Uniloc

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Uniloc Corporation is a security software company founded in Australia in 1992^[1] recognized^[2] as a pioneer in "try and buy" software distributed via magazines^[3] and on new computers.

[edit] History

Uniloc is the assignee via a subsidiary in Singapore (Uniloc Pte) of the first major patent US 5,490,216 invented by Ric Richardson in the field of copy protection / product activation and "try-and-buy" Software.

In 1993 Uniloc distributed "Try and Buy" versions of software for multiple publishers via a marketing agreement with IBM. An initial success was the sale of thousands of copies of a software package (First Aid, developed by Cybermedia) distributed on the front cover of Windows Sources magazine in 1994.

Later Uniloc worked with US magazine publisher Ziff Davis to distribute unlockable versions of software on the front cover of their magazines including Windows Magazine.

In 1997 a US subsidiary was set up called Uniloc PC Preload to produce preloaded unlockable editions of popular software products on new PCs. Distribution agreements were executed with eMachines^[4] and Toshiba. Family PC magazine also produced two months of magazines featuring unlockable software from Uniloc PC Prelaod on the cover in 2001.

In 2003, Uniloc Corporation set up a US subsidiary called Uniloc USA. The company is currently licensing its patented technology to software publishers and entertainment companies including Sony.