For more than 30 years, dongles have been an obvious and effective choice for software protection. Reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated, as the technology remains a favorite for developers and users alike. What software developers like about it is the great protection it offers against hackers, coming at comparatively low costs for them. Users, on the other hand, enjoy its portability and the option of using their licenses on the go and, if they want, offline. More recent copy protection technologies, such as licenses in the cloud bound to individual users or individual machines, might beat dongles on even lower upfront costs per user and on the immediate availability of the licenses. Power users typically also have licenses for multiple applications and software systems, and they are not too keen to lug around a big bulge of license dongles. CmDongles have one feature that beats one key weakness of typical dongle solutions in many industries and use cases: CmDongles are multivendor-capable. That means, if your user already owns a CmDongle, you can ‘hop on’ as well with your license. This saves you and your users the price of the dongle and the shipping cost, and CodeMeter License Central makes sure that the license gets to your user in the blink of an eye – without compromising the level of protection we all know and love in our CmDongles. The required infrastructure is also cheaper to maintain than that of a pure cloud solution, as the server only creates the licenses in the first place and does not have to come into the picture at all during regular use of the software. Your users benefit a lot from this option: Their licenses stay mobile and can be used offline. Switching computers is as easy as unplugging the CmDongle from one machine and plugging it into the next. And if everybody is on board, your users need only one CmDongle for the licenses from many different vendors. By clearly demarcating the separate areas – the Firm Items – CodeMeter offers unparalleled security for all vendors. All vendors can create, edit, or delete licenses only for their Firm Items. What one vendor does with a license could never affect the Firm Items of other vendors. With CodeMeter, security starts right with the basic architecture. Join our webinar and explore the fundamental design of CodeMeter. Watch the webinar: https://youtu.be/yv1edTJztcA

1. Marcellus Buchheit
Co-Founder & CEO, WIBU-SYSTEMS USA
Ruediger Kuegler
VP Sales & Professional Services, WIBU-SYSTEMS AG
The dongle is dead.
Long live the dongle.
12.12.2018 © WIBU-SYSTEMS AG 2018 - The dongle is dead, long live the dongle 1

2. Agenda
 Comparing license containers (dongles, soft licenses, and cloud licenses)
 CodeMeter foundations: Firm Item und Product Item
 Demo: Transferring licenses into an existing CmDongle
 Inside the Firm Item: detailed insights
 Demo: Push Updates from two separate vendors run in parallel
 Use cases in practice
 Demo: Consolidating licenses from two CmDongles
 New applications in 3D printing
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3. Comparing the License
Containers
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4. Comparing the License Containers
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Dongle Soft-License Cloud-License
Costs for the hardware - + +
Costs for the server in the cloud + + -
Shipping costs - + +
Support costs for computer replacement + - +
Availability in offline scenarios + + -
Highest security + - +
License immediately available - + +
Portability + - +

5. License Server
License Server in LAN / WAN
CodeMeter License Management System
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CmDongle
Hardware-based
Security
CmCloudContainer
Cloud license
bound to a user
CmActLicense
License file bound to
the target device

6. CodeMeter Foundations
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7. License Entries
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 License entry = Firm Code | Product Code
 Firm Code: provided by Wibu-Systems
 Product Code:
 Chosen by the ISV
 Per option / module / feature
 4 billion Product Codes (UInt32)
 Product Item Options: Each license can have
combinable options
 Up to 2,000 Product Items per CmContainer
Firm Code: 6,000,010
…
Product Item Options
Product Code: 201,000
Product Item Options
Product Code: 201,001
Product Item Options
Product Code: 201,002

8. Firm Code – Firm Security Box
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 “Master Dongle” for one or more
Firm Codes
 Key for
 Creating license entries
 Encrypting the software
 Signing the software
 Available Options
 Standard FSB / Encryption Only FSB
 Sandbox for each Firm Item

9. CmDongle with several Firm Codes
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Firm Code: 6,000,177
…
Product Item Options
Product Code: 201,000
Product Item Options
Product Code: 201,001
Product Item Options
Product Code: 201,002
Firm Code: 0
…
Product Item Options
Product Code: 0
Product Item Options
Product Code: 50
Product Item Options
Product Code: 1,001
Firm Code: 6,000,145
Product Item Options
Product Code: 42
Product Item Options
Product Code: 42
Product Item Options
Product Code: 60

10. CmDongles vs. CmActLicenses
 A CmDongle can store several different Firm Codes
 Amount only limited by memory of smart card chip (sandbox)
 From different ISVs
 In clearly demarcated areas (sandbox)
 A CmActLicense is associated with one Firm Code only
 Bound to one ISV
 Several CmActLicenses can be stored on the same computer
 Multi-vendor capabilities can be realized with multiple CmActLicenses
 CodeMeter Runtime manages multiple CmDongles and CmActLicenses
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11. Transferring Licenses
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12. End UserISV
CodeMeter License Central – Ticket System
Ticket + Fingerprint
4
License
5
Ticket
2
Order
1
e-Commerce
ERP/CRM Software
License Portal
Ticket:
ABCDE-FGHIJ-KLMNO-PQRST-UVWXY
3
© WIBU-SYSTEMS AG 2018 - The dongle is dead, long live the dongle
License
Central
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13. CodeMeter
License Central
Transferring a License into a CmContainer
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Offline PCOnline PC
WibuCmRaC (License Request)
WibuCmRaU (License Update)
WibuCmRaC (Receipt)
Flash Memory
Device

