CodeMeterAct provides you with a purely software based license management system for digital Content.

CodeMeterAct is full compatible to WIBU-SYSTEMS' classical dongle technologie CodeMeter. The applications, protection tools and interfaces you are already using with CodeMeter, are also available for the copy protecion system CodeMeterAct.

1. Unified License Manager
CodeMeter and CodeMeterAct are based on the same principles and map the same license models. The management of licenses at the customers is provided by a unified license manager (CodeMeter License Server).

A license consists of a Firm Code and a Product Code. Strictly speaking, a license may hold additional options, such as, license quantity or expiration date. The Firm Code represents a number WIBU-SYSTEMS assigns to you. Now you are able to create licenses with the assigned Firm Code. You are free to select any Product Code or further options, and thus map different modules or different products. A license file or a dongle may simultaneously hold several Product Codes.

The Firm Code with CodeMeterAct differs from the one used for CodeMeter. In case you use both protection systems, you receive two different Firm Codes. Due to the different Firm Codes CodeMeter License Server automatically knows whether to search for the license in an activated license file or in a dongle.

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2. CodeMeterAct Binding Schemes
Licenses in a CodeMeterAct license file are bound to a PC. Specific properties of the PC or the installed OS are used to build up information used as a “Host-ID”. This Host-ID becomes part of the activation code.

CodeMeterAct’s Host-ID scheme makes use of both Hardware Binding Schemes (real hardware properties) and Configuration Binding Schemes (configurable system properties).

Hardware-Bindungs-Schemata
Four basic hardware properties are available; which can be combined, without restriction, to create the Hardware Binding Scheme:

By altering the combination of properties and by changing how many properties need to remain unchanged, the developer can control how restrictive to make this binding scheme. More restrictive schemes increase security, but also increase the number of support calls from customers who might have simply changed a hard drive (for example). The less restrictive, the fewer support calls, but security becomes weaker. For example, a scheme combining all four properties, where only one element is allowed to change, is possible. As long as three elements remain unchanged, an activated license remains valid. 

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3. Activation of a CodeMeterAct License
In the case of CodeMeterAct; instead of a CmStick, a license information file is delivered. This file is comparable to an empty CmStick, and holds the information of the CodeMeterAct Binding Scheme. Read more to know how this license information file is activated.

Automatic Activation
In the case of CodeMeterAct; instead of a CmStick, a license information file is delivered. This file is comparable to an empty CmStick, and holds the information of the CodeMeterAct Binding Scheme. When automatically activated, a CodeMeterAct license (a context file) is generated from the license information file, the product serial number, and the Host-ID.

The context file generated then is sent from the end-user to the developer. For this the following options exist:

• Directly from within your software by SOAP: You automatically generate the context file and install the update file. You are also able to easily integrate the activation using an application automatically protected by AxProtector using an error message interface (dll).
• Directly over a website: An installed CodeMeter Runtime is required, the user accesses the website, and the generation of the context file and the installation of the update file are done automatically.
• Indirectly over a website: The context file is generated by the user and is uploaded; afterwards the new update file is downloaded and manually installed by the user. This allows activation of a license on a PC which does not have internet access.

Activation by Telephone
The automated activation requires internet access, however, not necessarily on the PC where the license has to be activated. But there must be a way to transfer data by files between this PC and another PC with internet access. In case this requirement is not met, WIBU-SYSTEMS offers activation by telephone. In contrast to the automatic activation, the license information file is not delivered empty, but holds a large part of the necessary information. Only a secret missing part, of the cryptographic keys, is transferred on activation.

With “activation by telephone”, an installation identification number (hash) is created for the existing license information file on the user’s PC and consists of the Host-ID and the product serial number. The enduser informs the developer’s help line of both this installation identification number and the product serial number over the telephone.

When using the CodeMeter License Central the developer calculates the activation code, recites it to the user, who then types it into the application activation window. The license is then activated.

If a developer wants to implement the automatic activation or activation by telephone he is provided with API functions to integrate activation into his software and into his design. For the automatically protected application you will find an implementation example in the error message dll.

Developers are also able to automate the “activation by telephone”. Here, a voice-controlled computer or a web page is used instead of a person. In this case, the end-user types in the installation identification, and receives the result by telephone or display.

When using activation by telephone you have two basic options for coding the installation identification and the activation code:

• Alphanumeric mode: use of 40 alpha-numeric characters (0 .. 9, A..Z), length: 30 characters
• Numeric mode: use of 10 numbers (0..9), length: 60 characters

Using an API function you are able to switch between the two options. The numeric code option requires a greater length but has the advantage that the installation code is easy to enter with telephone keys when a voice-controlled computer is linked. The numeric telephone transfer of the activation code is also easy because internationally 10 numbers are easier to spell than alphanumeric characters.

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4. Operating systems
CodeMeterAct supports following operating systems:

• Windows 2000
• Windows XP
• Windows Vista
• Windows 2000 Server
• Windows 2003 Server
• Windows 2008 Server
• MacOS X
• Linux