to my knowledge, plimus is an e-commerce service provider, not a DRM provider -- it does have a key generation thing, but it's entirely optional. it doesn't have 'activations' and doesn't limit you to a certain number of installs. it's similar to bmt-micro and even paypal: a way for people to buy your game online.

if plimus is charging you 5$ to redownload a game you already bought, they're probably breaking the law, they shouldn't require that. i'd recommend emailing the developers about it and seeing if they know plimus is doing that; if plimus is indeed doing that they should probably change e-commerce service providers.

EDIT: re-reading the original post (from 2007!) it does seem that plimus has various drm options, including one of their own, so i'm wrong in saying above that they aren't a drm provider -- but they aren't *primarily* a drm provider in any case, they just offer it as a selectable option.

Yeah, sorry for bumping up an old thread! But I thought I'd respond to this since it's on here, a site I like and respect.

Wasn't a game, was just software. The seller presents themself as the developer, so... and the correspondence I've had where both the seller and Plimus attempt to justify additional charging on top of the $50 I've paid (e.g.: this policy is no different from Adobe or Microsoft...) is insane. Contacting Plimus and the seller both result in the same responses. I think it's against the law too but it's difficult to know how to pursue it. If they were based in the UK where I am, it would be easier.

Oh dear god.

I regularly check TIGS but had to register to comment on this topic.

As many people say here, DRM doesn't protect your product and it punishes the customer.

I am incredibly disappointed to see (after checking out their website) that the OP has decided to go with Plimus. I myself purchased software via a Plimus seller.
Basically, the seller didn't have T&Cs on their website when I purchased, otherwise I wouldn't have done so. I contacted them to re-activate after a computer re-format, and they revealed that they wanted $5 every time I reinstalled the software.
From your description of the DRM services Plimus provide, the seller's stance makes a lot of sense now if Plimus is squeezing him for money every time an activation code is generated.

I'd be curious about the OP's license policy rgarding their game, Aquaria. Adobe and Valve promise their products in perpetuity to the end user, and every other software I've bought has allowed unlimited activations so far. This seller's policy (possibly dictated by Plimus?) seems to be one of hook and then extort.