DA 2 doesn't have securom, bioware has denied it and it seems to only exist on Review copies of the game.

It's been confirmed that the disc version has SecuROM.

There's a chance they forgot to remove the same way they forgot to include that thingamajig.

"We've already talked about this here, but I'll re-iterate again...

We don't use Securom DRM.
We use a release control product which is made by the same team, but is a completely different product.


The constrast between the two couldn't be greater - it is night and day.

For those not aware, the hype/hysteria around 'Securom' is tied to Securom DRM, a separate product.  This is typically used by many games for disc based drm and can be used for digital as well.  This DRM installs several protected files and registry entries and as part of protecting itself and makes it very hard for a person to manually attempt to remove these - amongst other reasons (as i'm over-simplifying for brevity) that product is essentially what players are concerned about.

The release control software we use does none of this.  As we've said before it simply does a check of the date against an online server when you run the game.  If the street date has passed, it allows you to play and removes itself.   We use this and only this, and not the Securom DRM.

Someone also pm'd me that apparently it leaves behind a couple library files in the temp directory, which are named securom or their signature when examined mentions securom and that this was mentioned on an external site claiming proof that we've snuck securom in.  

I haven't been able to check these files personally yet, but as these are inert files sitting in the temp folder after removing itself, I still don't see the issue.  Most developers (including ourselves) re-use libraries we create all the time.  These are likely common utility files (e.g. contact a server) which do not make any sense to re-write from scratch when you have a perfectly usable generic library that already works. 

The fact it leaves some inert files behind (while not great practice) is common with nearly every piece of software on windows.  Again, the files are inert and you can simply delete them manually - sometimes you just can't remove everything as files may be in use as part of the removal step of the program itself (something is running to do the removal).   

But to go from that to say that we've installed Securom DRM is like saying because DA2 uses common Microsoft libraries, we have clearly gone and snuck in Games for Windows Live now.  That's the kind of 'jump' in assumptions we're talking about.

As for the site claiming this (again, I admit I haven't had the opportunity to check yet - I did a while back but just got 403 errors on the page), if that is what they are claiming then sadly they are doing a great disservice to their audience.  Anyone that has ever actually used/installed SecuROM DRM and this, and is reasonably impartial in their assesment (ie. is not jumping to conclusion because they see the word 'securom' on the pop up) should be able to clearly tell the two things apart - and appreciate how far apart they actually are.


Incidentally, since the game is now unlocked world wide, everyone should have this auto-removed already anyway.

In any case, if you are still concerned about the files left behind in the temp folder, then either clear out your temp folder or let me know and I'll dig them up once back in the office and provide the file by file names so you can manually delete these.  (Worth noting that if we were actually using Securom DRM, this would not be possible to do).

F."
http://social.bioware.com/forum/Dragon-Age-II/Dragon-Age-II-General-Discussion-No-Spoilers-allowed-here/Dragon-Age-2-Final-DRM-and-FAQ-6194280-1.html

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/141/index/6194280/29#6490247

So, did he get back to his office and figure out yet?

More info from Bioware:

Hi Everyone.

Some people are still questioning the Dragon Age II DRM (Digital Rights Management), specifically whether or not a system called SecuROM is used or not.

Dragon Age II does not use SecuROM DRM. Any statements made to the contrary are false. The confusion stems from the use of Release Control which is also made by Sony. Release Control was employed to protect the game against usage prior to its release date. These are two different technologies with different purposes. Release Control in no way affects users’ rights to access after launch, and its executable automatically deletes itself once the Release Control process is finished. For more information, please visit Dragon Age II Support.

FAQ

Do you use SecuROM DRM?
No, the game does not use SecuROM DRM.  Dragon Age II uses a technology from the Sony SecuROM technology group called Release Control.  While Release Control is made by the same development team as SecuROM DRM, Release Control is simply a technology that involves a one-time startup check with a server to confirm that official street date for the game has passed.  Once the street date has passed and the check is done, this software is removed.

What are the differences between SecuROM DRM and Release Control?
Among other things, SecuROM DRM is a technology used to prevent against unauthorized copying and access of software, and may be disc based or involve online activation.

Release Control is a completely different product with a different purpose.  Release Control’s sole purpose is to protect software until its street date, by doing an online server check on initial game startup to confirm the street date has passed, at which point it removes itself. 

Why did I see a pop-up message that says SecuROM when I installed my game before the official release date?
Release Control is a separate Sony product from SecuROM DRM, but is developed by the same technology group and support is provided through a common Sony customer support site. That is why SecuROM branding and the SecuROM support URL appear in Release Control.

When my installation and online check are completed, why are there files remaining in my temp folder saying SecuROM?
Both SecuROM DRM and Release Control products are made by the same company, and as such they share a small number of common utility library files.  This is common to any software development – for example, developers often use Microsoft common libraries for Windows-based software or re-use internally created libraries with a discreet purpose across multiple products (e.g. connect to a server), rather than duplicating or re-writing the same code for each product. 
 
Although Release Control has an auto-removal process, these inert library files are left in a windows temp directory.  This is also common practice with software.  But these files are indeed inert and you can easily, manually remove them by doing a simply temp folder cleanup.  There are no SecuROM DRM product files installed.

We hope this clears up any outstanding questions about Dragon Age II DRM. 



 

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/141/index/6509752

Seems like a confusion. However its not secuROM and that's what matters.

So, it's SecuROM but not SecuROM?

Why the hell didn't they just give it a completely different name and not use SecuROM branding?

From what I got after reading their forums, this program is made by the same team that made secuROM(Sony), and has some files in common with that program, but is not secuROM nor does it behave like secuROM. Unlike secuROM these files can be deleted easily, since the program auto-uninstalls itself and any temp files remaining can be deleted by you.

Bioware has a seperate DRM that doesn't require you to use your disc or be online just like Mass effect 1.

So basically the game can be run without this program so saying bioware used secuROM is kinda unfair imo. 

EDIT: As for your second statement, I agree lol.