OT: iLok: Is there a worst idea than this? Only their customer support!!!

It is umbelivable that someone can create such a device to fight piracy and than screw it's customers.
I have been trying to contact they customer support for 2 weeks and nothing…no reply. Phone doesn't work too. Unbelievable! 
They make me wanna crack software I bought just to get rid of this dongle!!! Man I am furious!!!

Several plugins I use within x3 require an iLok. That's it!

Maybe he doesn't know. He's new to the forum. Only joined in 2010.
I can take it…been here for more than 15 years and there is always someone policing the forum…;-)
 

g_randybrown
I feel sure you know this but OT=Off Topic...relax Alex sheesh

I'm sorry that I that asked a very simple and valid question, I don't recollect saying what my state of mind was or getting emotional about it. If the OP knew it was off topic why didn't he post in another forum?**
 
** NIOPTF (No Intention of Policing This Forum). BTW I'm using an acronym as well so that gets me out of jail for free as well - yes?

I hate dongles too. I like some of the VST's but I am tired of these things going bad on me. Then you have to pay another 60 or some odd dollars. GRRR! I just stop using them. ilok is the worst. I still have my arturia I know...but I really like the sounds they have. They don't use ilok. 

even tho Cubase and Reason optionally use a key, I've avoided any software that uses iLok.  Plenty of alternatives out there.  What is it now, $40?

thomasabarnes
Many of us are very interested in hearing of ilok issues, here............ 

+1
 
Also, watch out for the Keystone Cops
 

thomasabarnes
Thank you Cakewalk for mostly staying away from using ilok and dongles for any software you sell.

Here, Here!
 
And a big thank you from me as well.....

Guitarmech111
I am very glad Waves did away with that iLok crud...

Did they? I didn't know that. Maybe this is good news for me. What type of copy protection scheme do they use now? I can't go for using software that use dongles or iLok. 
 
But, Cakewalk, Native Instruments, and IK Multimedia are examples of companies employing software copy protection schemes I can tolerate.

Hi Conley:
 
That might be OK for me. I have to look into the details of what that entails. 
 
Can you elaborate?
 
Here's what I'm thinking how it works:  There's a license file I can download to my hard drive, when I open a Waves plug in, it asks me to browse to where the license file is located on my computer, I point it to that location, select the licence, click OK, and now, I can use the plug in. I don't have to do this every time I insert the plug in into a project? When I start a new project after doing this, and insert the same plug in, I don't have to do this again? But, the plug in just loads without needing anymore authorization to do so?
 
When I close SONAR, and open SONAR another day and load that same plug in, I don't have to point it to that license again? I hope that's true. If so, I can handle that.
 
Can you elaborate on how it works?
 
I appreciate any help you can give.

mudgel
I find that an iLok is quite good.

Having a studio PC and a Laptop that have the same audio software and plugins. I don't have to worry about various protection schemes. If given the choice between challenge response and iLok, I choose iLok.

Mine sits in a USB hub connected via a cable to my computers and therefore safe from breakage. While ever there's no standard copy protection for all software I choose iLok when given a choice.

I agree, I've been using iLok for several years and have had no problems.

Mine is set to my hard drive. As long as the file is there, there is no request for it as long as the license has already been defined.

Guitarmech111
yep, that is how it works. :)
 
Basically tell it once where the license file is and then you don't see it again. I really think Waves did it right. I have zero issues with it.

 
Man, that's good news!
 
Sounds like Waves, finally, got it right. Looks like they will be making more money, now, including from me. They do make some great plug ins (although high priced,) so it was very disappointing to me that I couldn't buy from them because of their copy protection scheme. That may certainly change for me, now.
 
Thanks for sharing the news?
 
Sanderxpander:
 
Thanks for the info you provided, as well.

djoni
It is umbelivable that someone can create such a device to fight piracy and than screw it's customers.
I have been trying to contact they customer support for 2 weeks and nothing…no reply. Phone doesn't work too. Unbelievable! 
They make me wanna crack software I bought just to get rid of this dongle!!! Man I am furious!!!

I recently had an iLok fail. When you report an iLok failure (look on the website there is well defined procedure for doing this) and get a return authorization number they will send you a new iLok. You send in the failed iLok and they set up new authorizations in your account. If you need access to the licenses immediately you may contact the software companies that created the plugins and request temporary licenses. The replacement iLok is free but there is a fee for restoring licenses from failed iLoks. If you subscribe to the "Zero Down Time" program the fee is waived.
The key that failed contained licenses from EastWest. They granted the temporary license requests but it took 3 days for them to respond. It took about a week for the permanent licenses to be restored.

I understand your frustration. I really didn't like the idea of paying them to restore usage of licenses that I already owned. It seemed like software I owned was being held hostage by an third party. I also didn't like the idea of being charged as a result of the failure of their product. What sort of quality incentive can exist when a company makes more money if their product fails more frequently?