Aerosoft Online Copyright protection System Step one, Buying and Downloading - When you buy the product from the Aerosoft Online Shop and the transaction is completed successfully, you will get a download link that is valid for a limited time. It is important that you start your download as soon as possible. - After downloading, copy this file to a save location, you paid money for it, don

This is an unfortunate consequence of people sharing software with each other. Since the software isn't distributed on hard media, it isn't possible to use conventional copy protection schemes (like checking for the CD). So, the trend seems to be these elaborate setups where the software checks with the server to see if you are installing a valid copy. As you pointed out, not every computer is connected to the internet, and there seems to be a general backlash against this type of copy protection anyway.It doesn't affect me directly, since all my computers are connected to the internet, but I know it would be a pain to have to call them if I wanted to reinstall FS, or if my hard disk crashed. I honestly don't think they would give me a hard time about it though.For you, I would see if they would offer you some sort of assistance, since they may be able to provide you with a workaround of some type. Failing that, I think it would be fair to give you a refund.- Martin

I don

>>we allow you to install it again:D

And yes the no refund statement is illegal in a lot of countries.I for one will not purchase from this company if that is how they treat their customers.--qnh

Well, this protection wouldn't be necessary if everyone was honest and pirates didn't exist. Unfortunately they do. Personally I don't see why developers should lose money hand over fist because some simmers are too mean to pay up.If you are a legitimate owner of a licence in most cases a simple validation isn't really much to ask, and in all the systems I've used I've never had any trouble.If you have ideological objections to proving that you actually own a valid licence because you are, of course totally honest, then you can chose not to buy the product. Me, I have no problems with demonstrating my integrity.Alastair

"Me, I have no problems with demonstrating my integrity."Hmmm... and all this time I thought the only demonstration of integrity a paying curtomer had to make was to put the money on the table.

"due to the nature of the software it will not be possible for you to ask for a refund" Due to the nature of the above statement, my money will not be going anywhere near the bank account of the company making that statement.I would, however, have a word in the ear of UK Trading Standards, who may or may not have a word in the ear of that company. May have to ban them from selling to the UK.

Out in the real world life isn't that simple. I've been at the same branch of my bank for 10-12 years and whilst many of the counter staff will waive the "signature-proof" that confirms I'm the owner of the card I'm using, because they know me by sight, in many cases they don't. Here the check is for my protection and I have no problems doing it. Card fraud and identity fraud are big business.Getting back to the online purchases, exactly how else do you suggest that you prove that you are the "paying customer" ? Do you suggest that they just take your electronic word that you are who you say you are ? Most financial transactions require SOME sort of check. If the only verification occurs at the initial sale, like I think you would prefer, what, other than your own ethical integrity, is going to stop you from giving it to all of your friends ? What exactly is the big deal about spending 30 seconds online to verify that you do have a licence ? I genuinely fail to see why this is so onerous. Alastair

The law in the UK is quite clear about refunds, if the product you brought does not do what was stated when you brought it you can demand your money back, regardless of what the company you brought it from says.If the product is not of merchantable quality or does not do what was advertised you are within your rights to demand a refund.CheersDan.

I'm not sure about the UK law, but in Germany we have similar laws. The German law gives you the right to return goods ordered remotely (i.e. via telephone, internet, mail order, ...) within 14 days and receive a refund. BUT this regulation excludes software unless the shipped media were sealed and the seal is still intact.Without this exception it would be easy to order any software, install it, maybe even copy it, and return it. If you buy a download product, it is even more obvious that you could demand a refund and still go on to use the product. Sounds obvious to me.Just my 2c (EUR),VOlker :]

Seems you've missed the point entirely.The growing trend of software developers dictating usage rights for it's paying customers is unacceptable. If a customer buys a piece of software they should be able to install it as many times on their computer as they wish. Developers telling a customer that they can install only "X" number of times is denying the customer their rights. Simple as that.We share the same principled stand against piracy. But limiting the customer's usage rights, and binding a software to a particular machine configuration (especially a gaming machine that often changes through upgrading), and making the customer feel as if they're dishonest if they wish to reinstall often is short-sighted at best.Those are the "real world" facts.

"making the customer feel as if they're dishonest..."you captured my feelings pretty accurately. i have never dealt with aerosoft, but recently i was forced to give up on the idea of purchasing cessna 152 from flight1.running information-gathering code on my machine, sending things out over the internet, planting files and folders in arbitrary locations on my computer (outside of the aircraft directory), why, even sending my ip address to the manufacturer with every online customer query... these are all minor inconveniences and hazards i could convince myself to live with. unfortunately, they result in the feeling you defined above. and that's harder to swallow.:(i apologize if this is slightly off topic for this thread. but then again, maybe not.greetings all!vilkps.i have spent a lot on fs add-ons. there are other ways of doing business online, ways based on mutual trust and respect. so far so good, my faith in homo sapiens has enough to thrive on.:)

Interesting debate gentleman!I bought some DVD burning software (downloaded) from a german based company recently but due to it crashing my pc and not working properly I want a refund. I wonder where I stand regarding this? Can I demand a refund or will I have to contact my credit card company and ask them to flag a disputed payment? Am based in the UK.This has happened twice in the past with FS companies but both have been quick to credit my accout (to their credit lol!).RegardsAdam Moore

I respect your opinion Alastair but, frankly, I am really getting tired of this old hack as the reason for *intrusive* copy protection. In every form of retail business today, theft is a cost of doing business. That doesn't mean to condone it, just stating a fact of life. In a perfect world the locksmiths would have no business but we don't live in a perfect world.the developers have the right to find a way to protect their product but many of them are getting ridiculous. The restricted number of installs may inhibit some copying but the real hacker can get by that type of stuff in a flash. The person that suffers is the legitimate user.In all the years that I have been browsing these forums, it amazes me how many times the response to a problem with ANY version of FS has been - "Uninstall and reinstall". When this means running afoul of some of the more paranoid developers, we have an issue.Just to eleiminate flames, for the record, I am against piracy. I was a shareware developer ( not in FS ) for many years and had to face the same issues. In trying to come up with a better protection for my software I learned a lot about hacking. When I say that this form of protection is a joke to a dedicated hacker, I mean it. So who suffers? The legit user.This is a subject that will never be resolved but I had to put in my 2 cents worth.Have a nice day - Oh, before some of the more paranoid in the forum respond, I know HOW to crack most software protections - I choose to BUY the software I want out of respect for fellow programmers' work.Vic