Norton AntiVirus to Include Product Activation Code

Dom · Aug 30, 2003, 06:43 AM

People buy Symantec Corp.'s popular Norton line of anti-virus software to protect themselves against computer headaches. But in the latest version of the product, Symantec includes some code to protect itself.

With Norton AntiVirus 2004, scheduled to go on sale next month, Symantec is using a simple but sometimes unpopular installation process called product activation to stop users from sharing or selling copies of its best-selling software line.

The Business Software Alliance, an industry trade group, says piracy costs the software industry $13 billion a year worldwide in lost revenue. Like the music industry, software companies big and small are taking offenders to court and employing technical means to make copying difficult.

Users of Norton AntiVirus will have to register their copies with Symantec online or by telephone within 15 days of installation for the program to continue to work. Unlike optional registration commonly used for marketing purposes, Symantec's registration system can dictate whether a program is allowed to function or not by associating a unique software key with every computer using a licensed copy of the software.

The company said it plans to include product activation in all its products. "We're doing this in order to provide users with assurance that they are receiving an authentic product from Symantec," said product manager Del Smith. Many e-mail solicitations offer to sell versions of the software that are actually illegal copies, he said.

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Aug 30, 2003, 06:43 AM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Norton AntiVirus to Include Product Activation Code People buy Symantec Corp.'s popular Norton line of anti-virus software to protect themselves against computer headaches. But in the latest version of the product, Symantec includes some code to protect itself. With Norton AntiVirus 2004, scheduled to go on sale next month, Symantec is using a simple but sometimes unpopular installation process called product activation to stop users from sharing or selling copies of its best-selling software line. The Business Software Alliance, an industry trade group, says piracy costs the software industry $13 billion a year worldwide in lost revenue. Like the music industry, software companies big and small are taking offenders to court and employing technical means to make copying difficult. Users of Norton AntiVirus will have to register their copies with Symantec online or by telephone within 15 days of installation for the program to continue to work. Unlike optional registration commonly used for marketing purposes, Symantec's registration system can dictate whether a program is allowed to function or not by associating a unique software key with every computer using a licensed copy of the software. The company said it plans to include product activation in all its products. "We're doing this in order to provide users with assurance that they are receiving an authentic product from Symantec," said product manager Del Smith. Many e-mail solicitations offer to sell versions of the software that are actually illegal copies, he said. Read More...