PLAIN Protection Examples
Best for standard software distribution models where hardware-bound machine licensing is not required.
| Your Business Goal | PC Guard Out-of-the-Box Setup |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted Distribution | PLAIN: The protected application runs seamlessly on any target workstation without runtime restrictions or validation checks. |
| Traditional Retail Keys | PLAIN + SERIAL NUMBERS: The application prompts for a unique serial key on startup and cannot be executed until a valid retail key is supplied. |
| Time-Limited Trial (Demo) | PLAIN + DEMO: Software executes freely for a limited evaluation window (defined by custom execution counts, system dates, or runtime days) and locks post-expiration. |
| Try-Before-You-Buy Funnel | PLAIN + DEMO + SERIAL NUMBERS: Runs as a free evaluation trial while displaying active countdown metrics. Seamlessly converts into a lifetime license as soon as a key is provided. |
| Mandatory Serial Activation | PLAIN + DEMO + SERIAL NUMBERS (SN Required Option): The software strictly blocks startup initialization entirely until a tracking serial number is supplied, after which the time-limited trial phase unlocks. |
Technical Insights & Implementation Notes:
- No Hardware Binding: Please note that there is no hardware-bound machine locking applied within the PLAIN protection method.
- Persistent Storage: Once a valid serial number is entered, it is securely stored on the host computer. End-users will no longer be prompted on startup.
- Immutable Status: Serial numbers cannot be altered or overwritten by the end-user once successfully registered.
- API Accessibility: The precise value of the serial number and embedded custom features can be programmatically queried via the Protection Interface.
- Programmatic Control: Developers can leverage the
SetSerialNumber()protection interface function to register keys directly from within their internal application code.
REMOTE Protection Examples
Our most popular method using advanced hardware locking to bind licenses to unique computer profiles.
| Your Business Goal | PC Guard Out-of-the-Box Setup |
|---|---|
| Strict Copy Protection | 1. REMOTE: Requires a unique activation code per PC for unlimited full access. Once valid activation code is provided application will work without any restrictions for unlimited period of time on activated computer. See also: license removal, license transfer, license extension. |
| Locked Serial Keys | 2. REMOTE + SERIAL NUMBERS: Requires both a serial number and a unique PC activation code for unlimited access. Once valid activation code and serial number are provided application will work without any restrictions for unlimited period of time on activated computer. See also: license removal, license transfer, license extension. |
| Standard Free Trial | 3. REMOTE + DEMO: Time-limited trial before requiring a unique per-PC activation code for permanent use. Once valid activation code is provided application will work without any restrictions for unlimited period of time on activated computer. See also: license removal, license transfer, license extension, demo extension. |
| Try-Before-You-Buy Funnel | 4. REMOTE + DEMO + SERIAL NUMBERS: Application runs for a limited time, then requires a valid serial number and computer-specific activation code. Activation code and serial number can be provided both during demo mode and after demo mode expires. Different activation code is required for each computer. |
| Mandatory Serial Evaluation | 5. REMOTE + DEMO + SERIAL NUMBERS + SN IS REQUIRED FOR DEMO MODE: Requires a serial number upfront for a limited demo period, followed by a computer-specific activation code for unlimited use. Once demo period expires application will ask for activation code. Activation code can be provided both during demo mode and after demo mode expires. Different activation code is required for each computer. |
| Secure Subscription / Lease | 6. REMOTE + LIMITED LICENSE: Requires a unique activation code per computer for a limited time, prompting for a new code upon expiration. Once valid activation code is provided application will work for a limited period of time on activated computer. Once license expires, new and different activation code will be required. |
| Tracked Subscription Suite | 7. REMOTE + LIMITED LICENSE + SERIAL NUMBERS: Application requests a unique serial number and activation code per computer. Once valid activation code and serial number are provided application will work for a limited period of time on activated computer. Once license expires, new and different activation code will be required. |
| Limited Subscription Trial | 8. REMOTE + LIMITED LICENSE + DEMO: Timed trial mode on any computer before requiring a unique activation code. Once demo period expires application will ask for activation code. Activation code can be provided both during demo mode and after demo mode expires. Different activation code is required for each computer. |
| Full Subscription Funnel | 9. REMOTE + LIMITED LICENSE + DEMO + SERIAL NUMBERS: Combines a temporary trial with subsequent serial number and activation code verification. Once demo period expires application will ask for valid serial number and activation code. Activation code and serial number can be provided both during demo mode and after demo mode expires. Different activation code is required for each computer. |
| Mandatory Lease Activation | 10. REMOTE + LIMITED LICENSE + DEMO + SERIAL NUMBERS + SN IS REQUIRED FOR DEMO MODE: Requires serial number verification before running in a limited demo mode, followed by unique computer activation codes for limited-time licensing extensions. Once demo period expires application will ask for valid activation code. Activation code can be provided both during demo mode and after demo mode expires. Different activation code is required for each computer. |
| Terminal Server Float Control | 11. REMOTE + LIMIT NUMBER OF APPLICATION INSTANCES: Designed for terminal servers to lock applications and restrict concurrent user access, compatible with other modes like demo settings or serial numbers. See also: license removal, license transfer, license extension. |
| ACEN Web Licensing | 12. REMOTE + ACEN Web licensing model: This protection scenario requires both PC Guard family product, Activation center (ACEN) and live Internet connection. Each license is identified by ACEN Product and Serial Number pair only. No Client or Order entry is required in ACEN. License in web licensing model is tied to specific serial number which is valid for specific Product. Serial number is in this licensing model used for end user identification. Serial numbers are distributed to clients so they can activate software over the Internet just by providing valid serial number. See also: requirements, implementation, settings, tasks. |
| ACEN Standard Licensing | 13. REMOTE + ACEN Standard licensing model: This protection scenario requires both PC Guard family product, Activation center (ACEN) and live Internet connection. Each license requires valid Client, Product and Order data in Activation center. License in standard licensing model is tied to appropriate ACEN Order and each Order is tied appropriate ACEN Client and ACEN Product. This licensing method allows centralized tracking of all information about protected applications (Products), end users (Clients) and their Orders and Licenses. See also: requirements, implementation, settings, tasks. |
NETWORK Protection Examples
Designed for corporate environments to safely manage, allocate, and audit concurrent software usage floats across local network shares.
