That is not rue, because this process isn’t still implemented (in the case of Avenger) and needs more stuff running in the background that fails, as so many user reports show.
It is also unethical to treat users like permanent potential criminals, which seems the case with the Vengeance guys.
To let users jump thru rings like pudels isn’t acceptable. If you’re a pro like me you may have more than thousand plug ins and dozens of apps installed - legally of course. To juggle then with copy protections which just want to re-connect all the time ends in a big mess and infinite bookkeeping, especially if things fail - and copy protections can fail, preferable when in the middle of some important work.
I absolutely understand copy protection as a necessity. But it has to be as user friendly as possible for the legal, paying customer. Because Steinberg only gives one authorisation I bought two licenses e.g. of Nuendo - why not - I accept their policy. But if they would go the route to make my life harder, I would see this as an offense.
The best scheme I know is to use iLoks with all the variants it has - therefore I could continue using dongles without needing inetrnet connections. In the past I had problems with the old iLoks (using half a dozen or so right now), but they work fine now. The last incarnation - the metal one - feels practically unbreakable physically.
So:-
- Turn Machine On
- Use Software
…is not user friendly?
I find some reactions really ridiculous…: Treating users as potential criminals? Jumping through rings? What has ANY of that to do with Steinberg wanting to improve the protection system for it’s userbase? How one company treats it’s userbase is a completely separate discussion.
Please, just for clarity-sake. What additional step do you think is needed for every day use than turning your machine on and using the software? I think while we’re having the discussion let’s bring the facts out so we can help build a system that works for us all.
If it’s just a fear of change, or the fact that you won’t own something physical anymore - i totally get those concerns, and it is a bit unsettling for me also. I like owning software on a physical dongle that has value. I like the fact that i could sell that, for example, as a self contained item.
But things have changed, Cubase already requires an internet connection to get the E-Licenser software installed, up to date, and to carry out maintenance tasks. It’s at the halfway house already.
Right. I would be more than happy with ilok dongle+cloud or similar but they said dongle free so… we"ll see.
You didn’t get my points behind the comparison I did. It is getting to personal and hysterical, therefore I leave it at that.
nonsense, you have to pay monthly for zerodowntime. If you don’t it just means you need to wait till new iLok arrives.
stop spouting nonsense in here
Zero Downtime (ZDT): It’s an optional iLok coverage that gives you immediate access to your licenses in the case of a broken, lost, or stolen iLok USB. When an RMA order is placed for an iLok USB with ZDT coverage, temporary licenses for those licenses last seen on the device are immediately deposited to your iLok account.
Well, i only asked what problems an online system would cause you. Feeling like a criminal when authenticating online is a hard one to address and is quite personal to you, i’m afraid. And i mean absolutely no offence with that, as you raised it as part of the issues you have.
Based on my experiences with other cloud applications which i use in a professional capacity they’re completely seamless in operation, and that’s the point i was trying to get across to you. Literarily turn on, and use.
I absolutely understand that the announcement raises a lot of questions and opens the door to speculations. Let me just assure you that we are aiming for a better user experience for all of our customers. From professionals to hobbyists, longterm users to new customers. That is our main interest. We are well aware that the success of our company is built on the loyalty of our user base and we are definitely not planning to put that at stake. We are early in the process and we want to be as transparent about the change as possible. So your feedback is highly appreciated. And again, this is not about forcing anyone into a subscription.
Thank you , very reassuring
I think twinny is right about iLok, unless they have changed the conditions. Maybe 2 years ago I read on their website that if you’ve got a problem (iLok broken, computer crash, new computer without having unactivated the licenses on the former one…) they “cannot” do anything for you unless you’ve got this subscription. In this case, it’s up to you to ask EVERY manufacturer to give you a new activation. Incredible!
That’s right. And I occasionally had problems coming back from holiday. I used there my laptop and when I plugged my dongle in my tower at home, I got an error message and needed to update the eLicenser. So the current system is not Internet free nor perfect.
The announcement was very clear from the beginning, so can’t wait for the update. I personally prefer to activate 2 machine IDs where I can use my Steinberg licenses. I don’t care if I need to have internet or no, but from my experience ILOK cloud (for example) slows Slate Plugins a lot! I don’t care to use Cubase on 2 machines on the same time, although will be nice to do that in some cases. I would like to have the option on my Steinberg account to deactivate those machines and activate others because I often clean install new OS’s. I remember that once I tried Studio One and was a nice experience! Same as FL or Ableton. Good luck!
Make authorization great again! 
Exactly my thoughts. Not reassured at all, to be honest, so I didn’t add a ‘like’ to the already 41 given for this announcement. I would rather have given a 
, if it was possible.
Let’s see what future brings. I’m really not in a rush, actually…
nonsense! Absolut! ZDT is optional for immediate replacement. Whai i said is: The standard iLok payment is requered for (delayed) replacement. iLok says itself: If you do not have a perpetual license, you never get a replacement
You mean it actually affects the plugin performance when they’re running in the DAW? That’s quite concerning, 
Thanks. I have read your post, already. But it doesn’t answer to this simple case : let’s suppose that an user stops upgrading Cubase for any reason, as I did in 2013, few months after the Cubase 7.0.x disaster. Since, I have kept and used 6.5.5 for more than five years, as it was reliable, contrarily to its successor, this, until an upgrade to C10, 20 months ago.
It’s the dongle that has allowed me to choose when and why I would need an upgrade or not, without any time pressure. So, will the new system still allow this ?
This is my main concern, actually…
Then there is no reason to be concerned. We are not planning to force anyone into updating. It’s just the license management that’s going to change.
Great… What is reassuring with the present eLicenser/dongle system is that I’m sure that, even if I had to change my whole system setup (as I did, 15 months ago), the licence is here, at disposal for any new installation, and without any internet connection concern, beside the occasional eLicenser update.
Just hope that the future system will be as reliable and not internet dependent as the eLicenser/dongle one…
How about say a little USB device that you can store your activated licence on so that you can then run your software on any computers that you own (not at the same time but no problem there’s only one of me) and you don’t need the internet to work on your software.
I’m not sure why so many here fantasize that the new protection would require you to be online the whole time. Where are the real world examples of the DAW’s which require you to be online non stop to work on them? Why so much angst?