The "i---" pattern is a classic "masked" search technique. Users intentionally obfuscate the term to avoid automated filters on search engines, forums, or torrent sites. Typically, this mask stands for a word that starts with 'I' followed by three letters.
Downgrade Rights: If you purchase a license for a newer version of SQL Server through Volume Licensing, you often have "downgrade rights" that allow you to legally run SQL Server 2012 using a legacy key provided by Microsoft. i--- Sql Server 2012 Enterprise Edition Product Key
If you are performing a disaster recovery or migrating an existing SQL Server 2012 instance to new hardware, you may need to retrieve your original key. The "i---" pattern is a classic "masked" search technique