14. Demo
 Activation with CodeMeter License Central
 Alternatives:
 A manual activation with WibuCmRaC / WibuCmRaU
 CmBoxPgm and e-mail
 CodeMeter License Editor
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15. Inside the Firm Item:
Insights
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16. Firm Item Options
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 Firm Item Text
 Name of the licensor
 Firm Access Counter
 Lock upon detecting a hacking attempt
 Black listing in CodeMeter License
Central
 Firm Update Counter
 Automatic increment
 Update usable once only
 Firm Precise Time
 Local instance of the global clock

17. Push Updates
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18. CodeMeter
License Central
Recurring Transfer to the same CmContainer
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Offline PCOnline PC
WibuCmRaC (License Request)
WibuCmRaU (License Update)
Flash Memory
Device
WibuCmRaC (License Request)
WibuCmRaU (License Update)

19. CodeMeter
License Central
Recurring Transfer to the same CmContainer (Push)
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Offline PCOnline PC
WibuCmRaC (License Request)
Flash Memory
Device
WibuCmRaM
WibuCmRaU (License Update)
WibuCmRaU (License Update)

20. Demo
 Push updates with two Firm Codes from two different instances of
CodeMeter License Central
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21. Use Cases
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22. Music Industry: Host Application with Plug-ins
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Host Application
(Manufacturer 1)
6,000,145 : 1000
Plug-In
(Manufacturer 2)
…
Plug-In
(Manufacturer 3)
6,000,177 : 42
Firm Code: 6,000,145
Product Item Options
Product Code: 1,000
Firm Code: 6,000,177
Product Item Options
Product Code: 42
…

23. PLCs: Licensing for PLC Suppliers and Machine Builders
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Operator
OPC UA Certificate
Secret Data: Key
Product Code: 1
PLC Supplier
Runtime License
Product Code: 1
Machine Builder
IP Protection
Product Code: 42
Technology Function 1
Product Code: 1,000,001
Technology Function 28
Product Code: 1,000,028
Running Hours Counter
Product Code: 4,000,000,000
Machine Identification
Secret Data: Key
Product Code: 43
Feature enabler
Product Code: 1,001

24. Board Production: CmDongle already installed as an ASIC
 The board manufacturer already mounts a CmDongle as an ASIC
 Depending on the functionality / pricing model, the CmDongle may be limited in
some of its functionalities (CodeMeter Prepared)
 The board manufacturer offers basic functions
 Secure serial number with mini certificate
 Running hours counter
 For the full range of functions the customer (software publisher) needs
 Activation of CodeMeter Prepared
 License for their own Firm Code
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25. Board Production: CmDongle already installed as ASIC
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License
Fee
(own Firm Code)
Hardware
License
Fee
(own Firm Code)
ASIC
CodeMeter
Prepared
Activation
Wibu-Systems
Wibu-Systems
Board
Manufacturer
CodeMeter Standard CodeMeter on Board

26. Consolidating Licenses
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27. Consolidating Licenses
 The end user has received two CmDongles from two manufacturers
 He wants to consolidate the licenses on a single CmDongle
 When creating licenses with CodeMeter License Central
 The manufacturer provides the end user with the original ticket
 The end user deactivates the licenses from the original dongle
 The end user activates the licenses on the desired dongle
 Demo
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28. Use Case: 3D Printing
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29. Preparator PrinterProducer / Designer
CAD
Software
OEM
Software
OEM
Software
PrinterCAD
File
3D
File
License
Central
Protecting 3D Files
© WIBU-SYSTEMS AG 2018 - The dongle is dead, long live the dongle
CodeMeter
Core API
CodeMeter
Core API
CodeMeter
Core API
Print
Job
Creates the License
and
encrypts the 3D file
Activates
the License
of the Preparator
Activates
the License
of the Printer
Volume = n (Unit Counter)
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30. Storing Licenses from Multiple Vendors
© WIBU-SYSTEMS AG 2018 - The dongle is dead, long live the dongle
Producer 2
Modell: Armlehne
Remaining number of units: 1,000
Product Code: 1
Printer Manufacturer
Runtime License
Product Code: 1
Producer 1
Model: Print Model 42
Remaining number of units: 1
Product Code: 42
Running Hours Counter
Product Code: 4,000,000,000
Model: Print Model 43
Remaining number of units: 0
Product Code: 43
Model: Print Model 45
Remaining number of units: 2
Product Code: 45
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31. Summary
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32. Summary
 CodeMeter comes with CmDongles, CmActLicenses, and
CmCloudLicenses
 The ISV/manufacturer can let the user decide
 The logistic disadvantages of traditional dongles can be mitigated in
CodeMeter by the multi-vendor capability in a variety of use cases
 Each ISV/manufacturer has its own Firm Code, with licenses stored in
clearly demarcated areas for security purposes (sandbox)
 CodeMeter also makes it possible to buy vendor-neutral CmDongles via
any channel (board manufacturer, partner, ...)
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33. Europe: +49-721-931720
USA: +1-425-7756900
China: +86-21-55661790
Japan: +81-3-35825385
https://www.wibu.com
info@wibu.com
Many thanks for your attention!
12.12.2018 © WIBU-SYSTEMS AG 2018 - The dongle is dead, long live the dongle 33