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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!hao!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpfcla!ajs
From: ajs@hpfcla.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.crypt
Subject: Re: software piracy and coupons - (nf)
Message-ID: <2373@hp-pcd.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 9-Nov-83 03:31:16 EST
Article-I.D.: hp-pcd.2373
Posted: Wed Nov  9 03:31:16 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 11-Nov-83 00:52:03 EST
Sender: notes_gateway@hp-pcd.UUCP
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO
Lines: 21

#R:allegra:-194700:hpfcla:14400001:000:937
hpfcla!ajs    Nov  7 17:25:00 1983

There is a fairly  reliable way to secure  software, but  (naturally) it
takes  more work.  What you need is a machine  serial  number  buried in
[[E]P]ROM  somewhere,  readable  by any  application  program.  Now  the
software  can check  this  number  and  refuse to run  except on certain
system(s).  Finding  and  changing  a  serial  number  can be  close  to
impossible.

Of course, each copy of the software  package must be configured  to the
system(s) it can run on.  If you can do the right magic to the software,
you can  convince it to skip the serial  number  check, but then, if you
can twiddle the object bits, all bets are off anyway.

(On the HP9000 Series 500 we provide  programmed-in  serial  numbers for
customer use.  They are readable via additional uname(2) fields.)

Alan Silverstein, Hewlett-Packard Fort Collins Systems Division, Colorado
ucbvax!hplabs!hpfcla!ajs, 303-226-3800 x3053, N 40 31'31" W 105 00'43"