DRM locked me out of a software I paid for!

[Dave3000]

I paid for a software that had limited activations about 6 months ago. It did not say in the description at the publisher's website that there was limited activations of this software. I have another DLC made by them that I paid for that does not have this limited activations DRM so I assume this one does not have limited activations either. However, the product manual says this product has limited activations and to email support if you run out of activations. I ran out of activations. I emailed support a couple of times about 2 months ago but they didn't respond. Last week I started playing X-Plane 10 after a few months of not playing it. Also a few days ago I emailed them again but still no response. The software that I bought is a 3rd party DLC for X-Plane 10 that I can't activate anymore, and so I can't use it. I paid $47 dollar through Paypal for that software but I'm past the 45 days that Paypal gives for disputing transactions. I told the publisher of the DLC that I purchased from them to either reset my activations or give me a full refund, or I'm going to have to take them to court. I even have a receipt of my purchase. Still no response from that company. This is one of the reasons I hate DRM. A few years ago I had this issue with another DLC from a different company for FSX that I paid for and it took numerous emails and about 3 months to finally get someone from support to reset my activation limit, however it was still a huge inconvenience for me. How can I resolve this issue?

 

[Blanky]

It sounds like you can either buy another copy of the software, or "arr matey!" Given that you paid for the software and it's illegitimately locking you out it's clear what I'd do. Sucks, though.

 

[Anteaus]

So you threatened to take the publisher to court over $47 dollars? They might ignore you out of spite just to see if you have to balls to spend the money simply to retain a lawyer to send them a letter.

It sucks you've had a bad experience. I've purchased aircraft and addons from Flight1, PMDG, Aerosoft, and others and have never had problems getting new activations for the many many times I've reinstalled over the years. Usually it just meant putting my purchase info into a page to trigger the automatic reissue. Worst case I had to wait a couple days because it was a weekend and it was a European company.

What company did you buy from that is causing the problems?

 

[Elixer]

Step 1 is to identify the company.
Step 2, is bug them on facebook/twitter (if they are on there).
Step 3 is tell the BBB.
Step 4 is take them to small claims court. No, you DON'T need a lawyer!
Step 5 is try to collect it.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I call shens. DRM is the savior of the world. There is no way it could be bad. It is all your fault and you owe them more money.

 

[DeadFred]

I call shens. DRM is the savior of the world. There is no way it could be bad. It is all your fault and you owe them more money.

lolz

 

[alcoholbob]

Yeah a bunch of old games on steam and origin won't even launch for me anymore. Something to do with activation servers that no longer exist

Piracy does have a purpose after all.

 

[BSim500]

As Blanky says, "arr matey!" is only really morally wrong if you haven't paid for it. (And depending on where you live, it may not even be illegal anyway if the purpose is to fix genuinely broken legally owned software). If they continue to ignore you, you could take them to a small claims court which may work or may end up being a time-wasting PITA, but conversely, the "easy" solution is - no-one's going to take action against you now or in the future for a cracked version if you have a receipt to prove you bought it. With DRM you need to think long-term anyway - even if they reset the activation limit today, what if they go bust 2-3 years down the line and simply switch the DRM activation server's off for everyone? Precisely why I buy from GOG where possible.

 

[Maximilian]

Wow seriously? DRM screwed you over somehow OP??? I've never heard of that happen to anyone before! Take em to court, set a legal precedent for this entirely new issue you have discovered. :thumbsup:

 

[MWink]

This is why I don't buy games with an activation limit, period! This is also why I strongly support companies like GOG, that are against DRM.

 

[Anteaus]

Specifically, this thread is about niche payware addons for hardcore flight simmers created by independent 3rd party developers. There really isn't any non-DRM option unless you go with subpar freeware software. Dealing with DRM at this level is simply the price of admission. Shipping DRM free addons when your customer base is this small is very dangerous for the developer.

I'm not defending DRM as I'm against, but isn't always cut and dry. As a hardcore simmer myself, I don't mind compromising in the favor of DRM as long as it means continued quality payware from the likes of PMDG and Flight1. In similar context, I don't mind paying higher than average prices for games from matrixgames.com if it means supporting smaller developers who publish in niche wargame markets.

For the types of developers I'm talking about, we are talking about total sales in the thousands to 10s of thousands of units. Large publishers won't hold meetings to even talk about creating content that would sell at those levels.

 

[soccerballtux]

you didn't buy a game, you bought a license to run a binary with terms attached which stipulate the license can be revoked at their discretion, such as when you activate too many times

 

[Rakehellion]

PayPal extended the dispute time to 3 months or so. I