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From: dlow@hpspcoi.HP.COM (Danny Low)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer
Subject: Re: Copy Protection
Message-ID: <10210002@hpspcoi.HP.COM>
Date: 21 Mar 90 18:07:07 GMT
References: <2796@dlvax2.datlog.co.uk>
Organization: HP Lovecraft Division
Lines: 27

>We wish to evaluate possible copy protection methods that could
>be used for PC software. One option we have examined is the use of
>a "dongle", could anybody suggest alternative methods (or references to
>articles which discuss them) which might not need the use of specific 
>hardware.
>Regards,
>	Dave Artus	<djna@datlog.co.uk or mcvax!datlog!djna>

This is like asking for the best way to commit suicide. I will not
buy or recommend any work software that is copy protected. 
No If's And's or But's. I have encountered too many problems in the 
past with protected software that I was forced to used. In the USA, 
copy protection is virtually unknown except for games. The last holdout of
any size, Lotus, has dropped copy protection and even sell
a protection breaker for people with older copies of
their software. Even with games, most
companies are going to a document based protection scheme
(e.g. Type in 5th word in 1st paragraph on page 10.)

Copy protection is not very compatible with networks. So that
is an entire market that is locked out by any copy protection
scheme.

			   Danny Low
    "Question Authority and the Authorities will question You"
	   Valley of Hearts Delight, Silicon Valley
     HP SPCD   dlow%hpspcoi@hplabs.hp.com   ...!hplabs!hpspcoi!dlow