Purchase: Copy Protection Policy

De Novo Software is proud to bring you FCS Express. We believe that FCS Express provides so many great features at such a great price that it is the best product of its kind for the Windows platform. However, due to  the small market size, we must protect ourselves from people who would violate the license agreement and illegally pirate software. Therefore, when you purchase FCS Express, you will have the option of selecting one of two copy protection procedures:

Dongle Mode

If you choose dongle mode, then a dongle (a small device that fits into a USB port on your computer) will be mailed to you along with the FCS Express CD.   FCS Express will run on any computer for 45 days after purchase. After that time, you will be required to insert a dongle. The first time that you use the dongle, it must be on a computer that is connected to the internet. FCS Express will validate that the purchase was approved and then activate the dongle. After activation, FCS Express can be used with the dongle on any computer, whether or not that computer is connected to the internet.    Dongle mode is only available for purchases of the Standalone license.

The chief advantage of dongle mode is flexibility.  Your copy of FCS Express can be installed onto multiple computers but will only run on a single computer at a time with the dongle inserted - however if you lose the dongle, then there is no way to replace it, and you must buy a new copy of the program.


Countercode Mode

If you choose countercode mode, then forty five days after you purchase the software, FCS Express will require that you enter a countercode in order to continue using the software. After that time, FCS Express will immediately launch the Countercode Configuration Wizard to help you obtain a countercode. Countercodes are machine-specific. Once you have obtained a countercode for one machine, you will not be able to use it to install FCS Express onto another one.

You can also launch the Countercode Configuration Wizard before the 45 days have passed by going to Help→Enter countercode. The countercode will not be available unless the purchase has been approved. If you wish to obtain the countercode from our web site, go to our support page and follow the instructions.    The countercode will then be emailed to you. You can still enter the countercode using the the Countercode Configuration Wizard. To enter the countercode that you obtained from the web site, select the From web site option on the first page of the Countercode Configuration Wizard.

If you choose countercode mode, and you later want to switch computers where FCS Express is running, then you will require a new countercode.  There is a $25 administrative fee for issuing a new countercode.