Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!portal!cup.portal.com!FelineGrace
From: FelineGrace@cup.portal.com (Dana B Bourgeois)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Pirates and swapware
Message-ID: <31355@cup.portal.com>
Date: 2 Jul 90 21:14:07 GMT
References: <9006191800.AA01674@astro.psu.edu> <25413@usc.edu>
  <90172.152115GHGAPAR@BLEKUL11.BITNET>
  <1990Jun22.183227.2638@cbnewsl.att.com>
Distribution: na
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 33

Saify Lenwala says:

(paraphrased)- how about a machine serial number for software to use
               as copy protection.

This will stop me from using the software on my second machine, on my
friends machine, at a user group demo, at a show demo.  It is unacceptable.

I might accept it if the pricing were changed, however.  Price the box, disc,
docs and one allowed serial number at $5 less than it is now.  Allow extra
serial numbers at $1 each (for up to 5) at the time of purchase.  Or vary
the numbers to suit but don't increase the price.  Remember that you are
removing something I can do now and inconveniencing me.  I want something
for what I am giving up.  Maybe I could live with mailing in for extra
serial numbers when I register.  Transferring serial numbers should
be at no charge except I pay for copies of whatever proof you want
and postage.  Anything mailed back should be at no cost to me.

I could live with that but I fear that no one would buy hardware with
the serial number 9C9#LO`
***** line noise *****
the serial number because they wouldn't trust the software people to 
not screw them worse than dongles.  At least dongles can be moved to a
different machine!  It would take an IFF-type standard with everybody
buying into it and warning notices on the boxes of major software
before I would be comfortable with the serial number route.  At least
now if I feel a license is obnoxious, I can ignore the bad parts and 
make my legal backups.  It takes trust to give that up.

Dana Bourgeois @ cup.portal.com

PS Marco talks tuff but you gotta like the copy protection he uses and
his licensing agreement.