Virtual Item Downloads
 

Hi all,

I am currently working on a project of which involves a user making a purchase, and downloading a virtual item.

One thing I have a question about is why anytime I have ever visited sites like these, that you can only download this for x amount of time.

Why the time limit on downloading something you purchased? I was thinking that when they bought these items, they would be able to re-download indefinately so long as they remember there login credentials.

Does anyone know anything about the time limit or reasons behind it? Should it be something I should implement as well?

The reason for this is because of the user giving out the link for others to download. Stops them from leeching, or spreading the file if they are paying for it. Rapidshare does it.

I dont think that will be an issue though, will it? Its there account with there personal information, and this file will not be downloadable without being logged into that specific account that made the purchase. I can't see that being a viable reason.

It is, and it isn't. Depends on your product too. If Windows let people download their OS (actually they do, but they forgot to put ANY kind of access control on it when Vista first came out... they figured an obscure link would be good enough, hahahaha), how many hackers/haters/kids with their parents cc/etc would buy one copy and pass their link around, account details and all, to rip them off? Same with Adobe? Same with anything you can find on demonoid that's already been ripped off.

I would even go one step farther, I would give them a one time only download, and then if they need to re-dl a backup, reinstall, whatever they need it for, I would have them put in a request. Even if it was an automagically handled request, at least it would be logged in the system somewhere and could raise flags based on *too many requests in a short period of time *too many requests from different IPs *and so on.
-m

The products are virtual in a sense of web based items. Templates, logos, flash objects etc.

There will be no obscure link to download the product, just that it is accessed through the user account.

For instance to download the file would access download.php?file=asdfafd

then if the current account id *has purchased* file id it will allow the download, otherwise not.

So if anything, they will have to give out there username / password in order to achieve this type of distribution.

I do see what you are saying though. Perhaps a two-week download period and after that the download time will need to be extended to download again.

However, what I am thinking is that if they are going to download it they would just re-enable this and give out there information anyways.

Ok, well that makes it a bit different. I was thinking that you were sending users to a download page, or something similar inside of their account, and then you could be generating a link that expires after a few minutes. That way every time they need to download it, they have to log back into the account and get a new download link.

I see no reason to take so many measures against this. Because in the end, your script can't make RS or Megaupload stop providing that mirror of your files.

When I said I would go one step farther, I was referring to major bucks type of stuff, like operating systems, etc. For images and what not which will be primarily useful only to the purchaser, I would send them an invoice with big old bold letters:

We are not responsible for spontaneous combustion or flash floods.
Please make backups.

Exactly what I was thinking. At best I can just get after them on copyright infringement, which would make me a bit of a hypocrite :D lol.

LOL. The funny thing about that statement is I was thinking of having the content of the site be a sort-of entertaining, sarcastic layout. Still fully functional and the like, and the purpose will still be behind the text. Just a bit more sarcastic then usual. I'm getting tired of these systems with absolute prestige in the site. If I wanted to read a manual, i'd pick one up. It doesn't need to be part of a website. :D

For big items, they limit downloads for bandwidth. Bandwidth being poured out by the gigs is expensive, they don't want to cut their profits because you keep downloading it.