Licensing Created Run-Time Objects

Providing separate licenses for the visual designer and the run-time object allows users to distribute applications built with the designer, while prohibiting them from distributing the designer itself. Users with a run-time license can't write new applications based on the ActiveX designer without first licensing the visual designer from you.

At run time, three licensing options are possible:

• No license is required to use the run-time object. The host does not save a license when it creates the run-time object, and the run-time object's class factory does not request one before creating an instance.
  
  
• The license to use the visual designer is sufficient to use a run-time object. The host presents the stored license key to the run-time object. The run-time object verifies that the stored key matches its own copy, and execution proceeds.
  
  
• The run-time object requires a separate license. Each user of each compiled, executable application (.exe) must get a license from the visual designer that created the run-time object. The host presents the stored license key to the run-time object, and if the run-time object can verify the key, execution proceeds.

You should carefully consider what differentiates design-time activity from run-time activity in your ActiveX designer, especially in situations where the design-time and run-time objects are the same.

For a detailed discussion of licensing strategies and issues, see the COM Programmer’s Reference in the Platform Software Development Kit (SDK).