Complex Licensing PHP CMS system

[m_ike842]

I'm creating a specific CMS system that im going to make available for licensing for "1 year"... Anyone got an idea on how to make this system?

I was thinking of having a main database that that the client website would login to and check if its on the database and if its not to keep the site from running.... How would i connect to another servers db / amd semd and recieve a variable..

[Habtom]

How would i connect to another servers db / amd semd and recieve a variable..

I think, this is not a proper way of doing it. You might make your CMS depend on an XML output from your system, and encrypt the PHP page in such a way it won't be edited by the customer.

Others might jump in to tell us if there is a better way, but I believe that will work just fine.

Habtom

[m_ike842]

XML im not to familir with, the encription thing could work maybe...

When I finish the CMS, i want to make it licensible, do i need to contact a special company or anything?

[vincevincevince]

Licensing runs mostly on trust; even where systems are advanced it is virtually impossible to create something with an uncrackable license. You can just make it hard to crack.

My best advice is not to release the code at all but to provide a fully hosted service. Rent some good dedicated servers and sell the required hosting with the CMS; that way your customer only uses the CMS admin panel and you keep full control over the code and where it is used. Combine hosting fee invoices with licensing fee invoices and in that way you are justified in turning off hosting due to failure to pay an invoice.

[Marcia]

I wouldn't dream of paying for licensing that had to be renewed annually; not with all the free, completely modifiable and customizable CMS scripts out there that are ours to keep and continue to use.

I was thinking of having a main database that that the client website would login to and check if its on the database and if its not to keep the site from running.... How would i connect to another servers db / amd semd and recieve a variable..

If you have to ask, then you aren't prepared to deal with the security issues involved.

[edited by: Marcia at 7:56 am (utc) on Oct. 28, 2007]

[m_ike842]

I kind of like Vince's idea very well. That could work.

It's not a regular CMS system, its specifically made for something that lots of people try to open. cant tell thought!

[henry0]

Look at Zend encryption or ioncube
Then setup an encrypted script that starts day one and before ending by day one + 365
will first send a reminder around of day one + 300
it could require a key that would be scrambled day one + 365