@stevesong said:
As some have pointed out, convincing an insurance company to issue a policy for an inexpensive USB dongle for many thousands of dollars because said dongle contains expensive software licences may not be easy. Listing potential sources for such insurance in various countries would be helpful.
I have never listed a dongle on my company insurance - I am however required to list anything of value. Thus, as pertained to in the EULA of my various sample libraries and plugins, not to mention my DAW software (which being Nuendo is also held on a Syncrosoft key) are all denoted as covered in the insurance. Therefore if my Syncrosoft or iLok dongles were stolen or damaged, the insurance company would replace those products that it held - the fact that it holds only the "licence" for a product is immaterial.
Likewise, anyone running a Windows OS on a PC bought from a shop or common OEM supplier would find the licence key to their OS on a sticker attached to the computer - you don't own the software, you are licenced to use it, just like a sample library. If someone then makes off with that computer, even if you have the original disc, the lack of that licence sticker and its denoted code means you need to replace it.... there's really very little material difference between this and a sample library, plugin or other dongled software.
This is not same. If you owned that machine, and wrote down the license key on the CD itself or somewhere else for safe keeping the fact if someone ran off with it or not doesn't claim you can't use it. You have proof of purchase and both the original disc and the license key. That gives you every right to use it on a replacement machine as long as you are not using it on more then one simultaneous machine. You could also report the CD key you have stolen, provide them that key and request another one, hence catching the person the next time they try to use your key and it flags microsoft during the activation/registration process. This may cost a small fee but is very doable. Yet again, you yourself aren't out that terrific or horrific of a loss. Not to mention we are talking about a couple hundred dollar software license. No where comparable to a possible $20,000 bill you could have in no time with these vienna packages.
On top of this, how often do you walk around with that big box in your pocket? How many times do you take it on the road? I highly doubt it is something that moves more then a few times a year (if at all) so that your other half can hit that untouched area with a vacuum cleaner once in a blue moon. It still doesn't level with the idea of a license code that even though is connected to your name and your hard earned money, if you lose that little blue dongle you're done for. It doesn't matter wether you wrote down your activation codes etc, recorded in blood (or your very own DNA) means nothing if you don't have the little blue dongle itself which is far more susceptible to loss, vandalism and or theft and damage. It is in fact the most fragile part of the entire system and yet has the greatest level of importance and significance attached to it. Also, the cost of the machine and its parts whether you insure it or not, will get slammed with depreciation so don't count on getting your money back on that one. part of it yes, all of your investment, don't bet on it.