domainlocked

Domainlocked refers to a licensing or access control mechanism that binds software, services, or content to one or more specific Internet domains. When a product is domainlocked, it operates only when accessed from an approved domain, and use from other domains may be blocked or require additional authorization.

How it works varies by type. In web applications, the domain is verified against a license server during activation or at runtime. The server checks the reported domain (for example, via the HTTP Host header or a canonical domain) and issues a time-limited license token or enables the feature set if the domain is authorized. Some implementations also involve TLS client certificates or DNS verification. For desktop or hybrid software, domain locks are enforced through a central license server within the customer’s network or via a cloud service that matches the domain to the license and conducts periodic checks.

Common use cases include enterprise software distributed for use on defined corporate domains, plugins or modules intended for use on a specific site, and managed web applications used by a defined customer base.

Advantages of domainlocking include reduced license sharing across unrelated domains, centralized administration, and the ability to revoke access if a domain changes. Drawbacks include potential issues for legitimate customers who change domains or migrate infrastructure, challenges with dynamic or cloud-based domains, and the possibility of circumvention via DNS changes or editing host files. It can also introduce privacy and reliability concerns and add maintenance overhead.

Alternatives or complements include per-user or per-seat licensing, hardware-based dongles, online activation tied to devices, IP-based restrictions, or time-bound trials, selected to balance security and user experience.