I am so very frustrated and trying to reach CUSTOMER NO SERVICE at Corel! The chat on the website does not work -- I have tried it numerous times and always get the answer there is no one available online -- so how does this constitute being online 24 hours M-Th as they advertise? The phone number listed directs you back to the website. Maddening!!
Three of my machines have started showing a popup that my software is illegal, and directs me to a link to contact customer support, which, you guessed it! directs me back to the website!! I should not have to PAY for support to ask a question or clarify this issue. I own a full copy of the software for each of my machines. All I want to do is get this resolved!!
And then, since our company is growing and we are adding yet another graphics work station for a new hire next week (yes, I already bought another full copy of the software for that machine!!), I thought about exploring a site license or even the subscription service but, shock! I can't contact anyone to talk about my options!!
VERY FRUSTRATED!!!
Hello Lisa,
can you please contact me directly per email / direct message on this site, and I will see how I can help. I will reply from my Corel.com email address so that you know it's from Corel, and will need your serial number and proof of purchase to check if your software has been flagged by mistake. From past experience, purchasing from marketplace / auction sites is usually not legitimate software. The other problem could be that the serial number you are using has been used more than what is allowed through the End User License Agreement.
Yes, in the past, we had some whole with the registration process and didn't check for validity. With CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6, you can only get a free Standard Membership (this is replacing the traditional registration process) if you have a valid serial number that hasn't been used before, e.g. we do check. If that check fails, you will get the message that we were unable to verify your status. But we didn't have this in place with X5, and at the same time, we have started a communication process to the users who might be victim of piracy in order to provide with a very attractive price to become legal. Again, I will need your serial number and proof of purchase in order to validate that there is a mistake with the display of the message.
Regarding the questions you might have about subscription, I would be happy to help. I previously posted more information in my blog here and here.
I wanted to follow-up to my previous message and provide a few extra details. From the different people who have contacted Corel (including those who contacted me directly), I can confirm that there has been no mistake in the detection about the serial number being illegitimate so far. Everyone who has contacted me so far is what I would all a victim of software piracy and did actually purchase a product in good faith from unauthorized software resellers.
Yes, with versions before X6, it was possible to register the product even if the serial number was not legitimate. This is something that has changed with X6. You can only get a free Standard Membership (this is replacing the traditional registration process) if you have a valid serial number that hasn't been used before, e.g. we do check with X6. If that check fails, you will get the message that we were unable to verify your status.
Software piracy is a persistent issue that affects all of us. At the same time, we understand that some of you might have been the victim of software pirates and have inadvertently purchased an unauthorized copy of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. We have therefore started this amnesty campaign in the Americas (expanding in other countries in the coming months) providing users an opportunity to purchase an authorized version of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite through the in-product message.
On behalf of the entire CorelDRAW team, I am very sorry for those who have been victims of software pirates. As posted in the forum earlier and as a general reminder, Corel and our authorized partners do not sell products at 50 to 90% discount, and amazing deals on auction or marketplace sites are rarely legitimate. If you find a price that seems too good to be true compared to the one listed on Corel.com or an authorized Corel reseller, please feel free to contact me directly so that we can take appropriate action.
Combating piracy is an ongoing process. We will continue to work with all of you and with our internal teams & systems to ensure we do everything possible to promote fairness and the legitimate use of Corel software. For more information about how software piracy hurts everyone, you can visit www.corel.com/piracy.
I'm a senior IT management professional with a 30-year track record, and an excellent reputation. I've dealt with hundreds of vendors over the years. Corel has been around for decades. If they haven't worked out how to keep their software secure by now, then shame on them. As I said previously, they've been communicating with me, on this very piece of software, for 15 months, updating my software, acknowledging my registration, validating my serial number, etc. No issues to this point.
It is one thing to 'count on false alarms now and then.' It is another to convict and imprison your customers without a trial. Their tactics are shameful.
It is also another thing to insist, as they did for several minutes when I called to complain, that I MUST be using pirated software. That I MUST NOT have registered it. That I MUST buy another copy. This in spite of the fact that I was looking at screen prints from my Corel account showing the purchase, and immediate registration, at the time I was on the phone.
And oh, you think software companies and other corporations don't use heavy handed tactics to obliterate competition? Try reading recent news about Amazon. Or Microsoft. Or Apple. Need I go on? Or do you think it's only Corel who's pure here?
Corel was wrong. I know it, and they know it.
As for your last comment, there's always an alternative. Remember WordPerfect?
Corel probably remembers WordPerfect too.
It took 24 hours or less for Adobe's CC to get hacked and in the pirate distribution channel. If I looked, I suspect CDX7 is in the pirate distribution channel.
