Product activation

Product activation is a license validation procedure required by some computer software programs. Specifically, product activation refers to a method where a software application hashes hardware serial numbers and an ID number specific to the product's license (a product key) to generate a unique activation ID. The activation ID, along with the product key, is sent to the manufacturer to verify the authenticity of the product key and determine that the product key is not being used for multiple installations.

Microsoft's product activation has become a subject of debate, primarily because it was one of the first widespread uses of a product activation sytem.

'Unactivated' product usually acts as a time-limited trial until a product key is purchased. Some products allow licenses to be transferred from one machine to another using online tools, without having to call technical support to deactivate the copy on the old machine before reactivating it on the new machine.

Software that requires users to activate online or by phone includes:

Microsoft Windows XP

Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Microsoft Office (XP and 2003)

Adobe Photoshop

Norton Antivirus

Norton Internet Security

Intuit TurboTax (product activation was subsequently discontinued after complaints over its activation process)

Quicken (depending on country/edition)

DivX Pro

Half-Life 2

ERain Swift3D 4

Macromedia MX 2004 series (includes Macromedia Flash, Dreamweaver, and Fireworks)

Various TMPGEnc programs

A product activation scheme introduced by PACE Anti-Piracy in 2003, called iLok, uses a flash-memory equipped USB dongle, capable of downloading product keys off the Internet, or uploading from a smart card packaged with the software. Software that uses this new system includes:

Digidesign Pro Tools, and its many plug-ins.

Although many product activation schemes are anonymous, some are accompanied by mandatory product registration which require providing user's address, phone number, and other personal information before the product is activated.

External links

Activatesoft.NET—Service that allows adding product activation to any software product

LicenseMaster Solution that allows adding product activation to software. Allows replacement copies to be issued to registered users or multiple copies to the same licensee.