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General discussion

Questions on uploading programs to sell

Sep 12, 2006 5:01AM PDT

I've tried to contact customer support and their reply was they are unable to help with Customer Registration or Merchant Service issues at this time. So, I figured I'd try this forum and see if I can get some help.

I'd like to upload some of my programs to sell on Cnet. I've been looking over the site for a while and I still have some questions. I've created my account and I found the Submit Your Product page. There is a field on the page called Download Link. If I understand it correctly that is a link to a copy of my product so that Cnet can upload my product to their servers. I'd like to sell my product as a try before you buy product. From what I've read I need to use Protexis to do this. As I understand it I give you an exe and then Protexis in effect puts a wrapper around my program that enables the try before you buy feature. I've seen a picture of adding the Protexis wrapper, but I haven't found the screen to be able to do it. If I give an address to upload my program then the version I'm uploading doesn't have the Protexis wrapper around it yet. If that version is put out on your site then anyone can download my program and run it without any restrictions. This is where I'm confused. From the picture of adding Protexis I saw it looks like I send you the exe and then you send it back protected. Then I assume I put the exe you sent back into the rest of my package and upload it. There was an option on the picture to check if your program is a .NET program, which mine are. I don't see any option like that on the Submit Your Product page. I guess my main concern is if I list a link on the Submit My Product page I will be uploading an unprotected version of my product that anyone can use and that will never have to be paid for. I hope I've explained this well enough that you understand my problem and can help explain what I need to do of how the whole process works. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. I wasn't sure where to post this so if it needs to be moved to another section of the forum please feel free to do that.

Discussion is locked

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Well...
Sep 12, 2006 6:49AM PDT

* Your questions would be best answered by those on the download.com team. I'm not sure which method of contact you tried (there are several), but you can click here for the e-mail form, select "Upload publisher support," and then choose "HTTP hosting, download totals, & reports." However, I'll try to answer them here.

* There are a number of options to enable trial limitations and copy protection that you can use prior to submitting your software to download.com. On the other hand you can just use the limitation option (through Cnet's Merchant Services) that Cnet offers, which is provided through Protexis. (Click here for the licensing agreement.) It's more convenient but may not be as advanced as some of the third-party alternatives.

* Yes, you would be sending Cnet an 'unprotected' copy of your software if you choose to use their limitation system. That is with the understanding that they will not use, modify, or distribute the software without your permission. That should be stated in one of the upload agreements, but if it's not ask that they explicitly confirm that via e-mail.

* If the .NET notation is no longer there then I would assume that it's handled automatically now...Cnet issues updates frequently but does not always update the screenshots and help files.

I hope this helps some and if you have any further questions or concerns try the link above to contact the download.com team.

Regards,
John

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Re: Well...
Sep 12, 2006 12:19PM PDT

John,

I appreciate your replying. I clicked on the link you provided and that was how I had submitted my original question. The Incident number is: 060911-000792. I'll paste their reply below.

Hello,
Thank you for contacting CNET Upload.com. We are unable to assist with Customer Registration or Merchant Service issues at this time. If you issue is not addressed on the Merchant Services page: http://www.upload.com/1200-21_5-5139580.html?tag=help or the Knowledgebase: http://upload.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/upload.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php you will need to contact Protexis directly about your issue. You can contact Protexis directly at support@protexis.com.

If there is anything else I can do to help you please let me know.

Sincerely,

Laura
Customer Service
CNET Publisher Services

I appreciate your trying to help, but I do still have questions. If you look at the first link she gave me and then go to that page there is a link for trial enablement. The page is here http://www.upload.com/1200-21_5-5156231.html. That page shows you picking how long the trial period is. Here is a link to another page I found http://www.upload.com/1200-21_5-5156228.html. That one shows the post compile technology being applied. That is also where I saw the option for .NET programs. These look to me to be the pages that I need to use merchant services. So, I'm wondering where or when do I get these pages? I'm kind of wondering if I get these after I have uploaded a program and then configure it for use with merchant services. That makes me wonder why they want a copy of my unmodified program first though. Since I'm going to add in the post compile solution what do they need a copy of my program for first? I hate to be bugging you, but your the only one from Cnet that is even answering. I've been unemployed for about a year and a half now. Last fall I took a couple online Visual Basic .NET classes with the aim of updating my skills. The problem is everyone wants you to have experience. So, I came up with the idea of writing programs for sale to get some experience. I've gone to a lot of trouble and expense in order to make this happen. I've got 3 programs pretty much ready for sale and some others in progress. I started my own company. I later found out that Cnet required a website for for the company profile so I went ahead and created a website. I'm just about there. Getting the programs uploaded and for sale is the last hurdle. I don't by any means mean to rag on you, your the only one who's even tried to help so far. If you can get the answers I'd really appreciate it, or if you could point me to someone who can answer the questions that would also help. Based on the reply I got from posting the question to the upload people I'm not sure that trying to ask them again is useful. Again, thank you.