Is there a program that can serialize compressed content?

Ideal would be to have something where you have to fill in a username that requires an unique serial number. If correct the content is unzipped.

I've been searching tucows and google,but didn't find anything. Perhaps I used the wrong search term (serializer, serial number)

Any tips/help would be great!

I'm would use zip because it's supported on both mac and pc.
Winzip only offers password protection, no serial numbers + user name.

Another possibility is to create an asp.net/asp serial generator that stores a serial number based on the Author name where the group id = x (where x is a customer enabled account) and stores the serial number in a new table. This would also enable me to send out automated emails containing the serial number + it can be easily modified as a mod (of good use 2 anyone who wants to protect their stuff and has wwf installed). This can all be tied to a download script of course. 

issue 1 is, where can i find an asp.net/asp serial number generator? Asp.net and hotscripts doesn't seem to pass any results 

issue 2 it will only protect the download process, not the file itself...but it might give u some ideas.

If you just need to create random numbers and record them in a database, it isn't hard. If you need an algorithm, try searching for "serial algorithm" and checking some of the security sites on encryption. There are lots of free schemes out there. A hash could work.

Otherwise just use a command line script with any compression utility that can password protect the archive. But you have to do it for each download then...  Rather taxing for the server if you have a lot of downloads.

ALZip is free, and the next version will have command line documentation. ComponentOne has a zip class that comes with the VB.NET resource kit I think. Lots of options. But you need to code it yourself...

Generating serial numbers in .NET is easy. Take a look at the System.GUID Namespace.