ZBrushCentral

Cant Activate after update...Again

I’ve been a user and huge fan of our favourite 3D modelling App for nearly a decade now, and was on the beta crew for several versions, plugs, additions etc. Several of my images are even on the Pixologic Website particularly here http://pixologic.com/zbrush/features/PaintStop/
About 2006 Ex Staffer Ryan Kingslien was kind enough to offer me a complimentary licence, and in about 2010 I was kindly given a metal box version of Z4 as part of the rewards given to those who worked on the Beta Crew for that version. I think that means I own 2 licences, but certainly at least one.
Over the years I’ve installed at least a dozen versions (including several beta versions), and this has ALWAYS been the most difficult and clumsy aspect of the otherwise stellar piece of software which is Zbrush. Several times I’ve been unable to work in Z because of activation issues, and now Z4r7 joins the list!
Apparently I’ve been installing my copy of Z on about seven hundred computers of various kinds, too many in fact, so no r7 for me!! In actual fact I’ve installed Z on precisely 1 Windows computer, then 1 iMac, and it’s replacement. Never have I had the app installed on more than 1 machine at a time, though I have had to install many versions, particularly when I was installing beta updates almost monthly, I’ve never had more than 1 machine running Zbrush.
I’m currently waiting to be helped with the problem, the first time I tried to get it fixed I got no response.

Obviously I’d love to enjoy the wonders of Vr7, but even more annoying is the fact that I could - if I were so inclined - go to any of a million nefarious websites, and download a shiny new copy of Vr7 and be running in seconds without the merest trace of Cleverbridge (Something of a misnomer I might suggest) nonsense.
I know this to be the case as I’ve seen the download available with my own eyes, and had confirmation that these illegal versions work perfectly and instantly.

I assure you I haven’t done this myself, In most cases I don’t agree with the whole concept, but I do know that each new version is available within a few days of release, and that people are happily ZBrushing away without a care in the world.

the most startling aspect of this behaviour is that legitimate licence owners are doing it simply to circumvent the nightmare that is CleverBridge! That is truly nuts!!! When, o when, are you going to let us install new versions with the speed and simplicity experienced by the pirates you are utterly failing to deter!?!?

Thanks guys, the lovely folk at Pixo heard my cries of anguish & despair, and sorted the problem for me, my sincere thanks to those involved.
Still the point remains, I don’t see the advantage of putting legitimate customers to so much palaver for the sake of defeating a bunch of pirates. Firstly, it doesn’t work, not even a little bit. I’m willing to bet 4r7 is freely available down in the deep seedy parts of the electric internets, and probably was within days of release. Worse, those nefarious, eyepatch-wearing, Parrot-carrying folk probably had a far easier route to getting up and running… or sailing. Secondly, it doesn’t save the kind of dosh the RiAA and other Professional Pirate Hunters would have you believe. They work on the idea that each thieved copy deprives the company of hundreds of magillas in lost sales.
Seriously folks, I’d happily bet my left one that the vast majority of such folk just wanna play a bit with the program that did all those cool things they saw on telly (Pirates of the Caribbean, no doubt!). They certainly aren’t pondering whether to spend $700 bucks to do so. Their car probably ain’t worth that much!
I don’t know of a single school or company which uses Z professionally who would dream of using illegal copies of a core app in this day & age, it’s just too dumb to consider!

PS: 4r7 kicks ass!!!