PG Music Home Forums PG Music Product Forums Band-in-a-Box for Windows OFF-LINE ACTIVATION.

While I think that allowing 3 activations is quite fair, and that, once activated, it's an unobtrusive form of copy protection, my concern is that it's dependent upon the continued existence of PG Music and their activation servers. I've lost the use of software due to this in the past.

The company I work for bought some software which, for a small business, was a big investment. But it would pay for itself in the long run, being desktop software rather than a subscription. Upon installation, you entered your user key and the software activated itself over the Internet and life was good. When we replaced that computer, we deactivated the old installation and activated on the new computer. We even got a couple upgrades that were included with the pricey "lifetime license". But then the owner of the business that developed the software was killed in a car wreck and the company changed hands a couple times. The new owner decided to shut down the activation servers. This was done without supplying registered owners with a patch or other way to remove the activation requirement.

I've experienced various forms of copy protection over the years. None are particularly convenient, but at least until recently it was up to me to keep that manual, disc, or dongle safe- and I have, and I still use much of that software. Now, more and more, whether I am allowed to continue to use the software I've purchased is out of my hands. Lately I've decided to skip many titles that use online activation.

I'll still buy BiaB 2014- the new RealTracks alone are worth it- but I am undecided on whether I'll install the upgrade. My husband's advice is to go ahead, and just fall back to 2013 if the ability to activate a new installation ever vanishes. I may do that, but what if a future version's save files are incompatible with 2013? I'd hate to have to recreate any songs. It'll be bad enough losing all the great new features I'll have become accustomed to. :-)

If (Heaven forbid) something ever happens to PG Music, is there a plan in place that will allow registered users to continue to install BiaB as we replace our computers? This software has allowed me to do amazing things that I cannot do on my own, and my hobby of playing solo handbells would not be what it is without the accompaniments BiaB allows me to create.

I am hearin rumors that the older version BIAB 2013 now appears to be calling the mothership to verify registration. Has anyone else seen this happening?

No. At least, my 2013 version on my laptop does not phone home.