Licensing question

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Posted by abluegrape, 08-22-2007, 01:36 PM
Hi all. I have a small script that I have written and I am going to try to sell it to people. I don't want to encrypt it as if people buy the script then I believe its theirs to do what they want, but I wouldn't want them selling it on / using it on a load of servers etc. So, I either go the naive way of saying price x for a single use, of price y for unlimited use but we all know that some people may go the single use and use it on a lot of servers. As the price of the script (for single use) will be in the region of $25 I don't really want some complex expensive licensing problem. All I want to make sure is that its used fairly - any basic call home in the script will be ripped out at a guess due to it not being encrypted so I am a bit stuck! Any ideas or do I cross my fingers and hope for the best with the 2 price scheme and peoples honesty Only thing I can think of is one single license file encrypted to call back to validate etc, but how do you cheaply encrypt 1 file? EDIT: I would only want to license check the single license version really. Last edited by abluegrape; 08-22-2007 at 01:43 PM.
Posted by Steve_Arm, 08-22-2007, 01:46 PM
If you can't control how it will be used, then go for a fixed price that multiplied by your expected sales, gives a nice figure.
Posted by abluegrape, 08-22-2007, 01:56 PM
I think you are right Steve, its nothing fantastic hence the expensive ways going out of the window. Think it may just be the fixed dee and peoples honesty Thanks Ry
Posted by ubersmith_boo, 08-22-2007, 02:46 PM
I'd agree that at that price range, you'll probably do just fine with a fixed price(s) and then trusting people. The sales you'd lose on people re-using it when they shouldn't be is probably equal to the ones you'd lose by encrypting it.
Posted by abluegrape, 08-22-2007, 02:57 PM
Aye, thats what I thought - worth throwing the question out just in case. Not like it prices millions in development prices Thanks guys
Posted by Woooo, 08-22-2007, 06:03 PM
Have you seen phpaudit or iono, they are licensing systems and are very economical as well.
Posted by mrzippy, 08-22-2007, 06:35 PM
Hello, I sell a script of my own for $24.95, so I have a lot of experience to answer this question. I can guarantee you 100% that you will have people who will "steal" your source code and: 1. Steal your code and try to sell it as their own. 2. Install it on lots of servers, and you will not get any extra license fees. The *only* way to protect your source code (and your revenue) is by encrypting it using either Zend Optimizer (very expensive) or Ioncube Encoder (reasonably priced). There is no way around that. Fortunately, both software are very popular and most servers have one or the other already installed. I sell my script available in both version. The *only* way to make sure people do not buy one license and use it on 100 servers is by using a good license system. I use www.phpaudit.com and am *very* happy with it. I hope this helps. The phpaudit/ioncube combination is reasonably priced (see the phpaudit website for a "bundle" package that includes the two) and will protect your investment. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to discuss anything in detail.
Posted by tjphippen, 08-22-2007, 07:36 PM
Encrypting 1 file isn't going to stop everyone.
Posted by mrzippy, 08-22-2007, 07:48 PM
Yes it will, depending on how the license system is integrated. (ie: Use constants instead of variables, etc..) To answer the questoin of "how to cheaply encrypt 1 file", I believe www.ioncube.com offers (or did -- I'm not sure if they do any more) an online encryption service. You can (or could) pay some money and get some credits. Then when you want to encrypt, you upload the file(s) and they deduct the cost from your balance. It is (was?) a great way to encrypt small programs/files where purchase of the encryption software is too expensive.
Posted by Codelphious, 08-24-2007, 02:02 AM
I agree with myzippy. I think you either have to go all in and encrypt the project/create a licensing system (they're pretty easy to implement), or leave it open source and free. Unless, of course, you just want to recoup the cost of developing the app. If that's the case then selling it without encrypting it would work.
Posted by abluegrape, 08-24-2007, 02:17 AM
Aye, the prices are just to get back a little for the time I spent putting it together. Its nothing ground shattering but a very handy script (well, I think so ). I have gone the paid for but unencrypted

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