https://bugs.winehq.org/show_bug.cgi?id=56512
--- Comment #5 from David dav75uk@yahoo.co.uk --- You can't activate in-program after the workaround as it doesn't have a valid serial number.
You can see this if you run ChessBaseAdminTool.exe which is distributed free with CBReader2017 (also free to download)
On running the tool I see the following for the serial number (including that for the CBReaders): 345#$a which I'm guessing is some 'null' valid.
For ChessBase 11 I see a valid number.
This might be because how it was installed, or a wine bug - hard to say.
Would it be possible to compare the installation of CBReader2017 on Windows and Linux+wine and see if there is a valid serial on the windows version vs the wine version. If so that should point at where to look and whether there is a fix.
The danger of fixing this of course is it still may fail to activate but patch the security which allows CBase17 to continue to run despite failing activation meaning the program is either hobbled or it fails / quits early.