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From: val@netw23.uucp (Oberon Kenobi)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games
Subject: Copy protection {Psygnosis: PLEASE READ}   (Re: Lemmings)
Message-ID: <104@netw23.uucp>
Date: 16 Mar 91 16:38:45 GMT
Article-I.D.: netw23.104
Organization: Weber State University, CS DEPT.
Lines: 32


     Copy protection is bad for the consumer.  What is bad for the consumer is
inherently bad for the company.

     I make it a personal point to NOT BUY software that has disk-based
copy-protection.  I've had too many personal experiences of games (fun games at
that) with disk based copy protection that died.  This software is now useless
to me.

     I am infatuated with "Lemmings."  (I had occasion to play someone elses
copy.)  I was ready to rush right to the software store to buy it, but alas, it
was from Psygnosis.  The publisher doesn't discourage me, it's the disk-based
copy-protection.  If people won't buy their software because of disk-based
copy-protection, then how will the company continue?

#pragma	soapbox	on
     I would prefer no copy-protection, but there are those of little social
conscience.  (i.e.: software pirates, thieves, murderers, etc..)  I know a
rampant pirate that (says) he limits himself to only copy-protected software
that has no copy-protection (e.g.: pre-copy-protected version or removed by a
third party).  This choice doesn't limit the others from whom he receives his
stolen (pirated) software.  Q.E.D: Disk-based copy protection doesn't work.
#pragma	soapbox	off

     As such, I am willing to live with other methods of copy-protection.  Such
protection can include, but is not limited to: code wheels, xerox-resistant
(preceeding words intentionally left lowercase) code look-up sheets, manual
look-up, and even dongles WITH TRANSPARENT pass thru.

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