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Reallusion products become spyware

Posted By blindman Last Year
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blindman
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The 8.5 update has removed the offline function from the content manager
If you set up a rule in firewall to block CC or IC8 from making outgoing connections, and you load an asset half the time a water mark is slapped on screen, and you get a licence failure due to internet error. you can cancel the error message but the watermark remains.
If you try to render you get an error message stating that the project contains trial content, clicking the (View Unpurchased Items)  the message bar tells you that (No unpurchased items exist in this project) which is a blatant contradiction, then slaps a water mark on the rendered output.
 
CC and Iclone are desktop apps that run locally, and don't need to connect to reallusion every time, EVERY TIME being the issue
whether on propose or not Reallusion has set up a user tracking system that requires users to report to the reallusion servers EVERY TIME  the programs are used. and if a user tries to enforce their privacy rights by blocking the defacto tracking, reallusion restricts the functionality of the programs. and generates error messages and pop-ups that contradict each other
Without the online connection assets I own are being flagged as unpurchased and or require updating erroneously. then water marked
just in case I re read the release notes for both CC and IC neither mention the removal of the offline function, and I wouldn't have updated if it had
Just to pre-empt the (helpful  user experience  argument) users have the right to privacy and the right to opt out of processes that can infringe,  Reallusion has effectively removed that right.

 The European union has already forced  Microsoft and Apple to change their intrusive policies, and I'm quite sure that Reallusion could end up being forced to change as well, or potentially lose a large market. Bearing in mind that the US population is 330 million, while the EU has 450 million 
Or Reallusion could just do the right thing and stop invading users privacy.
https://forum.reallusion.com/uploads/images/56a6a5df-3c58-4182-8007-78b2.jpg
Edward (RL)
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Hello,
If you want to run the iClone program and content offline, please ensure you first download your content from the Content Manager and complete the "Activate Entire Library" process. After that, you can use the program and content offline.
Online verification ensures your content stays up-to-date and compatible with your program. It also protects your purchased content from being stolen.

K_Digital
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it may be a good idea to mention such changes in the update history in future to prevent from users asking such questions.
blindman
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This isn't the point
The offline option has gone and Unchecking the "Sync online content when launching program"  doesn't stop the program going online
Even if a user does what you've suggested both IC and CC  will still contact Reallusion servers on startup unless the internet connection is unavailable or disabled
I don't have a problem with online verification, but with the routine and persistent use of it invading users privacy, by reporting to reallusion  every time a program is used. While it may be helpful to some users it's an unwarranted intrusion to all users.  
Even Adobe who seem to think they can own copyright to content created by their customers, only require a verification once a month.
As for theft of my content the only way that's going to happen is if someone hacks my online account because Reallusion insists on linking my PC to their servers every time I start a program.
Your ignoring the privacy issue, and substituting a work around for the lack of an internet connection. Basically you answered a question I didn't ask.
Even if you log out of your account in CC or IC , they still go online on start up
So far the only way to actually go offline, and keep reallusion from snooping is to block outgoing connections in the firewall. And then as and when I want to check for updates I can.
K_Digital
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i meant questions about changes that have been made to the menu for example
blindman
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I've done some further checking. my router logs and data usage logs on my PC show, excluding updates Iclone is the third largest consumer of internet traffic, with only edge and firefox ahead

IC8.5 was running  with no blocked connections I simply loaded 5 projects one after another and the data usage log showed IC  transmitted 1.25gb as a result,  
This cant be local network traffic.  If I block the outgoing connection for IC in the firewall, ZERO data is transmitted, because I blocked it. But IC still starts and loads projects. But now it generates watermarks and error messages
Daz studio a desktop app that has a content management system which predates Reallusions, and requires licence and DRM validation, but not only does it have a real offline mode. loading Studio and projects  generates "ZERO" data traffic and  runs without the errors that reallusion creates with IC and CC? without an internet connection.

So what is the reason for the massive amount of data transmission to reallusion during program use. It cant just be licence and DRM validation.

Users in Europe are protected from this level of data collection under a law called GDPR which mandates that the consent for gathering data from a user "Must" be by positive consent, requiring a stand alone function requiring the user to physically check a box to give consent. which means it can't be written into a EULA or auto competed as part of some other process, requiring a user to notice and uncheck in order to opt out. Also the consent to gather data cannot be a requirement to use the software. 
To my knowledge Reallusion has never provided such a function
Software Companies operating internationally are required to comply with the laws  applicable to the home country of the  users. The potential market share has an interesting element here. The EU has 450 million citizens, the UK who left the EU in 2020 but retained GDPR as part of the exit has 68 million citizens that over 500 million. while the US only has 330 million citizens.
Which means the potential market shares between the two are significant, with a corresponding level of users having an issue with the current practices. 




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