textman

Looking for a low resource solution. Maybe a license file that has machine ID information, which I think is common. Reason for my question: Some customers say they need this because they want to install on a datacenter without internet.

B2B Windows desktop software sold mainly to medium to large companies, will they "install" it if there is no installer, but just a readme file that says to copy all the files to whatever location they choose? Only a single .exe plus a help file.

I think my suppot and maintenance policy is fairly standard for commercial software but please advise if you think otherwise.

Solo developer here selling a Windows desktop program for many years for $100 USD which includes one year free support (email only) and maintenance( free bug fixes and new versions). New customers are given a URL for downloading the licensed version(trial executable does not convert to licensed). After first year, annual support and maintenance is $20. License is sold as perpertual meaning it never expires. A few customers that purchased two or more years ago and have never purchased support needed to move software to new machine, which they can do using their installer. But if they no longer have their installer, they contact me and complain when told they they have to buy a new license. Support policy on my website is real clear about this: must be under a current maintenance contract to be able to download software. I have been lenient if their contract expired very recently, especially if it was their first year.

Older versions expire upon release of a new version and I do not offer installer for older versions because as a solo operator it would be too much to handle support for long forgotten bugs or other issues.

I bought a $59 USD license for a Windows Desktop program two years ago but did not purchase the optional support at $15/year. My PC disk drive crashed and I do not have a backup of the installer for that program. I emailed vendor support and was told my license is perpetual but only for the purchased version and without the support subscription I cannot download the latest version and they do not provide downloads for older versions. It does state in their online support policy that customer is responsible for backing up their installer. So my only recourse is to purchase another license. I guess this is why purchasing support is worth it.

Is this normal/typical for paid licensed software?

here is one example: https://expeditionportal.com/ only the menu is shown and most of those do not work at all. If the Forum menu item is selected then get a javascript required message. Looks like the Store works as that brings in revenue and maybe the Podcasts work. But the main content and reason most use the website, is not available.

The Shingrix manufacturer GlaxosmithKline conducted clinical trials prior to product release but only for two doses. So how did GlaxosmithKline determine two doses are needed if they never ran a trial for a single dose? source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33580242/

download.cnet.com is hosting an ancient version of my app and I never submitted it to them or contacted them in any way. They simply stole my installer and content from my website without asking or getting permission. I won't get into my reasons for not wanting any of these download sites to offer my software. They are of course entitled to provide a link to my website and some do that and only that which is OK.

there is a link in in old HN post (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2910554) that no longer works: http://cnet-upload.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2064

anyone know if there is good contact form or email address for any of these download sites to ask that they not offer my app?

If I am not successful getting them to comply, would a DMCA be appropriate and would I be asking for legal troubles if I submit a DCMA?

On an older HN post I discovered Textise.net which lets you enter any web address and puts its text-only content on the textise.net website for viewing.

Seems like blatant copyright infringement, but is it? And if it is, how have they not been shut down? I would think that the major commercial media sites would not like what it is doing.

One of a few past HN posts: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25840922