What should I do if a shareware user asks for a free transfer of the program to another computer?

Question

Software and Internet Services

Shareware - the user asks for a free transfer of the program to another computer.
We sell a Shareware program, where it is initially indicated that the program is intended for 1 computer.
If you need to use it on another computer, you need to buy 1 more license at a discount.
Realizing that sometimes there is a real need to transfer to another computer, we provide the opportunity to transfer the program 1 time for free.
Recently (with the development of business) the number of users who want to transfer the program to another computer has increased. At the same time, they often say that there is no need to transfer data, that you need to transfer a program with a clean database.
There are users who need to transfer the program to another computer in 2 days (which leads to certain thoughts, especially when transferring the program it was indicated that the program is tied to the computer).
There are suspicions that they thus want to use the program on 2 computers for the price of one.
From a business point of view, this is, of course, bad. If the program is good, people recommend the use of the program to each other - of course, we are interested in new users also buying the program from us (even if with a 50% discount). But we are not at all interested in having the program used by half the city, transferring the program from one computer to another (at least because this increases technical support).
At the same time, we don't want to deny a user a transfer if they really want a transfer (rather than multi-computer use).
The program is designed in such a way that it allows you to work without the Internet. Thus, relying on checking via the Internet will not work (even though this check is easily bypassed by the Firewall, it's still at least something).
In the end, we came up with a bike called "Program Deactivation". When the program is deactivated, a bunch of files are created on the computer in different places (in the file system, in the registry), which do not allow the program to run (the program checks for the presence of these files every time it is started). Of course, such "deactivation" is easily solved by freezing the state of the computer before "deactivating" or reinstalling the OS. But it's at least something. It is hoped that ordinary users will not guess (since we do not explain to them how deactivation works).
But the last time we were told that the computer was broken (yeah, 2 days after buying the program). That is, deactivation cannot be done.
Of course, we do not want to create problems for "honest" users at all (in this case, our reputation suffers), but in this case it is very suggestive.
We had an idea to give the user a program that works for 3 months (then we give him an update for another 3 months). But we abandoned this idea in time. 80-90% of users are "honest" and they don't want to create additional problems (and themselves additional hemorrhoids with the constant transfer of new versions).
There is an idea to make it so that after a certain time bugs appear in the program, which are solved by installing a new version (respectively, when updating on the computer from which it was "transferred", when installing a new version, everything will be blocked). But besides it would not be desirable to create problems to "normal" users.
In this case, we see the following options:
- Deactivate the program on the previous computer.
- If the computer is broken and cannot be deactivated - repair the computer, then deactivate the program or buy a new program with a 50% discount (without the right to use it on the old computer).
- Stupidly refuse to transfer.
- Require a remote connection to uninstall the program on the old computer. Take money for work.
- Make it so that the program constantly needs updates (for example, with the help of bugs after a certain time). This is the worst of all possible options, we excluded it, we just gave it as an example.
- After 2-3 months, push updates to such users, convince them that it is necessary to install the update, because the old version has a critical bug (describe all the horrors). Hope that the user will update the program on the old computer (if it was not a "transfer"). On the old computer, make sure that the program is blocked not immediately, but after 1-2 months (so that it is not possible to return to the old version).
What are the normal options (any options will be arranged - both physical and "psychological" - for example, in order to somehow convince the user that 2 programs for the price of one will not work normally, that both programs will be blocked, etc. - but at the same time it is highly desirable not to create problems for "normal" clients)?

Answer 1

Hardware USB key.
Where poked - there and works. At least get over it.
www.guardant.ru/products

Answer 2

As for technical methods.
The option with a USB key has already been considered - we are considering the option without a USB key.
The method should not involve any additional inconvenience for all users (for example, blocking the program after 3 months, the need to connect to the Internet, etc.)
I admit the need for some inconvenience for a certain sample of users (but the inconvenience should be minimized). But most likely, in advance, during the first transfer of the program, it is not possible to find out whether the client wants to transfer in the future.
Concerning psychological methods.
The main condition is that the method does not make a negative impression on customers when buying - at the very first message after the purchase. Many clients are already willing to pay for new licenses, there is no need to send a negative to them.
For example, it is a bad idea to scare a client that if the license is violated, everything on all computers will be blocked (this is the same as considering everyone to be thieves).
Alternatively, you can psychologically influence (to scare that everything will be blocked on all computers if we find out, etc.) on those who want to transfer, suspiciously similar to the desire to use the program for free on 2 computers.
But even in this case, I would like to minimize the negative, because, firstly, you can almost never be 100% sure that this is not a transfer, but a 2nd copy of the program. Secondly, the goal is not to send a negative, but to convince the client of the futility of such tricks and manipulations (if the client needs a 2nd license - so that the client understands that it is easier and cheaper to purchase a 2nd license than to cheat at the risk, for example , run into blocking, loss of technical support or loss of discounts for new licenses, etc.)

Answer 3

I'm waiting for options (without a USB key).

Answer 4

"Hard drive in the studio!" Binding to any hardware of the computer, to the whole set of hard'a at once, you need to transfer and the computer is broken, bring\send\cream spare parts and send a new key!

Answer 5

And if you make an entrance by login (or activation on the computer by login), which is removed after 1 month. To activate, ask for the Internet. If it is clear from the logs that the person came out with activation from different computers, then block one of them.