bapu
That's a really short lifetime then.

Indeed. Especially since Czechoslovakia has not existed for 25 years now! 😎

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovakia

It takes more than a serial number to activate Sonar.  So just the serial alone is not enough to pirate your copy.
 
The Sonar X1-X3 series also require a registration code that is tied to your user ID and email address. 
 
Platinum requires an activation server, plus your user ID and password.  And it is probably locked to you machine as well. 
 
Don't panic! 

I gave mine to Studio One 3 to get the offer. Nothing wrong with it. Sonar has gone splat. Who cares!

bitflipper
They validate the serial number by trying it with a SONAR install. They have no other way (e.g. checking with Cakewalk) to verify that you are a legitimate owner.
[...]
 
The worst that could happen is somebody hacks their database and publishes a gazillion serial numbers online. Somebody in Czechoslovakia might qualify for lifetime updates under your name! 

 
You are totally wrong here, bitflipper!
 
1. Serial numbers are not enough to activate SONAR. In fact, Cakewalk username and password is needed - even for the offline activation. So, it's technically impossible for a 3rd party to validate your S/N by trying it with a SONAR install. Moreover, it would be too time-consuming as well as legally objectionable. The 3rd parties would just store your SONAR serials along with your purchase and that's it!
 
2. If you are going to propagate those stereotypes about Eastern Europeans then beware that it only reinforces other stereotypes about Americans. Especially when you know nothing about Czechia and Slovakia (the former Czechoslovakia). Yes, I am Czech and I wouldn't say that our country is full of hackers and thieves. In case you would bother to find Czechia on a map - it's located approximately in the center of Europe.
 
Best regards
--
Miloslav

dappa1
I gave mine to Studio One 3 to get the offer. Nothing wrong with it. Sonar has gone splat. Who cares!

I care, because I'm still using it, and will continue to use it until it really goes splat. We have been informed, though I don't know how reliably, that an authorisation method will be provided should the servers be pulled. I don't know how that would work and and not familiar enough with the ULA to risk that for some software registrations I don't currently or really need. I was being safe than sorry.
 
That said, I am satisfied with the answers given above.

valsolim
 Yes, I am Czech and I wouldn't say that our country is full of hackers and thieves. In case you would bother to find Czechia on a map - it's located approximately in the center of Europe.
 

I totally support you there. Stereo-types are harmful and don't help anyone.
I'm a Brit living in Italy married to an Italian, and everytime I see/hear British news reporting on Italy, it makes me cringe in shame.
One thing I can say for Czechs - great vodka ;)

Perhaps all authentication for 3rd party plugins was not done by Cakewalk directly but actually with the 3rd party software company through the cakewalk site and that is why they can check the serial numbers??

I just don't see the likelihood of someone starting a vast underground ring of Cakewalk serial numbers.  A person who wants to steal something like true pianos would likely find it easier to simply get cracked version.

When I crossgraded to Studio One 3 I was hesitant to upload my Sonar Platinum serial number, but I found the "lifetime" upgrade receipt from Cleverbridge attached to the confirmation email from last summer. And it worked perfectly. Shouldn't the receipt work with any vendor?