Thank you Gary.

Thanks for the clarification, Gary.

Dear Gary, thanks for your post outlining the theory of how the system is supposed to work. My actual experience with Vegas 14 has been different and I have some outstanding questions.

May we have a complete list of all the codecs that require separate registration? Nick Hope mentioned on 10/8/2017 a list of 6 codecs that require separation registering:

• Intel HEVC/MAGIX ProRes
• Magix AVC/AAC MP4
• MainConcept MPEG-2
• MP3 Audio
• AAC Audio
• Dolby Digital AC-3 Studio

Does this list apply to Vegas 14? Are there any other codecs that require registration for version 14 and 15? Thanks.

Why is Vegas phoning home every two weeks? What kind of data does it try to send? How can this behaviour really counter piracy? I think this behaviour is the cause of the trouble I and Peter have been experiencing. Are usage statistics being sent? I contacted support about the issue more than once and the only response I got was:

We have reset your serial and you may now re-activate the product to continue
using the license.

Support effectively denied to me that Vegas tries to phone home. Why the secrecy? I still find the issue troubling. I'd like to see the Eula and product notes rewritten to outline when Vegas requires to phone home and when it tries to phone home. I don't think Magix as a company have been up front about this. I also think you made a mistake in your explanation unless Vegas 15's behaviour is different from Vegas 14. Doesn't Vegas 15 require re-activation after every update? This is the case with Vegas 14. It won't launch until it is activated after an update.

I don't have a major problem with Vegas requiring re-activation after an update and requiring separate registration for codecs is something that Sony used to do (eg Sound Forge and mp3). Rather than trying to do that in the background the product should walk the user through codec registration clearly. That could even be a marketing opportunity - this codec requires registration because we are committed to keeping the costs as low as possible. But please consider removing the additional phoning home unless the user has an option to switch it off. If Vegas is a professional piece of software it needs to work in a professional way. Currently I feel that is not happening which is why I have hesitated to upgrade to Vegas 15 (user since version 6). Thanks for reading.

@Kit-As-Was

That seems to be more ideological statement then a specific question. Sorry if you feel not happy - but I think they will not consider to remove anything.

And it is quite clear that the activation of the codec on a case-by-case base reduces licencing costs, because everyone would activate all the codecs if he would be asked by the software what he will need in the beginning. So that has to work as it works now to reduce COGS.

Since there has always been a huge amount of illegal versions it is fine for me as user if Vegas calls home every second week, especially if there is no consequence now any more for the user if such a call is not successfull.

So it is as it is, and as said I understand that this will not be changed for good reasons.

+1. Let's not draw the pirates a treasure map and then hand them a set of keys too.

I don't have a major problem with Vegas requiring re-activation after an update and requiring separate registration for codecs is something that Sony used to do (eg Sound Forge and mp3). Rather than trying to do that in the background the product should walk the user through codec registration clearly.

Additional activation of codecs is not done in the background. A grey Magix window pops up in front of Vegas and if you're online and everything works, it just happens. There is no need for a any walk-through.

Additional activation of codecs is not done in the background. A grey Magix window pops up in front of Vegas and if you're online and everything works, it just happens. There is no need for a any walk-through.

Thanks Nick, that is good to know. I've never seen any grey pop-up window with Vegas 14, though. Does that have the same issue with codecs?

@Kit-As-Was

That seems to be more ideological statement then a specific question. Sorry if you feel not happy - but I think they will not consider to remove anything.

Please elaborate what you think ideological about my post. Note, I'm not against separate registration for codecs. Why do you think that phoning home every second week will have any effect on pirated copies?

Ahem, do we know if "other" NLEs also do this phoning-home procedure? I'm guessing they do? But we need acquire evidence-based proof/results.

I've got heaps of FXs with 3rd Party companies. I know for certain that one of them has a frantic need to call mamma. Now, if I were to chop the cable, would I be left in limbo?

Additional activation of codecs is not done in the background. A grey Magix window pops up in front of Vegas and if you're online and everything works, it just happens. There is no need for a any walk-through.

Thanks Nick, that is good to know. I've never seen any grey pop-up window with Vegas 14, though. Does that have the same issue with codecs?

Same deal with VP14 and VP15 in my experience. When a codec has done its additional activation you see this sort of window:

If a connection cannot be made you see this sort of window:

Those were captured in September 2016 with VP14. I don't know if those windows are exactly the same now, but I recall them being similar when I did the codec activation for VP15.

Ahem, do we know if "other" NLEs also do this phoning-home procedure? I'm guessing they do? But we need acquire evidence-based proof/results.

