Licensing Frequently Asked Questions:

Why did you change the way License Codes work - I thought the old system worked just fine?

Why do I have to get a new License Code every now and again? I thought I'd paid for it already?

What is a P-SQUID and what is it used for?

What is a 'Features Code' and an 'Activation Code' (aka 'P-SQUISH')?

What's to stop me just typing the License into to several computers?

How does this affect me - bottom line - does it cost anything?

What products use this system?

If you have any further questions please email licenses@psquared.net

Why did you change the way License Codes work - I thought the old system worked just fine?

We know that for stations that aren't able to contact us during office hours that licensing is a pain - you have to write down the various pieces of information and email them over, and then wait for a reply the next working day. Also for stations with high numbers of licenses it can be a very time consuming process to get them all renewed.

P Squared has grown far more quickly than we imagined it would when we first started, and the systems that have grown up inside P Squared have all been separate - for instance until Summer 2001, the contact numbers and details stored by the sales department had no meaning to the Technical department - they kept their own separate details for each customer. This meant updating two separate systems every time a customers telephone number or other details changed.

Since then we have simplified the way we handle customer accounts internally so every department has exactly the same information as all of the others - in other words, the P-SQUID. We are now using these outside of the office. In fact, your accounts department already has the P-SQUID on the top of every invoice!

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Why do I have to get a new License Code every now and again? I thought I'd paid for it already?

You have - the License Code is simply there to ensure that should someone get a copy of your software, they cannot use it because they won't have the License Codes. New license codes are issued completely free of charge for the duration of the license (usually 50 years) 

Software copyright theft is a very serious problem - the Federation Against Software Theft has estimated that over a third (35%) of all software in use around the globe is being used illegally. This costs the software industry billions each year in lost revenues and legal actions - the bottom line is that software companies have to restrict the amount they spend on development - and this means less features for legal users.

At P Squared, we have a duty to ensure that our software can only be used legally by registered users to ensure that we all stay within the law, and that no-one is being 'ripped off'.

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What is a P-SQUID and what is it used for?

A P-SQUID is a P Squared Unique Identifier. It is a code up to 8 characters long that we use to uniquely identify you and any software that you purchase from us. You can consider it an 'Account Number' that you can use whenever you need to talk to us about your purchases

A P-SQUID is used for every contact that you have with us - from quickly  requesting a quote for new items from us, to getting the latest support and software updates. It is also your reference ID for all paper work and license documents.

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What is a 'Features Code' and an 'Activation Code' (aka 'P-SQUISH')?

The 'Features Code' is a special code that enables certain features in a given product. If you add (or indeed remove) features from a product, you may be issued a new Features Code which reflects these changes.

An 'Activation Code' (previously known as a 'P-SQUISH' which stands for "P Squared Unique Individual Serial Hash") is a special code that your software will display when it is time to get a new License Code from us. The principle is almost identical to Microsoft's Activation Code, so if you have ever had to Activate your copy of Windows or Microsoft Office over the telephone then you already know what we are talking about.

If you are licensing via our Online Licensing Website (http://secure.psquared.net) you enter the Activation Code into the website to receive your license code.

Alternately you can read this Activation Code to us over the telephone (or send it to us in an email or on a fax) and we will then give you a matching License Code. 

Most people never see the Activation Code because they license easily and completely automatically using the 'Renew Online' method in the License Wizard.

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What's to stop me just typing the License into to several computers?

Obviously we can't explain the way the new system works fully, but no two computers will ever generate the same P-SQUISH, and because the License Codes can only be used with that P-SQUISH, the code cannot be entered on more than one computer. Also, the code can only be used once - when you type it into the computer, it cannot be used again.

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How does this affect me - bottom line - does it cost anything?

Absolutely not. There are no charges for License Codes once you have paid for the software.

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What products use this system?

All new products since January 2006 use the new system, and most products released before this date have since been upgraded to use it as well.

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If you have any questions that aren't answered here, please email licenses@psquared.net and we will be happy to help.