Referral-based Sales

Sentinel LDK Functionality	Creates an unlocked trialware Product that allows for unrestricted distribution of the protected software
Software Distribution Method	>Physical package >Electronic distribution
Applicable Key Types	>All Sentinel HL keys >Sentinel SL (including CL)
Protection Method	>Envelope-based automatic implementation >API-based automatic implementation

Description

A bonus mechanism that encourages end users to serve as “promoters” for software they find useful. When an end user refers software to someone and a purchase is made based on that referral, you give a bonus to the referrer.

This model requires the creation of two vendor mechanisms:

>User data collection mechanism—You maintain an end-user database in which registered software owners (referrers) are linked to potential users to whom the software was referred (referees). Data for the database can be sent to you by either the referrer or the referee, using a variety of data collection mechanisms. For example, data can be collected via a form displayed during software activation or on a Web site.

>Bonus-granting mechanism—When the software is purchased, your end-user database is queried. If the purchase was made as the result of a referral, the referrer receives a bonus from you.

The following implementation guidelines describe how to set up the referral-based sales model, based on:

>Using trialware as the evaluation mechanism.

>Distributing the purchased software with a software-based Sentinel SL key.

>Collecting information from the referee during software activation.

Implementation

1.Create a trialware version of your software.

2.End users who have already purchased your software send the trialware to other potential users.

3.When a new user purchases your software—as part of your software activation process using Sentinel LDK functionality—prompt the new user to provide you with the name and contact information of the end user who referred your software to them.

4.Reward the referrer.

NOTE   This is a typical implementation. However, the referral-based sales model can also be applied to other licensing business models, including those models that use a hardware-based Sentinel HL key.