Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!comp.vuw.ac.nz!virtue!hamish
From: hamish@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Copy Protection
Message-ID: <594.266152e9@waikato.ac.nz>
Date: 28 May 90 04:33:45 GMT
References: <6936@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU> <10451@ingr.com>
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
Lines: 53

In article <10451@ingr.com>, phil@ingr.com (Phil Johnson) writes:
> One of the easiest copy protection schemes would be for computer
> manufacturers to include a system id number in the system.  The
> user would provide their system id when they ordered the software.
> The software would then query the system whenever it was used.  I
> believe the amount of work required to set a method to workaround
> this extensive (enough so that a number of major software houses
> use it).
> 
> An example of this scheme is the use of the ethernet address of a
> workstation.  There are a number of these examples around now and
> from the past.  If you can get the manufacturers to provide the
> facility the rest of fairly secure, user transparent and non-
> abusive.
> -- 
> Philip E. Johnson                    UUCP:  usenet!ingr!phil
> MY words,                           VOICE:  (205) 730-8112
> MY opinion!
-- 

NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!

 What happens when the computer or ethernet card decides that it has had a
long & hard life and decides to take retirement early? Do I now have to buy
a new software package? Or am I just forced to lose money by not being able
to work until I can get a replacement program. (Yes I can replace the H/W
fairly quickly eg 20 mins).

 This in itself would be enough to put off any serious developer, knowing
that 1 and only 1 machine can be used to develope his new product.

 Same goes for games and any other software. If I can't take my software
and treat it like a book, ie use it myself on any machine I like, one at
a time, them I will not purchase it, and would make reccomendations that
nobody else buy it also.

 BTW I had the chance to use a very expensive piece of software that came
with one of these great invisible/passthru dongles on the serial port. Only
problem was it would cause the terminal multiplexor connected to the serial
port whenever I wanted to use the computer as a terminal. Makes that piece
of software either useless or damn inconvenient. EIther way I wouldn't 
fork out the hard earned money for it.

==============================================================================
|  Hamish Marson                        |  Internet  hamish@waikato.ac.nz    |
|  Computer Support Person              |  Phone  (071)562889 xt 8181        |
|  Computer Science Department          |  Amiga 3000 for ME!                |
|  University of Waikato                |                                    |
==============================================================================
|Disclaimer:  Anything said in this message is the personal opinion of the   |
|             finger hitting the keyboard & doesn't represent my employers   |
|             opinion in any way. (ie we probably don't agree)               |
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