Definitions

• Version – This is the version number you are running. Examples would be 4.2.2, 3.9.4 or 5.2.2. As new features are added and bug fixes are made, newer versions of the LOR Software will be released. For example one of the versions of the software added the following line to the What’s New section. “The “Tree 360 Up & Over” shape now supports folds in the string.” 
• License Level – This tells you what set of features you can use. As of December 2018 there are 5 license levels. Basic, Basic Plus, Standard, Advanced and Pro.
• Upgrade – When you “Upgrade” your LOR Software License, you are moving from one license level to another. Example, Basic Plus to Advanced would be an Upgrade.
• Renew – We’ll go into more detail about this further in the article, but a renewal allows you to licence a newer Version of the software.

As you can see in this example, a Basic license would let you run two controllers, a Standard license up to 8 controllers, and the Advanced or Pro license would give you the ability to run unlimited controllers. You can also see that there are some features you can’t even use without a Pro license. Depending on what you want to do with your display, or what features you want, will determine which license level you end up running.  

Purchasing a License

When you purchase a license actually purchasing the right to run the most recent version PLUS any new version released in the next year UP TO a specific version number specified. For example if the current version is 5.2.2 when you purchase a license you would be able to register any version of the software released for one calendar year up to version 5.9.2.

That’s just an example, but you will get an email explaining it all to you. Let’s look at an example license. 

Name: <your name here>
Key: #!#!#-#!#!#-#!#!#-#!#!#-#!#!#-#!#!#-#!#!#-
Email: <your email here>
Max Version: 5.8.* (and any future versions released by December 2, 2019)
Feature Level: 5000 (Pro / Demo )
Purchase Date: December 1, 2018 

Upgrade Vs. Renew

As we explained in the LOR Software License definitions, there is a big difference between upgrading your license and renewing your license. Let’s take a look at a few examples which will help explain things in more detail.  

What You Have

When you look at your license information you see:
Max Version: 4.2 (and any future versions released by March 2, 2018)
Feature Level: 4000 (Advanced / Demo ) 

What You Want: You want to upgrade to the Pro license level and run the latest software, 5.2.2 (as of this writing). 

What You Do: When you look at a situation like this you should ask yourself, “How could I spend a little money as possible?” The answer to that question in this case would be to simply purchase an Upgrade so you can go from Advanced to Pro. Upgrades count as license renewals. You do NOT have to buy both! Purchase a renewal here would only new your ability to run the software at the Advanced license level, albeit with a newer version. However, since you wanted to go to the Pro level, purchasing an UPGRADE is what you should do. 

What you have

When you look at your license information you see:

Max Version: 4.1 (and any future versions released by March 2, 2018)
Feature Level: 4000 (Pro / Demo ) 

What You Want: You want to be able to run the most recent version of software, 5.2.2 (as of this writing). 

What you Do: Again, what would cost you the least amount of money? In this case, just purchasing a RENEWAL would be all you need to do. You stay at the same license level (Pro) and would be able to license new versions of the software for up to one year, (or up to the level indicated on your email confirmation.) 

Superstar and Licensing

The Superstar Sequencer is a program that was written by an end-user of the LOR Software for his own use. Over time he got permission to sell it to others (since it was based on a LOR product) and eventually LOR bought the software from him. Superstar Sequencer (or SS) is a SEPARATELY licensed product.  For example, if you have an Advanced LOR Software License, and a 2 CCR Superstar License, you would see “Feature Level: 4002 (Advanced / 2_CCR )” in your license information. 

Let’s look another example of the Upgrade vs. Renew debate.

What You Have: 
Max Version: 4.9.* (and any future versions released by July 15, 2018)
Feature Level: 4002 (Advanced / 2_CCR )
Purchase Date: July 14, 2017 

What You Want: You do not want to move up to the Pro level, but you do want to run the latest version of the LOR Software. You also want to upgrade to a 4 CCR License.

What You Do: Again, ask yourself, “How could I spend a little money as possible?” In this case it would be to purchase a Superstar UPGRADE from 2_CCR to the 4_CCR license level. This would also count as a license renewal thus allowing you to run the most version version of the software. 

Conclusion

As you can see there is a lot of moving parts to the LOR Software License. However if you stop and think about it, it’s not as confusing as you might have initially thought. We’ve shown you the difference between a License Level and a Version, as well as a Renewal vs. an Upgrade. You even learned how to spend a little money as possible on your license.