'm just wondering if there is really that many people opposed to it.

Specifically, the iLok USB key, which is used for many of the best sound effects plugins and audio software available for semi-pros and pros in the recording domain.

Here's how iLok works. You purchase some iLok protected software. You install it, and register it on iLok.com, where the licence is transfered to the USB key. Since the licence is on the USB key, you never have to re-register it if you ever have to install it, which is also cool since if ever you lose the registration code for the software, it doesn't really matter since the licence is stored on the dongle. You can reformat, or completely update your computer, reinstall Windows and your iLok-protected software, and you won't have to reregister any of it.

What's also cool about this, is that it permits multiple installations. You only have one licence, but you can move it easily from one computer to another by just bringing the dongle with you. Somewhat cooler than MS Office, which you can install on only one computer. You can install all of your plugins in another studio, and just bring your key with you when you work there. That way no one else is profiting from the software you paid for, and you have the convienience of having the same tools you have on your computer.

iLok also permits the exchange of licences between USB keys, meaning you can sell your licences very easily to other people, something which is more complicated with normal software. It's not all that easy to sell software that has already been registered to someone, however with iLok you can just transfer the licence to them, and the other person becomes the rightful owner; you can no longer use the software.

If ever you lose your iLok, should you be careless enough, you can buy another one, and transfer your licences to it. Nothing is lost, except your $40.

iLok is very simple to use and I have never heard of anybody having a problem with it. However, iLok's predecessor, the completely software PACE system, wasn't well regarded as it caused many problems, such as registry and hard disk corruption .

I imagine that with the DRM that will be included in Vista, this will all become obsolete, however the iLok is cross-platform, so it is probably here to stay.

Please limit this discussion to USB anti-piracy hardware. I don't want to hear about Steam or Starforce in here. Admins, please enforce my decision.

Are you guys opposed to such a system? Or do the pros outweigh the disadvantages of having to pay $40 for a USB key and saving a USB port for it's exclusive use?

i'm opposed because i like to download stuff for free.

I think it's a good idea, and a good way to protect expensive/specialist software... and a modern take on the old serial-port dongles of the past.

very clever and effective.

Can it use any USB drive? If not would I need a different usb stick for each piece of software I bought that used this kind of protection? That would be annoying. If all iLock protected software used the same key it would't be too bad. But what if other companies used there own? It would be annoying as hell having a mass of USB sticks with licences on.

I already have to take a usb device out when I want to attach my camera or joystick. and I wouldn't want to have another USB device which is there for no practical purpose.

I can see the advantages but having to plug in a piece of hardware just to use the software is annoying. It's like having to find the CD to play a game. I usually just find a crack on the internet.

Also, whats to stop someone just copying the licence info to another dongle? Even if the software prevents it, someone will find a way. Or faking the dongle? Look how people are bypassing current copy protection. Mounting mini-images of DVDs that contain just the info the check looks for. I can see someone just making a piece of software that pretends the dongle is attached then generates a licence.

i think the key comes with the software

wouldn't this lead to more expensive software then? or shipping and such? DOWN WITH CDs, UP WITH THE USB STICK

good idea, but if there is only one dongle for multiple programs, then there will probably be one crack for all the programs, making it easier to pirate

I like the word dongle

Dangle dongle.

The same iLok key is used with all the software, which is what makes it interesting. All of your licences are in one place, and can be easily transported to another computer.

FWIW, the iLok has not been cracked, like the Steinberg Dongle. Pirated versions of iLok software are available, however there is no emulation available for the iLok, yet. It has however already been out for a couple years, you think somebody would have done it by now, if it was that easy.

And you need a USB hub, buddy.

I have loads of dongled software at work - it's brilliant for multiple installs like you say Shintock - no complaints from me

I am opposed because some of my software (expensive $1000 stuff) now requires me to have the USB key in the computer in order to load the program.

Are you shy of USB ports? Grab a cheap unpowered hub for a tenner and your problem is solved!

Me too, I have almost $2000 in software registered on mine and it doesn't bother me one bit. Although with a laptop, I might find it a bit annoying.

hehe "dongle"

i see it's use for that kind of software (pro level audio/video/3d software) for other stuff (specifically games) i would rather stay away from that route since there would be no way to get every game publisher on one dongle (yes i know that sounds wrong)

I wonder how many dongles you can get Gabe Newell onto.

I mean... definitely. In the domain of studio programs, most people are using programs from the same companies (Digidesign, Steinberg, Native Instruments, IK, Apple... Cakewalk doesn't count cause it sucks).

However, in gaming, there is too many developpers and publishers for a standard to ever be established. Everyone would have their own dongle, and suckage would follow.

omg dongle suckage!!!

Hehe, dongal, suckage.

hehe.

Many companies have patches available if the circumstance is right. We use a patch for some of our specialty software at work.

It's on a laptop so having it perpetually sticking out of the side of it would end with it being eaten by a Massassian who mistook it for a spider.

Hahaaha!

The dongle I use is for Staad Pro 2005 which cost my company the better part of £3500 It works on my mac too (through VPC).

It would suck very much if multiple companies started using this dongle system.
I could just imagine having a big keychain of dongles, and sifting through them "this ones for word, this is for warcraft, this is for half life, this is for.."
As long as it's just the one or two companies doing it, great, but if it gets big it will get seriously annoying.

Surely no more annoying than sifting through your cds? If they fit in your dvd box (which they should do, my staad dongle is tiny) then what's the problem?

It might even turn out that if you need dongles, your games come on USB keys (just a thought) in the near future

Sure, sorting through cd's would be annoying... if I didn't just crack everything.
Plus, I haven't seen a dongle but being a usb thingy I imagine it would be more obtrusive then a cd. Cd's are at least flat.

Dongles and CDs are so 1990s. We have a new ******* on the block, and his name is Steam.

True dat. But dongles have a better name (and to be honest our network licences are always going wrong, imagine if steam went belly up - at least dongles are independent)

but then you have the problem of knowing what the difference bettween them is.

with this iLok, it sounds like you can just 'merge' the two into the one and huzzah, DONE

What if you lose your dongle?

Then you pay a nominal fee for a new one (shintock siad so in his 1st post)

Not only do anti-piracy dongles only very temporarily hinder cracks at the cost of general unwieldiness for the consumer, but the philosophy of having added protection for products that are almost entirely corporate software, not least because of their exorbitant prices, is flawed. The side that benefits from the cracks is that which wouldn't have actively bought the program in the first place--that is, the consumer sector. Even if a high-priced program were cracked on its day of release, the monetary loss is at best negligible because the buying corporate sector is intrinsically mostly honest and the non-buying consumer sector is mostly not.

Anyway, I dunno about the specific dongle at hand, but it seems pretty reasonable. For a dongle