A bit strange… but maybe a direct request to AskNet.com will produce an answer for you; they are the ones running the (on-line) shop, not Steinberg.
Just out of curiosity, does this mean the Cubase license technically could be stored on the HD of the pc/mac?
Or does the soft-Elicenser connects to Steinbergs licensing system to validate the system id of the activated system and are licenses actually stored on the Steinberg servers?
When the license is stored on the system itself, what happens with the license when the HD crashes for instance?
Well you will notice when adding a license, that eLicenser communicates with Steinberg servers. If you transfer a license, it logs the transaction with Steinberg servers and it will presumably send the ID of the eLicenser in question to Steinberg, whether that’s the USB dongle ID or the ID of the ‘soft’ eLicenser (SeL) so Steinberg will have a record of which dongle has which license.
Using the soft eLicenser, the license details will be stored on a file on the drive. If the drive dies, then you lose the file (you DO keep backups… right?) but this would be no different from the USB dongle breaking (except you can’t back up the dongle, so really the drive is safer). If Steinberg have a record of your dongle ID and license then they should have enough info to issue you a new one, but obviously this would be at their discretion.
Cheers for the answer.
AFAIK, a broken dongle can be send to Steinberg for repairs. Stolen, lost, or burned dongles is another matter though 
That we ain’t have the ability to backup our licenses ourself (even when it was on a non-usable backup stick or online service only, so we can’t use duplicates) IS something I DON’T like either. I also miss the lack of instant online deactivation of the dongle and the possibility to retreive de-activated licenses on a new stick again (in case it got stolen or lost).
For the record I really don’t have a problem with a dongle I hardly produce on the road and if I do, never without other stuff hooked on. So compared to my crucial producers tools attached to my computer, the dongle isn’t even worth to mention due to its size (prize is another matter). 
the dongle or permanent e license is not a long time solution. Look five years ahead. how long will usb exist? Yes five years without a questiom. more people will use laptops and jump between different setups. what part always has a place in modern laptips? Webcam. What will everyone use all the time? Internet. Maybe som kind of eye ID could work. Or am I to far out? Probably!
USB3 is now. Are there any USB audio interfaces anyone knows about?
Sorry to re-install the question, but I am starting to get serious deals with recording. I mean, I am starting to get paid for what started as a hobby. My first Cubase was the Win version of the MIDI Sequencer. Since December I have a full Cubase 5 license, and I am now planning to upgrade to Cubase 6. I have it installed on my main PC, as well as in my Mac laptop, because 50% of my recordings are made in remote locations. But I have to move the USB eLicenser every time. I asked the local representative about what would happen if I just lost the USB or if it just broke one day, and the answer was “you will have to purchase a new license, period”. I asked to have a back-up USB and the answer was “this is not possible”.
The SW and the USB in conjunction are very capable of keeping track of what license I am using in what computer at every moment. So, why can’t I have a back-up USB with me in such case? Should I make my customers wait until Steinberg “at their discretion” resolve the issue?
Is this the way other DAW developers works? Is there an alternative I should know?
Thanks and regards,
Martin, from Buenos Aires, Argentina