I have to implement a basic protection to my software.
Some features of the software:
- It is a client/server database application
(there is only the databse on the server side).
- It is written in Delphi, and uses Oracle - but this is perhaps not soo important now.
- Currently the client software does not have any installation set
and does not use the windows registry (just INI files).
It can be installed in a simple way: copying of files and directories and
setting the database access. This enables for a client (customer) to copy
the application and use on more computers than the number of their licences.
It's too easy. This is the main problem.
The requirements of the protection:
- A client (customer) be able to run only limited number of software instances
at the same time.
(The limit is equal to the number of licences the client has.)
- A better solution will be, if the client is able to install and run the software
only on limited number of computers.
(i.e. the number of runnable software copies is limited,
not the number of running software instances at the same time)
This kind of protection is not necessery, if it's too difficult to implement.
- The protection can be quite simple: it is not needed to protect the application
against crackers, it is enough to protect against IT users and IT staff
(simple system administrators)
- Using third party (not free) software components is allowed to implement the protection.
- However hardware protection (like dongles) is not allowed.
That's all, I am curious about your ideas.
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