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From: hes@ecsvax.UUCP (Henry Schaffer)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc,net.micro
Subject: Re: software protection - dongles & other gizmos
Message-ID: <1775@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 27-Jul-85 22:52:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.1775
Posted: Sat Jul 27 22:52:50 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 29-Jul-85 06:35:23 EDT
References: <433@othervax.UUCP>
Organization: NC State Univ.
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Xref: watmath net.micro.pc:4722 net.micro:11182

In a perfectly reasonable discussion of problems with copy
protection methods which rely on serial numbers of dongles or
cpus, I mention the problem with running two different programs
on two different machines if the two programs require the same
dongle.  The referenced article flames me for advocating the
running of one program on several cpus simultaneously!
  Let me say it again.  The copyright law, and most software
licenses, allow you to use a purchased program on different
cpus at *different* times.  ("You may physically transfer the
Program from one of your own computers to another of your
computers provided that the Program is used on only one
computer at a time." - Quoted from the Sorcim Corp. License
for Supercalc 3)  I could not do this if the program was 
keyed to a specific dongle which was used by many other
programs and was in use with another cpu that day (or year.)
  The keying to a cpu serial number was (is) common in the
mainframe world - in which you don't change cpus frequently,
in which the cpu serial number doesn't change because your
computer was repaired by swapping mother boards, etc.
Methods appropriate for expensive and big mainframes may
very well be inappropriate for micros.
  While I am strongly opposed to software piracy, I also
am opposed to vendors making their products in such a way
that I can't use them effectively.
  (pardon the semi-flame)
--henry schaffer  n c state univ