Users who purchased second hand DaVinci Resolve Studio dongles (that did not originally come from a legitimate BMD reseller), revealed that the dongles are no longer recognized and won’t work with future versions of Resolve, including 15.2.1 version. Conclusion: Only buy original dongles! However, do not buy dongles from eBay before reading this:

Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Studio pirated dongle

DaVinci Resolve 15 Studio (Dongle)

DV Resolve is free. However, the Studio version costs $299.

The Studio version includes support for 4K and higher, additional image processing features and filters that are not in the free version, like film grain, temporal and spatial noise reduction, new face enhancement tools, lens flares, lens distortion correction, optical quality blur and mist effects.

The Studio version costs $299 and activated by a USB Dongle that lets you use the software on as many computers as you want by inserting the dongle into the one you want to use at the time.

BUY Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Studio on B&H

Cheaper dongles from unauthorized sellers

Nevertheless, there are numerous ways to buy cheaper and secondhand dongles from unauthorized dealers, like eBay sellers. You can find DV Resolve Studio dongles under $200.

However, users who purchased those cheaper dongles revealed that the dongles are no longer recognized by the new version of DV Resolve Studio.

You can find this hot discussion in Blackmagic Design forum

User: “I have just updated to Version 15.2.1 and now it wants an activation key even though there is a dongle. Can you please explain what to do?”

Blackmagic Design:” My guess is you may have a second hand dongle that did not originally come from a legitimate BMD reseller. If that’s not the case and you have proof of purchase from a BMD reseller with the original package serial number for the dongle you can contact your local BMD support office. Alternatively you wont be able to upgrade to 15.2.1”

My guess is you may have a second hand dongle that did not originally come from a legitimate BMD reseller…you wont be able to upgrade to 15.2.1

Another user: “Does this mean that the dongles are no longer recognized and won’t work with future versions of Resolve?”

Blackmagic Design:” Activation keys are the norm now for all new orders. Legitimate BMD dongles continue to work. If you have a dongle from v6.x or more recently that is from an authorized BMD supplier it will work. The dongles that don’t work now are from non authorized sources. They wont work in the future for any new versions. Anyone who is offering 100 dongles at a reduced price is clearly not likely to be finished with them after a job and trying to sell them, they are not likely to be legitimate dongles. If in doubt, purchase an activation key from an official BMD reseller.”

It is a long discussion between furious users that remain with a cheaper dongle that turned into a plastic unusable USB.

Anyone who is offering 100 dongles at a reduced price is clearly not likely to be finished with them after a job and trying to sell them, they are not likely to be legitimate dongles

Be aware

Seems like Blackmagic Design wants to fight software piracy, so If you want to take no chances, buy your Studio dongle from authorized seller. If you pursue for a cheaper option like eBay, you should be aware of those red lights:

Price that is significant cheaper than $299.

Original box is missing.

Large quantity of sold dongles.

Marketing statements.

Click to enlarge the slide below that demonstrates a regular eBay DaVinci Resolve Studio dongle sale. Look at the red text and be aware.