Abstract: Methods and systems for preventing piracy. One method includes providing software having an intended end user and configuring the software is to be installed and activated by the intended end user. The method includes dividing the software into a restricted feature and an unrestricted features. The method includes providing an activation file that indicates whether the software is activated and accessing the activation file and confirming that the software is activated when the software receives a request to perform the restricted feature. The method includes performing the restricted feature only when the software is confirmed to be activated and performing the unrestricted feature irrespective of whether the software is confirmed to be activated.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preventing piracy. One method includes providing software having an intended end user, where the software is configured to be activated by the intended end user. The method includes providing a database of allowed keys and storing a unique key associated with the intended end user within the database of allowed keys. The method includes requesting a key to be entered by a user to activate the software, matching the key entered by the user to the unique key, matching the unique key to the intended end user associated with the unique key, and presenting to the user the intended end user associated with the unique key. The method includes activating the software only when the key entered matches the unique key and the user matches the intended end user associated with the unique key.