id software's Graeme Devine updated his .plan with some tips for those having trouble with their Q3A CD keys, the cause often apparently due to unsuccessful attempts to use a key generator:

Okay. I see a lot of people with “awaiting CD Key authorization” questions.

In almost all cases, this is due to the IP address of the authorize server being wrong because the hosts file on the client has somehow been altered. You can test to see if this is your problem by going to a DOS prompt and typing the following:

ping authorize.quake3arena.com

If you get the following, then your system has an invalid entry somewhere redirecting the authorize requests to the wrong IP address.

Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=32
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=32
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=32
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=32

If you’re running Windows 95/98, then in almost every case editing the file called “hosts” which resides in your c:windows (or wherever you’ve installedwindows) directory and removing any lines that mention authorize.quake3arena.com can fix this.

Various cracks and CD key gen utilities (none of which actually work) appear to be the culprit, adjusting your hosts file without your knowledge or consent.