Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!portal!cup.portal.com!FelineGrace
From: FelineGrace@cup.portal.com (Dana B Bourgeois)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Copy Protection
Message-ID: <30515@cup.portal.com>
Date: 4 Jun 90 22:07:14 GMT
References: <6936@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU> <90137.023945ESDYKE@MTUS5.BITNET>
  <939@tau.sm.luth.se> <44JY02Cia9F201@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com>
  <3681@milton.acs.washington.edu> <5002@zehntel.UUCP>
  <54999@microsoft.UUCP> <1990Jun2.061706.14627@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Distribution: na
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 59

::OK, OK!  I've off the net for awhile and I'm too weeks behind!::

Several points I want to pick on.  

1. Copy protection is stupid in general, necessary in particular
   situations.  This point was made by several people.  Popular
   games usually need copy protection until they become last year's
   hit.  Then drop the price and remove the protection and adults
   will probably continue buying it for awhile.

2. Most licenses say some gibberish about using the software on one
   machine only.  Some even say one CPU.  Now I feel if I paid good
   money for the damn product then it is no business of theirs *which*
   particular computer I use it on.  Long as I only use it on one
   computer at a time.  (and I don't take this to mean I can have
   multiple copies installed on several computer's hard drives.  That
   sophistry shouldn't pass a judge's review and it doesn't pass mine.)

3. The purpose of copy protection is to keep unpaid copies out of
   while not getting in the way of legitimate users.  Keeping me from
   making backup copies is getting in my way, understand that if any
   publishers are listening.  I bought a license to use the software
   which you won't warranty is fit for any use and there was no time
   limit on it so I still own the license even after the media it
   was on when I bought goes belly up!  And I want good, valid copies
   of the software so I can continue using the product when that 
   happens. 

4. Who was the well meaning idiot that wanted the hardware to have an
   ID so copy protected software would know what system it was on?
   excuse me but do you really want the publisher to lock you into a
   single system?  You think he's gonna lower the price of the software
   and make ID switches for free if your hardware enforces this? 
                    *** HINT: ***
   Remeber the guy who related the product his company leases to use on
   their large system has a date code that disables the software when
   the lease payment is due.  You want that kind of environment at home?

5. The majority of messages posted are on the right track.  Copy protect
   games if you feel you must but tell buyers on the outside of the 
   package.  Everybody else either do not copy protect or use a really
   nasty form like the dongle and allow people to pay for a non-copy
   protected "upgrade".  Word lookup is ingenious as is code wheels
   but on any system built since about 1985, it is easy for a slightly
   accomplished programmer to beat the system.  And on the Amiga with
   multi-tasking just how tough could it be?

6. I haven't made my mind up about key disk.  They can be nasty or
   more on the nice side.  Key disk while loading might be acceptable
   if new key disks are available for the price of the disk. ($1.00+
   postage).  When the key disk is needed very often - more than once
   per day - then the system is a real pain.  SimCity is my example.

Thank you all for slogging through this long message.

Dana Bourgeois @ cup.portal.com

Am I a pirate if I try a broken copy of your protected progam and verify 
I want it before I buy?  If I don't buy it I destroy all copies.  Well?