Adobe Creative Cloud is prob the most well known for phoning home. It needs the internet for activation & phoning home to keep checking validity of product. It is a subscription product paid monthly or annually so ofcourse it needs to do this. When you stop paying your software stops working.

It is a different business model to Vegas, you buy Vegas outright so phoning home is really just about preventing your serial being installed on more than 2 computers. If it detected 3 or more installations it would likely deactivate the serial & software on all computers.

Gary has said quite clear that you find that in the section 4 of the EULA, and he is right about that.

http://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/eula/professional/

4. License verification

Individual MAGIX Product licenses have to be validated periodically. This ensures that the original Software is being used and that it is being used according to the license terms and conditions. This requires an Internet Connection.

Fact is that you are allowed to run the Software only if you accept the EULA. And the EULA is definied by the owner of the Software - that is his right to license the Software under the conditions that are appropriate for him.

If you come to the conclusion that you cannot accept the EULA any more - ok fine that is up to you. But then you would have to deinstall the software.

But to run a discussion AFTER you have accepted the EULA if the EULA will act against piracy or if it is appropriate to do so - sorry, that is an ideological discussion that is not part of the deal.

I think for most of us the confusion started here: The previous generation of MAGIX applications required online verification monthly, however, the current MAGIX apps do not require the user to be online after installation. Now we know. It only took a year to clarify.

I bought Vegas 14 on the basis of what MAGIX_Eric D wrote in the "I hope Vegas is NOT going down this path!"

In 2015 the MAGIX activation requirements changed, and while initial activation does require internet access, users are no longer obligated to be online once per month for license validation. The requirement to be online once per month is still communicated on the MAGIX web site as people are still using versions of the software which did use that system.

The only time internet access is required is for the initial activation. The only time you would be required to access the internet again is if you reinstall the program.

Now we have Gary telling us something similar but as Wolfgang points out the Eula says:

Individual MAGIX Product licenses have to be validated periodically.

Unfortunately this directly contradicts what Gary claims. The miserable bottom line is that Vegas requires to phone home and the Eula insists we accept it. I personally feel duped and disappointed. I was excited when I heard that Magix would continue to develop Vegas but not any more. The Eula puts Magix in the same camp as Adobe. That's a shame,

The Eula puts Magix in the same camp as Adobe.

That's a complete and deliberate falsehood Kit.

Magix rejected a subscription model, and for reasons that were clearly stated.

Cut the drama now, because this big play for attention just isn't working for you.

'Nuff said.

+1.

The Eula puts Magix in the same camp as Adobe.

That's a complete and deliberate falsehood Kit.

Magix rejected a subscription model, and for reasons that were clearly stated.

Cut the drama now, because this big play for attention just isn't working for you.

'Nuff said.

MusicVid you misinterpreted my meaning. I never said anything about a subscription model, though it wouldn't be a complete surprise if Magix moved in the direction of Corel and had both a subscription model and a "purchase offer". I don't understand why more people aren't concerned about this, Magix now have a system that requires periodic connection to the internet after stating that they wouldn't. That's more like a complete and deliberate falsehood. But I think Magix just cut corners and used the validation system they already had. They just failed to come clean about it. The Eula requires the user to surrender the right to keep offline. My practical experience has been that the software stopped working because Vegas couldn't connect to the internet. When I reached out to support their response was to"reset" the "serial". I was forced to reactivate a product that I had already registered. Magix are in the same camp as Adobe and Corel that make connection to the internet a condition of using the software. I hope that makes my meaning clear. Regards.

So get yourself a lawyer.

...I don't understand why more people aren't concerned about this...

Maybe everyone else is too busy getting on with life.

...Magix now have a system that requires periodic connection to the internet...

Not really a requirement, because "If it can't make a connection, the attempt fails quietly and you are not affected in any way." If you believe it is affecting Vegas' function for you, then it's not working correctly and you should pursue your issue with Support.

...That's more like a complete and deliberate falsehood...

More likely due to a misunderstanding between Madison and Germany in the early days of Magix' ownership of Vegas.

Oh, the drama.

Not necessarily good drama, but...

More likely due to a misunderstanding between Madison and Germany in the early days of Magix' ownership of Vegas.

Oh... I think we have seen that before.

 

...Magix now have a system that requires periodic connection to the internet...

Not really a requirement, because "If it can't make a connection, the attempt fails quietly and you are not affected in any way." If you believe it is affecting Vegas' function for you, then it's not working correctly and you should pursue your issue with Support.

So in the middle of working this morning Vegas 14 tells me it's not licensed again.

I will contact support again but they have not done anything concrete to solve this problem in the past.. Perhaps Vegas 15 fails quietly and Vegas 14 doesn't. Can anyone confirm that? Thanks.