I use other Magix products, not Vegas, but I am curious to know about the re-registration. Is it really a re-registration (name, address, email address) or simply an activation screen that pops up with everythnig already there, including the activation code, and all you have to do is press Activate? This is what occasionally happens in other Magix products after certain types of patches.

It is a simple popup of an activation screen, I never had to fill in again all registration informations. So it is a click with the mouse.

Hi John Brown...

Nice explanation, also nice to see you here now 😉.

I met him on magix.info's forum when I create unofficial Vegas Pro section during transition process... Thanks...

The Magix activation system is more than just the first time. It checks once a month that, if you open the program or when you open the program and if you are connected to the internet, the program is legitimate and matches the registered device. This is usually transparent; the user sees nothing. I

So what happens if you don't connect to the internet for a month. Does the software stop working? This is the first I've heard that a frequent connection is required. I feel I read a post sometime around the time that Magix was taking over that this wouldn't be the case. What other information is transmitted when the connection is made? Finally is it necessary to be running as an admin when reactivating the software? Thanks.

Here is the License Verification informs from the Magix.com site. It looks to be the same as what I see in the Eula for Vegas:

"Most MAGIX products are now outfitted with a P3 serial number and need to be registered and activated when they are launched for the first time following installation. Software with a P3 serial number cannot be started until this is done. Based on the registration and activation, the software is assigned to the device on which it was installed. You can change this device once a month through the MAGIX Service Center. Version 2015 products can be easily deactivated through the help menu or by uninstalling the product. Please note that the program requires an Internet connection at least once a month to validate the license. This validation runs in the background when you are connected to the Internet. If the license cannot be validated because a connection to the license server cannot be established, the program will notify you. You can then continue to use the software without an Internet connection for a few more days. Of course, it is otherwise still possible to use the software offline. The regular licence validations help you minimize purchase risk by means of a 30-day money-back guarantee and also allow you to update to an annual license such as MAGIX Video 360.

Read more:http://www.magix.com/us/support/technical-support/"

Here is the information in the EULA for Vegas:

"3.1 Together with the MAGIX Product you will receive an individual serial number which you must enter during installation. A one-time registration as well as online activation are also required. Using the serial number, you can activate the MAGIX Product for the number of Computers specified in the serial number; each Computer will be assigned a License Seat. If the number of License Seats specified in the serial number is exceeded, a license seat must be deactivated in order to activate the product again.

3.2 If a function requires a free or fee-based activation (e.g. codec activation), then it can be activated over the Internet, should this become necessary due to replacement of hardware / CPU.

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."

​​​​​​At the beginning, there was a problem with working off-line, but Magix corrected it. Since then, I have seen no complaints about not being able to work off-line, only complaints from a few who were worried about it. So, if someone actually encounters this problem, it would be good to post it and raise a ticket with Magix.

Thanks for posting the eula. I'm going to contact Magix support directly. There's no way  will continue to use Vegas 14 if it requires constant activation . This is in direct contradiction to the post made by Magix_Eric_D

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.

It was on this basis that I decided to get V14. I may consider legal action. Software that requires periodic activation is ransomware. Is no-one else bothered by this? And it apears they are collecting at least usage data:"This ensures that the original Software is being used "  and what other data? To say I'm disappointed with Magix is an understatement.

An important point; Kit, which needs to be explained.

Also here https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/times-are-changing--103438/

If the number of License Seats specified in the serial number is exceeded, a license seat must be deactivated in order to activate the product again.

 

So, if a computer with Vegas crashes and dies so you cannot deactivate it, tough luck?

So, if a computer with Vegas crashes and dies so you cannot deactivate it, tough luck?

Can be deactivated through online, via www.magix.com - and login to your account.

 

So, if a computer with Vegas crashes and dies so you cannot deactivate it, tough luck?

Can be deactivated through online, via www.magix.com - and login to your account.

Thank you.

@Kit-As-Was,

At the end of the post, what I wrote was: "At the beginning, there was a problem with working off-line, but Magix corrected it. Since then, I have seen no complaints about not being able to work off-line, only complaints from a few who were worried about it."