I sympathize with Corel...and even Adobe...concerning wanting all their doggie beans. They deserve it. On the other hand, heavy-handed protection systems affect only two classes of consumers: Casual thieves and legitimate users. It doesn't stop the determined nor those that will use the kygen'd copies.
Even so, it's the aftermath, the dealing with Corel, or Adobe, or whomever, that is the issue here. Being told from the get-go one is a thief isn't the correct way to handle such a situation. I've been in the same situation with Corel. It's isn't a fun place to be.
Mike
MIke, you have the right idea. The message that suddenly appears says,
"This software is operating under an invalid license. It has therefore switched to Viewer Mode. All save, export and print features are now permanently disabled. To continue using CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, you must purchase a legitimate copy. Take advantage of our amnesty program to buy an authorized version of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 at a special low price. This exclusive offer is available through this message only."
It doesn't say, "there's a possibility that this software may be pirated;" it has interfered with the normal operations of my PC, called me a thief, and offered me 'amnesty.' Phooey on that, I say. Only later does it tell me that 'if I purchased the software from an authorized reseller or from Corel itself, then I should call Corel and be prepared to provide serial number and proof of purchase. Armed with both of those things, I called them, and was told that my software was illegal and that I must buy another copy. The non-native speaker of English that I was speaking with insisted that he could do nothing to help me, that I could not speak to his supervisor, and that my only recourse was simply to buy another copy. I had to get quite exercised with him in order to get him to send me over to technical support so I could open a ticket. Technical support was quite good. They have already provided a new serial number (which I take to be the equivalent of standing down), but now I have to uninstall and reinstall the software on my PC, which is annoying and takes time away from my business. So, while Corel is chasing wild geese, I am losing real money because I can't get my work done.
Their customer-facing support is appalling. Perhaps one day they will learn that offshore outsourcing of their support is counterproductive, and bring it back. It's happened before.
Mrs Z said:It doesn't say, "there's a possibility that this software may be pirated;" it has interfered with the normal operations of my PC, called me a thief, and offered me 'amnesty.'
First of all, the "amnesty program" is not for a thief or illegal copies. At least, i don't remember any offer such as "download an illegal copy and legitimate for less money than the other people". I guess everyone would like to pay less, so instead of buying the program they will take this "amnesty." And if the price is similar to normal, there is no advantage in this alleged "amnesty." It would just be like saying, "if you purchase the program, we forgive and we will not get angry with you". That is illogical.
Usually, you can update the software only if you are the owner of a recent version, but sometimes the company has some special offers, such as if you are owner of an older version (ie CorelDRAW 9.0) or other programs (such as Adobe software) you can update to the latest version of CorelDRAW for half of the price.
Second, I undestand that it's not good to presume that anybody has an illegal version. But unfortunately, sometimes it's right. You could not believe the amount of people requesting a serial number to the company or the directors. Moreover, many people have asked me many times to send them an original DVD of the program, as if I had a collection or library.
And although there may be different types of errors in the program, from installation to operation, are often due to errors caused by illegal copies. For example, some people say: "I downloaded the software from the internet, but the crack for the serial number does not work me." Yeah, I know, it's something stupid like go to the bank to ask for help to fake a credit card, but that happens almost daily. There are errors that do not appear in the original version and only appear in illegal versions. Eg. earlier versions had a bug that accumulated styles Color, Graphic and Text Styles and Saved Views. That did not happen if you installed the original program, only happened with versions "modified" to be downloaded and used free of charge.
We try to help all the people as possible, and not asked whether it is legal or how paid, that does not concern us. Just trying to help people solve problems, if possible. But it is possible that sometimes someone is wrong to suspect that someone is using an illegal version because it is something that happens very often. Please don't juzge they severely, because as any human could have been mistaken.
It's very common for people to download a trial version that expires after 30 days. Many of the pirated versions are trial versions with fake serial number, making people believe it will be free. If you received hundreds of requests like this every day, the next time someone tells you that your program has expired, the first thing you will think is "this is an illegal copy". It's not right, I know, but the programs are not perfect and people, either.
Have a nice day!
Ariel
I am merely reporting what was said in the message FROM COREL. What is said, was this:
These three statement in the list above are called FACTS. And evidently, from the comments here and elsewhere on the web, others have seen exactly the same things (FACTS) stated on their own PCs.
In light of these FACTS, most of what you've written makes no sense.
And frankly, I have no interest in what might be, or what other people do.
In my case, Corel was wrong. And they know it. And they have corrected the problem at no cost to me. I am only sorry for the dozens of reports I've read of people who had this problem, didn't make enough fuss about it, and ended up PAYING for a Corel technical support call so that Corel could admit wrongdoing and remedy the issue for them, after they took MONEY to resolve a problem they created, and to help an innocent party they had accused of theft.
The one useful statement you make is that "it's not good to presume that anyone has an illegal version." That is correct. And that is what is wrong with Corel.