| Your Business Goal | PC Guard Out-of-the-Box Setup |
|---|---|
| Standard Corporate Floating | 1. NETWORK: Concurrent number of users is controlled over Windows network. |
| Workstation Instance Capping | 2. NETWORK + Limit number of application instances feature: Controls concurrent users and limits instances per workstation. |
| Segmented IP Restrictions | 3. NETWORK + IP FILTERING: Concurrent number of users is controlled over Windows network. Only users with specific IP segment(s) can access protected application. |
| Strict Enterprise Filtering | 4. NETWORK + IP FILTERING + Limit instances: Concurrent number of users is controlled over Windows network. Only users with specific IP segment(s) can access protected application. Only limited number of application instances can be used per workstation. |
Protected application will display error message: "All network licenses are currently in use!" once the maximum number of allowed users is reached.
As soon as user closes protected application his license will become available for another user waiting to access protected application.
In case of application crash, new instance of protected application will automatically free broken license.
Demo mode limitations (if any) are controlled independently for each workstation.
Technical Insights & Process Control:
In order to properly control number of concurrent application instances protection code must free application instance from the list of currently active instances once the application quits. In most cases this is done automatically by protection code. In order to be able to automatically control number of active instances protection code must take control over ExitProcess() function used by protected application. In case your application does not end execution with ExitProcess() or does not even import this function (MFC and VB applications are examples of such applications) you will have to manually free application instance before quitting. This is done by using FreeAppInstance() protection interface function. Detailed information about this function is available in protection interface help.
USB Protection Examples
Perfect hybrid licensing model ensuring absolute license portability across different machines without the high overhead or logistics of proprietary vendor keys.
| Your Business Goal | PC Guard Out-of-the-Box Setup |
|---|---|
| Portable Dongle Protection | 1. USB: Protected application is locked to single USB storage device (SN lock) or USB network adapter (MAC address lock) and will work on any computer as long as required USB device is connected to it. |
| Hardware-Bound Serial Keys | 2. USB + SERIAL NUMBERS: Protected application is locked to single USB storage device (SN lock) or USB network adapter (MAC address lock) and will work on any computer as long as required USB device is connected to it. Application will also ask for serial number. Once valid serial number is provided application will run without any restrictions as long as required USB device is attached to computer. |
| Dongle-Locked Trial Mode | 3. USB + DEMO: Protected application is locked to single USB storage device (SN lock) or USB network adapter (MAC address lock) and will work on any computer as long as required USB device is connected to it. Application will also work only for a limited period of time. Appropriate error message is displayed after demo mode expires. |
| Try-Before-You-Buy Dongle | 4. USB + DEMO + SERIAL NUMBERS: Protected application is locked to single USB storage device (SN lock) or USB network adapter (MAC address lock) and will work on any computer as long as required USB device is connected to it. Application will also work for a limited period of time. As soon as valid serial number is provided application will work without any restrictions. Serial number can be provided both during demo mode and after demo expires. |
| Mandatory Dongle Evaluation | 5. USB + DEMO + SERIAL NUMBERS + SN IS REQUIRED FOR DEMO MODE: Protected application is locked to single USB storage device (SN lock) or USB network adapter (MAC address lock) and will work on any computer as long as required USB device is connected to it. Application will ask for serial number and can not be run until valid serial number is provided. Once valid serial number is provided application will work for a limited period of time. Appropriate error message is displayed after demo mode expires. |
Deploy Your Custom Licensing Strategy Today
Every scenario listed above can be configured instantly through our intuitive graphical interface or injected straight into your automated CI/CD build pipelines. Protect your commercial assets under a flat, 100% royalty-free subscription model.