New plugins… Licenses revoked?

Rank31 wrote:I signed the petition of Hamish Mann

https://www.change.org/p/stop-akai-mpc- ... connection

Me too can you make a separate thread to increase visibility?

Someone claiming to be the author of the petition contacted me about this a couple of hours ago, I've asked him to forward me more details on the original communication (e.g. email, live chat transcript etc) so I can try to chase it up with Akai and get some official response. It is however possible that this was one customer support agent giving out incorrect information.

Hi there,
I am the creator of the petition.
I emailed you back with the info you asked for.

In case anyone else would like to see, below is the transcript. I also have a few screenshots but for some reason I can't figure out how to import the images.

(edited to remove bot intro)

What can we help you with today? Be sure to include the name of your product or software you're using. Include as many details as you can.
MPC LIVE 2, issue with plugins deactivating
7 hours ago
Agent profile picture
Support Bot
I'm sure we can help with that
Please wait while I connect you with an expert from our team.
Agent profile picture
James
Hi Sean, I'd be happy to help.
Hi James, I'm just trying to understand why my plugins keep deactivating after several weeks. I don't like to keep my MPC Live 2 connected to WIFI in order to extend the battery
Do my purchased plugins need to "check in" on a regular basis for some reason?
7 hours ago
Agent profile picture
James
It will occasionally require a login to update the activation. Is the time zone set to UTC in the settings of your MPC?
It is.
That is a bit concerning though. I don't understand the need for check in. What happens 10 years down the road when this product is no longer supported?
8 hours ago
Agent profile picture
James
I'm not aware of an exact timeframe for the standalone MPC to check in on the activations, but with some of our other license managers it's every 90 days.
Okay, well I did some forum research to see if it was a bug and most were not sure if it was a bug or by design. I'll let folks know but I must say, I'm quite displeased to hear that as i'm sure they will be. I can't see myself buying any more products for a hardware device that need this type of check in
feels more like a subscription that what it should be, i.e. I should own the plugin as I did pay for it
7 hours ago
Agent profile picture
James
It's a relatively newer system that we've implemented for activations, so it could change. I will submit a feature request because your concerns are definitely understandable. The developers are always happy to get feedback to improve the product.
That would be great. Please do so. I absolutely love this thing and I also love the plugins I have purchased but I can't imagine going to play a show and scrambling last minute to find wifi if my plugins deactivate.
7 hours ago
Agent profile picture
James
I totally get that. I'll put the request in. It's productive feedback for sure.
Do you have any other questions for today?
Thanks James, all set. Have a good day

Also, I just joined the forum yesterday to post this. I would like to create a new topic to increase visibility but I don't think I have the ability yet (at least I can't figure out how). If someone else is willing, please do so.

liedermusic wrote:Also, I just joined the forum yesterday to post this. I would like to create a new topic to increase visibility but I don't think I have the ability yet (at least I can't figure out how). If someone else is willing, please do so.

Yes, you can create your own topics, feel free to re-post all that info in a dedicated topic.

So do the newer, paid for plugins receive updates?

Just trying to fathom why some people aren't having this issue. For it to even exist, the OS or plugins would need an update, right? So was it introduced in one of the last few OS updates, or plugin updates?

i'm not opposed (in theory) to a periodic check-in of the license but not really seeing the problem that even that would be trying to fix. if a plugin is cracked/stolen, it's going to be like that from day one, and if it's legit Akai will also know that on day one. forcing legit plugin owners to keep authenticating their valid plugins makes no sense if what you're trying to combat is piracy by pirates who presumably never authenticate because they cracked whatever authentication code is required in the first place

MPC-Tutor wrote:

liedermusic wrote:Also, I just joined the forum yesterday to post this. I would like to create a new topic to increase visibility but I don't think I have the ability yet (at least I can't figure out how). If someone else is willing, please do so.

Yes, you can create your own topics, feel free to re-post all that info in a dedicated topic.

Ah yes, I figured it out. New post with petition linked.
Please share. I would greatly prefer to continue supporting Akai and buy more of their awesome products but this is not acceptable.
I hope you all agree and we can get them to change their tune.

chrisroland wrote:i'm not opposed (in theory) to a periodic check-in of the license but not really seeing the problem that even that would be trying to fix. if a plugin is cracked/stolen, it's going to be like that from day one, and if it's legit Akai will also know that on day one. forcing legit plugin owners to keep authenticating their valid plugins makes no sense if what you're trying to combat is piracy by pirates who presumably never authenticate because they cracked whatever authentication code is required in the first place

Less of a problem on wifi enabled devices, but MPC One hasn't got wifi. So you need physically go to a router and connect via ethernet every few months. That's dumb and def a risk for live performances. They should have better confidence in their plugin activition process on day 1 of a customer buying a product for a machine with no built-in internet capabilities.

It was a major downside of the ONE that i warned for years ago ..
Most people didn't care but now that software is evolving and plugins are added the lack of Wifi is a true pain.
It's kinda like all these companies making hardware without adding an extra Usb-C port in 2023.

With the lack of Wifi on the One they probably made $3 extra as that's the costs of a simple wifi module.

The weird thing is that with their brandnew Studio based MPC X SE they do not even have an ethernet port !!!
Yet, the small One does have it and it's made to be moved around a lot ...
The Live 2 also has it so the lack of it on the latest X makes no sense at all at $2500.

You're paying an Extra $600 or so....for a slightly larger internal Drive (SD Card) for the All the Plug-ins(Trial Versions) and 4GB of RAM(to better handle all Plug-ins Simultaneously), and Retro Skin

Here we go again... tried to get the Air Delay Pro today. First of all it was impossible to access the free trial (was redirected into a hell-loop between InMusic and Akai promo pages), so I opted to buy to speed the process up as I guessed I’d like it. First it took over two hours to get a serial to show up in the purchase page, then when I entered it in the X I was told I’d already entered it and given a link to buy the plugin.

I just did a really successful first live show just with the X last week; this new generation of MPCs (despite various shortcomings in the OS design compared to previous models) are unquestionably at a very high standard now - but this aftermarket software purchase/activation rollout is absolutely terrible.

Bombbeats4000 wrote:.
With the lack of Wifi on the One they probably made $3 extra as that's the costs of a simple wifi module.

It’s probably not the part, maybe it’s that Wi-Fi requires FCC approval, I assume this testing and approval process is likely quite costly.

robleighton22 wrote:

chrisroland wrote:i'm not opposed (in theory) to a periodic check-in of the license but not really seeing the problem that even that would be trying to fix. if a plugin is cracked/stolen, it's going to be like that from day one, and if it's legit Akai will also know that on day one. forcing legit plugin owners to keep authenticating their valid plugins makes no sense if what you're trying to combat is piracy by pirates who presumably never authenticate because they cracked whatever authentication code is required in the first place

Less of a problem on wifi enabled devices, but MPC One hasn't got wifi. So you need physically go to a router and connect via ethernet every few months. That's dumb and def a risk for live performances. They should have better confidence in their plugin activition process on day 1 of a customer buying a product for a machine with no built-in internet capabilities.

Not that you're wrong, but you can connect the mpc to your phone with a usb cable. It works in a pinch

I thought they fixed this with the newest update? I know they said they were going to.