This concurs with what Magix_Eric_D indicated. It is not a problem. The activation check occurs during startup. The only thing that gets checked is Activation code vs Device. You haven't done anything yet and, unless someone knows where it is, there is no record as to what you have been doing except the names of recent files. I cannot imagine Magix having people sitting there waiting to see what I've been doing. Etc. It is a relatively small company - Adobe being relatively huge. And they have enough trouble just trying to get people to man (woman) the support desk.

As I also indicated, it has not been a problem as users on other forums have not raised any posts about it since the first wave of concern when the new activation was introduced - concern because people would not actually read what was written, they tried to read things into it that just did not exist. However, I can imagine the outcry if Magix were to go back to their previous method - the one with Activation codes that start with P2. Five activations and you're out. The Samplitude Pro X3 (the latest and newest version and it uses the old P2 code and method) manual actually says 3, and then you have to contact them with a good story to get the counter reset. Samplitude users want the new method, the one that you have, because it is very flexible.

Finally, as others have pointed out, you now have control over your activations. Go into your account, deactivate one device and activate another, or activate the new one from the program - 24/7.

Dumb as I am, I have a bit of trouble understanding how "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" concurs with "the current MAGIX apps do not require the user to be online after installation."

Initially when this activation method was introduced, the program would try to check the license once per month, whether connected to the Internet or not. If that day arrived and you weren't connected, the program would cease to function waiting for activation confirmation, or something like that. Obviously, that was not going to work, so Magix changed it so that the program would keep working if you weren't connected to the Internet. The Eula says "periodically" and that this requires an Internet connection, but what it doesn't say specifically is that the program will continue functioning until an Internet connection is available when you open the program, which, as far as I know, is the case. It also doesn't say what the period is.

If you do not go on-line again, then the program would probably keep working indefinitely. Of course, there would be no updates.

If you do not go on-line again, then the program would probably keep working indefinitely. Of course, there would be no updates.

Probably. As for the updates, does Vegas Pro 14 automatically update to a new build if you are online? Or does it then inform inside the application of updates as previous versions did?

Not at this time, maybe it will be implemented in future, like other MAGIX products, where a message popup after a certain time.

Most, if not all, now have a news icon at the top right of the screen. If there is news, like an update, the icon will light up. You can turn this off, which I assume to mean that you will not be advised of updates. Usually, the program checks for news and updates upon opening and if there is an update available, offers you the choice of updating now or later. I have never had a Magix program do an automatic update. You can review the update information, and I think that there is a checkbox to turn off the notification. I'll have to watch more carefully the next time.

I highly doubt that Magix is gathering any information whatsoever about what you are doing with your computer or with its (you have a license, not ownership) software. The program simply checks that the device name and the activation code match are that the activation code counter has not been exceeded. That is all and that is fair to avoid piracy. No Big Brother. Magix is not Microsoft, Facebook, or Google.

Most, if not all, now have a news icon at the top right of the screen. If there is news, like an update, the icon will light up.

At Vegas Pro??

Hmm, currently Vegas Pro don't have news icon like other Magix's software..., in this case I'm comparing to Magix Video Pro X's User Interface:

http://www.magix.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Produkte/Pro/Video_Pro_X8/Detail/grafik-982-gui-video-prox-8-en.jpg

(Ref: http://www.magix.com/int/video-pro-x/detail/ )

Don't know, as I don't have Vegas 14. But Magix will probably get around to adding it in the next version, if it is not there.

No, there is no icon and no possibility to check for updates out of the Vegas program

Vegas 14?

The news icon is quite recent and I didn't notice it until it was pointed out by one of the Moderators at Magix.info last week. I probably didn't notice because when there is no news, the icon is just a dot. Don't forget, the Vegas acquistion is still quite new and there is some catching up to do for Magix. The icon looks like this in VPX:

Is there nothing under Help that says something like Update online?

Here is what is in VPX: