Around a decade ago, I spent some $400 on Kontakt 5 to run NI plugins and third-party plugins in FL Studio. I have used it for over a decade with great success. A few hard drives later and I am now doing a full fresh re-install of my studio computer. I have been able to re-install EVERY other piece of software EXCEPT Kontakt, which requires activation.
The problem is that this is an offline computer. Keeping my studio computer offline has not only removed distractions from my work, but also prevented Windows automatic updates from interrupting my work AND kept it 100% secure from viruses and malware. Every other software I have used has a method of activating offline. I was able to activate Kontakt 5 offline when I originally purchased it. I was not required to put my computer online nor use an iLok to register. NOW I am being told my ONLY option to activate it is to put my computer online.
Changing the functionality of a digital product after purchase is illegal and theft. EA Games recently refunded a man on his video game purchase after removing a game mode he had paid for. Digital Rights issues are boiling over right now, and I don't think NI wants to be on the wrong side of it. I purchased this product, I own it, and I should NOT BE DENIED ACCESS TO MY PURCHASE.
To add insult to injury, NI has blocked any direct access to customer support. It shoves an AI in your face that does absolutely nothing helpful. It tells me I can use an iLok but I do not have one and cannot find any confirmation that this information is accurate. It also refuses to give me access to a human to resolve my problem until I provide a serial number. My Kontakt 5 I just re-installed on my computer has a blank space where the serial number is, probably because it isn't registered, which is EXACTLY THE PROBLEM I AM DEALING WITH. Even more upsetting, my purchase does not show up in my account here on the NI website… probably because I purchased this before the website migration in 2021. I purchased in 2018.
I can provide a screenshot of my purchase confirmation email from 2018 and a screen grab of my new Kontakt install missing the serial number on my offline computer.
I am deeply regretting trusting Kontakt with my money and now I cannot use a large number of my plugins because of this. I want to talk to a freaking human being to resolve my problem.
