Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!jarthur!wilkins From: wilkins@jarthur.Claremont.EDU (Mark Wilkins) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer Subject: Re: Copy Protection Schemes Message-ID: <9754@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> Date: 21 Nov 90 16:25:28 GMT References: <27030.2749b519@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711 Lines: 32 In article n67786@assari.tut.fi (Nieminen Tero) writes: >And what would prevent the pirates from duplicating the uppdates also. >They must have in a position to make the copy in the first place so it's >hard to imagine they would't be able to pirate the updates too. > >Just want to stirr up the water. Nothing. However, when people get a copy of a copy of a copy of program X, it's a lot harder for the pirate at the end of the chain to get an update than it is for a registered user. Remember, to pirate efficiently a person has to be pretty well-connected, and what you're fighting against isn't that kind of person but the one who casually gets a copy and runs the same outdated version for five years. If you can get them to see the good in free updates by mail, they might very well buy. It's just a matter of providing more value than just the software. Those techniques don't just fight piracy, either; For example, I love FullWrite Professional but after years of owning it I get the impression that Ashton-Tate doesn't care about the Mac market. So I purchased MacWrite II, largely because of Claris' support, even though it isn't as capable for what I want to do. At least it will continue to work, whereas FWP is showing its age with no upgrades in sight. -- Mark Wilkins -- ******* "Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitude!" ********** *-----------------------------------------------------------------------------* * Mark R. Wilkins wilkins@jarthur.claremont.edu {uunet}!jarthur!wilkins * ****** MARK.WILKINS on AppleLink ****** MWilkins on America Online ******