Dafydd is correct ! the CA is there to stop piracy and in the long run it really a good for legitimate users.

But I am also agreeing with your point of view that there shouldn't me any pain for legitimate users.

Cyberlink can track using the MAC address instead of IP address. As the IP address could be change if user did not purchase a public IP address from the provider.

Moreover, if user wants to change his hardware, then they can request CyberLink to change the MAC address currently saved in their database.

I think we have here the (not uncommon) asynchronous information issue - in this case CL has some information that is not available to its customers. However the CA issue is a cause for concern in that it fundamentally affects the basic usage of the product by a paying customer (on the basis of the correct EULA terms) by apparently imposing an unknown and uncontrollable block.

I am unaware if or where such limitations are explicitly outlined, or what corrective action is then open to a customer. CA limitations obviously happen because the forum has references to it but no forum member has any detailed information about the next steps available.

Dafydd indicated the collection of IP address as the "flag" but my network assigns dynamic IP addresses and I don't believe my ISP has allocated me a static IP address - maybe that's why I have never had the issue??

Whilst I appreciate that giving all the information about a security feature might be "counterproductive" I do believe that CL has a duty to publicise the constraints that they apply and how those constraints are triggered and what recourse or corrective action is then available.

Perhaps a small pop up giving the T&C's could appear, say during production or something - there's probably enough space alongside the adverts? (Sorry - that's a joke, by the way)

Cheers
Adrian





Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. (see below)
Confucius
AMD Phenom IIX6 1055T, win10, 5 internal drives, 7 usb drives, struggling power supply.

what about MACc address tracking option...

My issue/question is: Why can't CL make you register the CD Activation Key upon installation first? Why does Cyberlink allow PD to be installed and then 30 days later tell you this product needs an online activation?

What this does is actually allow people to get away with selling an unlicensed product. Me, for example, bought one on eBay, used it for 30 days thinking this was a legit product and then boom, it could not longer function. If the pop up had told me upon initial installation that the CD-Key needed to activated then I would have sent it back to the seller with a 30 day return policy.

I don't get it.

If the Codec Activation is from a third party and needs activated through them, then this software product is really bad business and should at the least state so on the outside package. This is like buying a 12 oz Coke at the store, taking it home to drink, opening it and taking two sips only to be told I now need to go online and activate the carbonation through Acme Industries. Very unsound business practice.

Quote: Jeff and Robert,
If you both have a problem with how you're interpreting the Component Activation's 30 day period (which is in the pop-up as a notification) and it's limitation for use (records the IP, I believe) then please do not hesitate, contact CyberLink.

Security features are becoming part of PC use. Some only allow online use, games for example. Others including operating systems require online activation and additional security features.

I'm not aware that either of you are having any activation problems.

My activation had stopped working for a little over a week. The patch 2930 appeared to correct the issue. I remember reading that 2930 had a "correction" in for some users with CA issues. I don't see any mention of this on CL official release notes so it was probably a post on the forum. (I'll edit and attach link when I find it) If it was not the patch, something simply changed behind the scene with CA activation at CL. My version is legit, came directly from CL, only installed on one computer, never reinstalled, only patched, I had internet access, no new major hardware modifications to PC since first install (MB or like) that triggers reactivation for some software products.

I guess I'd like to know what I own via the EULA or a proper T&C's. Right now it appears CL at their discretion could halt CA now or in the future when PD9 is a legacy product and make my legit version worthless to me as an editor as many video format modules won't activate. Maybe I wont be into buying the new sales gimmick of DirectorPower11 featuring the totally rewritten first ever 128 bit Supersonic Velocity Reimage Transposer!

Jeff

I believe activation of a product is not a concern for users. The only concern is CA.

I believe activation of a product is not a concern for users. The only concern is CA.

