Sorry, this is getting a litte off-topic.
So my last comment.

> There is no way to block out the end-user from accessing the database that

is 100% secure.

> Even if you encrypt the database you have to store the key somwhere, the

enduser has a chance to find the key and access the database.

Wrong.
You *COULD* (but shouldn't) store the key on a smartcard and use paladium
systems to give access to the card only to you application.

Nowadays a quite bad idea, maybe there is coming something.
Anyway, it CAN be done. I am not a fan of it.

Als already posted: The information is OWNED by the customer as soon as they
buy your product. And being afraid they buy cheeper support elsewhere tells
me, your support is not good enought or too expensive.

Regards,
Steffen