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Quark Product Activation Problems Force Users to Wait
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By Ed Foster, Section UnFairUse
Posted on Fri Nov 21, 2003 at 05:19:05 PM PDT
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DRM – Product Activation – Usage Restrictions
Problems with the product activation in QuarkXPress 6.0 for OSX have forced many customers to wait days to receive an activation code. Readers and published reports say the company refuses to give out activation codes over the phone, even when its Internet activation site is down, so customers must wait for Quark to e-mail or fax the required codes. Readers have also complained that even minor hardware changes to their Mac requires re-activation by phone, and that Quark’s DRM does not allow for both desktop and laptop use.
Sources: Reader Reports, Published Reports
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A reader who recently installed QuarkXPress 6.0 reported:
For whatever reason, the Internet activation didn't work, so I had to call tech support to get the stupid thing activated. Then I had a problem with the machine and had to nuke it and start over. I called up to get reactivated, and they refuse to do reactivation over the phone-- instead there is a PDF form you have to fill out and e-mail to Quark, and they mail you back a code. Eventually. I e-mailed them the reactivation form on Friday before noon. The reactivation code finally arrived around 2am on Monday morning.
Luckily, the machines I was prepping were brand new replacements, so my clients weren't hassled. But I can't wait to start hearing the stories about copies of Quark that suddenly decide they are no longer activated and cause their legitimate licensees/users to miss a vital deadline. Eventually it will happen to someone with the resources and the will to try to sue Quark over it. To them I say, "Good luck!"
I will never recommend any software that requires activation if there is an alternative application that can be used instead. This time, my clients had to stick with Quark, but I've begun recommending InDesign instead -- not solely because of the activation, but that's a whole other rant.
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