In some respects - yes - BUT only if the basis for "activation" and /or subsequent alterations to licensing/T&Cs are clearly and transparently part of the "contract" implicit in purchasing at the time of purchase. All too often the user/customer is placed, either actually or perceptually, at a disadvantage by the unilateral actions of a service provider in changing T&Cs- for example, many banks and insurance companies have had to deal with the fallout from such changes.
Having spent 30+ years in the private sector, I like to ensure that any contract I enter into is clear, open and transparent - not unduly subject to small (actually microscopic) print, "random" actions of one party or "we've passed on your account to ABC Contract Ltd. /Inc and ......"

I think Jeff is correct to question the "apparent" change to the activation/licensing environment or more bluntly put "what do I get for my $ and where does it say what changes are allowed within the original contract"

As always, I'm a supporter of CL but sometimes things just seem ???????

Cheers
Adrian
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. (see below)
Confucius
AMD Phenom IIX6 1055T, win10, 5 internal drives, 7 usb drives, struggling power supply.

Hi,
I have referred the thread to CyberLink and got answered.

Jeff, it was my post you read, if that helps and it was info I was given. The CA issue which was corrected was to do with some users receiving less days than 30, but I cant be sure. I did assist you with a CA issue a while back, same rules apply on installation, then as now. Let me know if you need info.

Some of the reply and summarised.
CyberLink will support legitimate users, an original proof of purchase is required which CL can confirmed. CL suggests the second hand purchaser - .... could ask the reseller to provide them the original valid proof of purchase of that product. For example, the photocopy of the Box CD with activation key or the original confirmation letter email... In this way, as long as the customers could provide valid original purchase record to prove the license is legal for us, then we will provide further assistance.

If there are further questions please contact CyberLink.

I have raised the EULA question as well and that matter is being looked at.

I think that CL are employing heavy overkill methods.

You will remember Dafydd that I had a perfectly legitimate installation of PD9. I installed it and supplied the CD code and everything was hunky-dory, except I just got ill and afterwards was so busy that I didn't use it for a number of weeks. When I came to use it, I hit this activation thing, saying I was outside the 30 day limit. This was after installation and successful registration, mind ! You, Dafydd, knowing I was a bona fide signed-up user, gave me help and access to downloads in order to start over. I hate to think what sort of hassle it would have been otherwise. I am almost frightened to think what will happen next time I update my computer platform

Sellers of software should be able to prevent duplication of their software and illegal use, but there are many simpler methods which do not put the user to so much grief. Many applications have activation and de-activation routines, enabling migration from one machine to another. Software far more expensive than PD is handled in this way. I have navigation software from MaxSea, costing nearly £1000 which will only run on one machine. If I install and start it on another machine, I have to deactivate it from the first machine before it will work on the next. Same with Admiralty Tidal software. I have no troubles like this with ANY other software Windows 7; Office 2010; Adobe Photoshop; Adobe Lightroom; DreamWeaver; Robert and Collins Complete English-French Dictionary; Le Grand Robert French Dictionary; IGN GeoRando. And I do not have to do re-licensing each time Windows 7 applies an update during the night.

Two of the latter softwares require the presence of the original disk. One of the above creates a licensing disk on installation, which must be reinserted every now and again... some of these techniques seem a bit of a nuisance, but the CL methods are of a different scale altogether and are heavy-handed, clumsy and poorly executed. The EULA is not worth the paper it is written on -- oh, sorry, it is ecological and no paper so worth nothing by definition.

End of rant. i7 980x; W7 Pro; 12GB; Nvidia GTX 285; 2x300G Velociraptors in Raid 0; 2x1.5TB Barracuda in Raid 1; 2TB WD Studio Ed.II (eSATA); NEC SpectraView Reference 2690 + MultiSync EA232

Hi all,
Lively discussion here :
I wonder , WHAT are those components that need activation ?
Just like SeptimusFried, me too I did the installation a couple of weeks back, and only launched the application this weekend.
After reading this thread, I launched the application and started to click around. I think I saw that CA popup 2 times ?
Did I missed some ?
Hugo

Hugo said,
"Just like SeptimusFried, me too I did the installation a couple of weeks back, and only launched the application this weekend".

Is that in batter?

