You are correct that AppleShare doesn't now limit the concurrent number of
times an application is launched.
AppleShare Product Management brought to our attention a product described
in the following article (by Eric J. Adams) from the March 13, 1990, issue
of MacWEEK:
"Hanover, N.H.--A Dartmouth College math professor has developed a
network-based software-management program that solves several problems
associated with distribution and piracy prevention.
"The program, called KeyServer, is now in use at Dartmouth, and its
developer, Dr. Denis Devlin, hopes to begin commercial marketing later this
year.
"KeyServer's installation program lets administrators modify popular
applications, based on the provisions of their site license, so they will
run only after receiving a "launch enable" message over the network. To
launch copies of modified programs from a local hard disk, each user must
have a "network pass," which is installed as a Startup document (INIT) in
the user's system folder.
"If the maximum number of users allowed by the site license is using the
program simultaneously, KeyServer will not give access to a prospective
user. Instead, it passes a message that "All licensed copies are currently
in use." When the program is freed, KeyServer returns a pop-up message to
the prospective user, indicating that a launch is possible.
"KeyServer also allows network administrators to monitor current software
access and generates a usage log, which can be used to negotiate or
renegotiate site licenses with vendors, Devlin said. Several large vendors
have expressed interest in the program, he added.
"It allows us to make a wide variety of software available without having
to put a lot of money down for a site license on a bet that the program
will be used," said Larry Levine, director of user services for the more
than 5,000 Macintoshes on-line at Dartmouth. "We can freely distribute
copies of programs without giving away control of their use."
"KeyServer differs from other Macintosh software management programs
because "Only the command to launch comes over the network," Devlin said.
"The programs reside on the user's hard disk, cutting down on network
traffic tremendously."
"KeyServer also allows the administrator to turn access to a program on or
off for any length of time or to shut off access to old versions of
software. The program does not require a dedicated server.
"Devlin is currently beta testing KeyServer at industry sites and
negotiating licensing agreements with vendors. Through his company,
Sassafras, Devlin hopes to have shrink-wrapped versions ready by summer.
Though pricing has not been set, Devlin said it will be tied to the number
of nodes per network."