mudgel
Cakewalk doesn't predetermine an amount of activations but if the frequency should be suspect then they have a means to ask for an explanation. They have said they are tightening up but for legit users there shouldn't be a problem. But again you only have to do it once per machine. So go trash every installation as many times as you like. You can activate it offline and have all the details and files on each of your own PCs where you have Sonar installed. Command Centre asks for a default folder for placing installation files. c:\Program Data\Cakewalk\Downloads if I remember correctly.

I completely understand the necessities and reasons for protecting their product from piracy and I can live with this. And yes, they made it as easy as possible. But again, it happend twice for me with other companies, so it´s better to ask before so I can protect myself from becoming upset. I recently did not get upset because of this synth company that went out of business because they didn´t have c/r and I will be able to use their fantastic piece of software a few more years. And I will think twice about getting upset because I would pay $149 for financially supporting a system which would possibly upset me.

Here's why I support the challenge/response system:  I've been a legit customer since running CW on Windows 3.1 and have owned every version since for well over 20 years now.  However, now things have changed - If you can install Sonar, then potentially you will be getting all the future updates and enhancements.  So this means CW MUST protect itself from freeloaders, or they are going to have free access to a whole lot of extra intellectual property as updates that would have been previously included in new versions.  Given that the game has changed, I see the need to step up the level of effort required to prevent the freeloaders from getting their hands on the software for free.
 
So, in reality, if you really want CW to keep making software that gives us all a platform for the future, you should give them your support and accept the new paradigm.
 
After all, if you got your way, the software would be easy to distribute to share networks with just a text file containing a password and registration code and the chance of CW going bust would surely be higher.  So even though in your eyes you'd be safer because if CW was no more, you could re-install without their servers, it would be a very short-sighted view of the world, and ultimately pretty darn selfish.
 
I know someone is going to chime in now and say that hackers will just subvert the copy protection, but that is no reason CW shouldn't make their products a harder target for illegitimate users.
 
Ultimately, we will deal with the future should the worst ever happen.  In the mean time, let's get our heads out of this fruitless distraction and get back to making music!

hey Bill, long time no see. Are you back for the new Sonar or just visiting? or have you always been here and I missed you

Hey Mike, my old account on this forum from 2004 somehow got totally screwed up and I was not able to use it when we moved to SSO.  So I've been lurking here for ages.  I finally found an old account I had somehow created a few years ago and used that to merge with my CW store account to get a sign-on to this forum.  I wanted to make sure I was ready to go when the new Sonar dropped.
 
I've been on this train for well over 20 years now, wasn't ever going to miss out on Platinum!
 
Nice to be missed, my Aussie brother!
 
Bill.

BRuys
I know someone is going to chime in now and say that hackers will just subvert the copy protection, but that is no reason CW shouldn't make their products a harder target for illegitimate users.

Just several statements from me, Russian, bad musician, "old school" programmer:

• in case such protection was introduced back in X1, you could not read my post because I had no SONAR. In fact SONAR was the first program in which I have invested more than $50, the full trust to customers was the deal point for me. I have changed my mind since than and I have paid quite some money for copy protected programs. While I am happy with some of them (Celemony, IK), I am not with other (XLN). Because in attempt to protect themselves they think of me as about thief. In many cases it is more disturbing than in other, but the feeling is there all the time.
• I have written some protections as well as... Good protection required quite some investment. Smallest mistake and you are vulnerable. So, company (== customers) pay money for something which make no sense for users and any day can be obsoleted (in many cases this day comes much early than you can think). For investment/result ratio check DVD, WEP, early PayTV...
• just to make it clear... I have not used SoftICE this century

Very much an active topic again I would think!
As a long time Cakewalk user who has paid significant amounts to the company over the years, I have to say that I am worried now

Read the sticky about activation.