Robert Intel i7 930, 16GB ram, Radeon HD 5770 1Gb,Ver. 14.12 Win7 64 bit
Intel i7 7700 HQ, 16 GB ram Nvidia GTX 1050Ti 4GB dual drives 1 TB SSD + 1 TB HDD Win 10

PDtoots

mmm..no.. I prefer Coconut oil , healthier they say

Being in the software industry for over 25 years, I have never heard of such a rediculous policy. Paying users that CANNOT use the product due to all sorts of mechanisms CL implement to prevent piracy. This is the world upside down.

AND IF A GOOD WORKING SUPPORT ORGANISATION WAS TO SUPPORT THIS TOTAL REDICULOUS APPROACH. IT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT ACCEPTABLE...

BUT THE SUPPORT ORGANISATION IS NOT RESPONDING

I truely hope that Cyberlink will suffer from its own customer unfriendly approach... arrogance is mostly punish... lest hope this will happen soon

!@#$%^&*()

Had PD9 come up and ask me to activate Sfw. Now I have been using PD9 since it came out with out seeing this window before. My daughter was trying to use it, and logged on under her acct. She could start PD9 but got the activate window.
So now I find out even if I have PD9 on one PC it is limited to ONE Person's acct on the PC?
Is that right? Amature does it till he gets it right. A Pro does it till he can't get it wrong.

Hi DLS -

That doesn't sound right to me! When you're using PD, the only thing you're "logged in to" is DirectorZone, which is a distinct thing.

Your daughter received an alert about activating SFW??? I don't even know what that is, except as an acronym in street talk! Was it SWF maybe? That's an Adobe flash format that PD is incapable of producing.

Anyway - this lively discussion has shifted away from the topic of buying from authorised distributors.

Cheers - Tony
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"sftw". Software
Sorry for going off target.
Will start a new thread I clear my C Drive Dailey. Go to on desk top to start-search. Type in %temp%. High lite and delete all files shown you can. Be amazed at temp files collected.

Quote:
I wonder , WHAT are those components that need activation ?

Finally found it in the 9.0 FAQ (I'm a 10.0 user but found this thread first, then the FAQ entry):
"When using import output feature of MPEG2, H.264 file and burning DVD/AVCHD/Blu-ray Disc, these features require activation via an Internet connection the first time they are used. Activation is fast, easy, and free."

For 10.0, it is the same, as per this FAQ entry in the knowledgebase (not to be found in the General FAQ list unfortunately!):
"What is component activation in CyberLink PowerDirector?

When using the import/export feature of MPEG2, H.264 file and burning DVD/AVCHD/Blu-ray Disc in CyberLink PowerDirector, these features require activation via an Internet connection the first time they are used. Activation is fast, easy, and free.

If you don't have Internet access at present, you can choose to activate later and use the feature within 30-days. Please remember to activate via the Internet within 30-days, so that you can continue to use the feature."

It is really important to be aware of the counterfeit products masquerade which are often sold online. But I think that measures should be taken like that,when a counterfeit product is purchased and when updated there should be some patches developed by the cyber link team,that after receiving the new updates for the counterfeit software,they can detect it and block it there itself.

What is component activation in CyberLink PowerDirector?

When using the import/export feature of MPEG2, H.264 file and burning DVD/AVCHD/Blu-ray Disc in CyberLink PowerDirector, these features require activation via an Internet connection the first time they are used. Activation is fast, easy, and free.

If you don't have Internet access at present, you can choose to activate later and use the feature within 30-days. Please remember to activate via the Internet within 30-days, so that you can continue to use the feature."

I read something in these forums about component activation, and it rather freaked me out. I made haste to fire up the various bits that I hadn't any immediate plans to use, just to make sure that they were activated. I hope I didn't miss any.

Putting this information into an FAQ is disingenuous: people usually check an FAQ after they run into a problem. In this case, once you've run into the problem and read the FAQ the clock has already run out.

I suspect it might be some kind of auditing required by a 3rd party software license, but putting a ticking time-bomb into your software is rather harsh. Jerry Schwartz