Software Licensing and Protection Online Service Basic

While looking to download BizTalk 2006 R2 off MSDN, I came across Software Licensing and Protection Online Server (SLP Services), and an offer for MSDN subscribers for free use for 1 year. This was the first time I’ve heard of SLP Services, so I wanted to check it out, the home page is here: http://www.microsoft.com/SLPS/Default.aspx.

Key features include:

• Code Protection (Advanced Obfuscation?)
• License Enforcement thru activation and client side enforcement.
• 1 code base, “unlimited” configurations. Create trial software, add-on packages, timed demos, etc.

SLP Services is either a Microsoft hosted, or server based product that can be used to protect, license and distribute your software. In the hosted model, Microsoft runs the service, and you pay them a fee. In the server model, you install the server onto your network and host it yourself. It might also be possible to resell SLP services, but I have not read the licensing to know that for sure. This blog post indicates that reselling the SLP Service is an intened use. In addition to the traditional use for licensing, the SLP Services web site also talks about benefits of using the technology in the enterprise, for in house applications, which include monitoring application use, and controller who can use a specific application, or feature. The Downloads page, for information on downloading a trial version of the code protection tool and documentation for online and offline products.

The basic version you get thru MSDN allows you to do the following

• 1 licensed product
• 100 Commercial Activations (i.e. Customers who purchase a license)
• 1000 non-commercial activations (activations that were not purchased)
• 1 basic permutation, which allows you to “create” 5 products from a single code base.

The more expensive licenses of SLP Services allow for more activations, permutations and you get statistics and an API for license creation. Check out the How to Buy page for details. Regular retail pricing for the basic hosted version (after your free year and for non MSDN subscribers) is $500/yr, which as I already mention, includes 100 commercial activations. Additional activations cost $1000 for 1000.

I really, really like the concept, but once again feel like Microsoft could be doing a better job at making this more accessible to smaller ISV’s and independent contractors (in the same way I disagree with some of the pricing for VSTS and TFS). Granted these are retail prices, but but the point of entry for someone hoping to make $9.95 on a product, and who could really benefit from something like this, is a little high. I’d like to see a starter edition that gives you the 1000 non-commercial activations but includes no commercial activations, however, you could purchase them at $1/each. This way you could develop your code using the technology and then once you start selling, start paying for the service. I think that Microsoft is trying to avoid giving away the code protection for free so that they do not directly compete with other companies offering a similar product, which if that is the case, should offer a limited functionality version with the starter edition, again to get people started.

UPDATE: Someone from MS responded to a post I made on the MSDN forums, confirming that, as a MSDN subscriber, as long as you renew each year, you have access to the basic version. This does make this a little more attractive, as a MSDN professional subscription is a good deal IMO.

I fully expect to see new hosted solutions start to popup that are based on SLP Services, that include e-commerce capabilities, and charge per copy based on purchase price.

In addition to the price, which may or may not be a detractor to you, there is one other issue. Since this is a Microsoft product, you are going to have allot of talented individuals looking to crack it. It will be interesting to see if a “universal” crack could be developed, and how MS will respond.