Pay per view options

[admin]

Locking the link to an IP address still won’t solve the scenario you mentioned. If the computer crashed and then when they restarted, their IP address could change (not everyone has static IP address).

How about you set the link counter to 2? So there will be one extra usage on the link for the disaster scenario.

[John McMullen]

Hi, I am as disappointed as “bgolden” was to find that having (eventually!!) managed to get the APR functionality working, I could simply forward the email to 3 other people, and all of then can login simultaneously and watch for free.

My scenario is that I want to sell access to watch a live conference stream. This will be marketed for several months and we want as many people to buy their access as far ahead of time as possible. Not on the day. Therefore the “time limit” and the “number of page views” techniques won’t work for us.

Are these my options?

(1)Is it possible to sell them an “access key” (using the option within eStore) so they have to enter that value somewhere to view the page and the system knows if the key is already in use?

(2)Is it possible to generate the link but defer sending it out until the day of the event?

(3)Is it better to use eMember and force them to register, then they have to login to view the stream and I can set the “disallow simultaneous login” feature? This is more work for me and for them.

(4) use the Lightbox plugin, although I find S3 not too user friendly for live streaming and I don’t want to have to buy another plugin.

Many thanks for your help.

[wzp]

John,

If you were to set the number of times, the download link can be used, to a small number; such as 1 or 2, there is no way that link sharing will work; beyond the first 2 people.

There is a point of “diminishing returns,” regarding the level of security you are willing to throw at the problem. In “real life,” companies face this problem all the time:

• The bar owner who runs an HDMI cable from his phone to the bar’s TV set, in order to share a PPV sporting event with his customers.
• The “Happy Birthday Police,” looking for businesses that sing Happy Birthday to customers, without paying a royalty.
• Movie theaters that try to prevent me from sneaking in my own food.
• Buffets that try to keep me from sneaking out food.
• Grocery stores that try to keep “Coupon Queens” from paying $1 for $200 worth of groceries.

My scenario is that I want to sell access to watch a live conference stream. This will be marketed for several months and we want as many people to buy their access as far ahead of time as possible. Not on the day. Therefore the “time limit” and the “number of page views” techniques won’t work for us.

What you can do is:

• Use eMember to require advanced registration.
• Disable simultaneous login.
• Up until the day of the broadcast, the viewing page will say “comeback later.”
• On the day of the broadcast, place a Download Now button on the page, that points to an APR protected page.

[John McMullen]

Hi wzp, I accept the points you make. If I buy a music CD, I often burn a backup copy.

You say “on the day of the broadcast, place a Download Now button on the page, that points to an APR protected page.”

Is there a way to generate/issue an APR link for members, without them going through the (Paypal) purchase process again?

Meantime I think the way forward is via eMember paid subscription to get to the live page; and as the simultaneous login feature has been recently enhanced, that should work.

IS there detailed documentation/tutorial on your site about the serial number/access key feature. There’s one page but one with more detail on how to use it would be helpful.

Thanks

[wzp]

You say “on the day of the broadcast, place a Download Now button on the page, that points to an APR protected page.”

Is there a way to generate/issue an APR link for members, without them going through the (Paypal) purchase process again?

The “Download Now” button is a “free” button, that would immediately execute an APR download link. They would pay to register and then, on the appointed day, click the free download button; which will automagically generate and then execute an APR link.

IS there detailed documentation/tutorial on your site about the serial number/access key feature. There’s one page but one with more detail on how to use it would be helpful.

Are you referring to this page?

http://www.tipsandtricks-hq.com/ecommerce/how-to-use-the-seriallicense-key-code-selling-feature-1618

Once you have issued a serial number to someone; it is up to you to (figure out and) decide how it will be used.

[John McMullen]

Thank you wzp, that is helpful. The scope of these plugins (in terms of the clever things they can do)is vast. I’m trying to understand them in the context of a development site. I expect the only way to understand their full power/usefulness will be in a live (commercial)application.

I’ll certainly try that APR method.

I can generate the serial codes, but it is up to me to figure out how to use them. That may take some time!!

Regards.

[wzp]

Except for the plugins that require a per/site license key, what you can do is setup a subdomain test.mysite.com and just “try things.” You can’t blowup the Internet by just trying things, to see what happens. That’s how people become good hackers

[Author]

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