Copy Protection is any technological method used by manufacturers to prevent the unauthorized copying and distribution of their products, especially software, music, movies, and games.

The goal is to ensure that only legitimate users who have purchased the product can access it.

Protection methods vary widely, but some of the most common in the audio world are:

• Activation Keys (Serial Numbers): A unique code that the user needs to enter to install or activate the software.

• Online Activation: The software connects to a server on the internet to verify the legitimacy of the license.

• Dongles (Physical Keys): A small hardware device (such as an iLok or eLicenser) that connects to a USB port and stores the licenses. The software only works if the dongle is connected to the computer.