Software activation is an anti-piracy technology designed to verify that the product has been legitimately licensed in compliance with the software’s end-user license agreement. It reduces a form of piracy known as "casual copying," or the sharing of software between people in a way that violates the license agreement. Activation helps protect the intellectual property that lies at the heart of the software industry. It is designed to have minimal impact on users. Activation is a one-time completely anonymous procedure and requires no personally identifiable information from the end user.
Software activation works by validating that the software's activation ID, required as part of product installation, has not been used on more PCs than is allowed by the software's end user license agreement. During activation, the software ID, along with an identifier number derived from the PC’s hardware configuration, are sent to Palisade’s activation system during activation. Activation is completed either directly via the Internet by clicking a single button upon launch of the software, via e-mail to Palisade, or by manual activation by web browser to https://activations.palisade.com/useractivation. Installations beyond those allowed in the license agreement will fail to activate.
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How Activation Benefits You
Software activation guarantees to the customer that the product they are using is legitimate, complete, and virus-free. Customers who install counterfeit products could find they are missing key elements, such as user manuals, product keys, and even software features. They may also find that the counterfeit software contains viruses or does not work as well as the genuine product does.
In addition, reduced piracy means that the software industry can invest more in product development, quality and support. This ensures better products and more innovation for customers. Customers will also receive the best value for their software investment by being able to receive product updates and other product information.
Software piracy can hurt job creation locally and regionally in the software industry and related businesses. Software piracy is an enormous drain on the global economy, according to the 2000 BSA Software Piracy Report. The report estimates worldwide losses in 2000 due to software piracy at almost $12 billion. Software piracy also has a significant impact on the high-tech industry, resulting in lost jobs, decreased innovation and higher costs to consumers.
How Activation Works
An activation request is sent to Palisade.
During installation the end-user enters the activation ID provided with the software. Upon software launch the user is given the option to activate the software by clicking a button. When the button is clicked, the software sends an activation request to the Palisade activation server through an HTTP Internet connection. The activation request contains:
- The activation ID
- A machine ID number calculated from the end-user’s hardware configuration (in essence a hardware checksum).
- Installed product identity
If the user chooses to activate via e-mail, the software will generate an XML file containing this same information for the user to e-mail to activate2@palisade.com. The request is digitally signed to ensure its accuracy.
The request is processed and response sent back to the customer.When the activation request is received by Palisade's server, the request is validated and the software license (also digitally signed) is immediately returned to the customer, where it is stored on the customer’s computer. If the request came via automatic Internet activation using the software’s activation dialog, the request/response normally takes a few seconds, after which the software is activated and fully licensed.
If a manual activation request came via e-mail by the customer sending an XML request attachment, then a response XML license is e-mailed back to customer. The user must load the license XML attachment into the software via the activation dialog box.
Manual Activation
The activation procedure may be performed manually by web browser.
The activation request (ActivationRequest.xml, generated on the user's computer by the software's Help/License Activation/Manual Activation" button) is submitted to the website and the ResponseXML.xml file is immediately generated for the user. The user must load the ResponseXML.xml file into the software via the activation dialog box, completing the manual activation process.
Users with no web access whatsoever may send the activation request file by email to activate2@palisade.com for license activation. You may verify the software’s activated status by selecting the License Activation command from the software Help menu.
You may verify the software’s activated status by selecting the License Activation command from the software Help menu.
Moving Software From One Computer To Another
If you wish to move your Palisade software to another computer with the intent to remove the license from the first computer, you must first deactivate it. Select License Activation from the software’s Help menu and you’ll see two options for deactivating: Automatic Deactivation and Manual Deactivation. If you click Automatic Deactivation, the software will send a request to the Palisade activation server “freeing up” a license to be activated either on the same machine again or on another machine. If you click Manual Deactivation you will be supplied with an XML file containing a deactivation request which you must e-mail to activate2@palisade.com. A response will be e-mailed back which must be loaded into the software to deactivate it. Note that the software has not been uninstalled from the computer upon deactivation. This enables you to reactivate the software again on the original machine easily.
After the software has been deactivated (and not before), it may be activated (or reactivated) on another computer using the same serial number and activation ID. The process for reactivation is exactly the same as for the initial activation.
A software license may be transferred in this way not more than once every 90 days.
Hardware Failure
In the event of catastrophic hardware failure or other extenuating circumstances, you must contact Palisade Technical Support to explain the situation and have another activation issued. Palisade Technical Support can be reached at activate2@palisade.com or by phone on +1 607 277 8000.
If You Don’t Activate
The software will function for 15 days after installation without activation. After 15 days, the software will stop functioning until it is activated.
Privacy
User privacy was a paramount design goal in building the software activation technology. Palisade software activation is completely anonymous, and no personally identifiable information is collected. Further, the machine ID number is a combination of hash values of various PC components and cannot be used to determine the make or model of the PC, nor can it be backward-calculated to determine the raw PC information.
Depending on user settings, Palisade software may periodically check for updates and patches, or license validation. There absolutely is no "secret" transfer of customers’ data.
