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From: dmt@mtgzz.UUCP (d.m.tutelman)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Re: software copying and protection
Message-ID: <1063@mtgzz.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 21-Aug-85 11:52:48 EDT
Article-I.D.: mtgzz.1063
Posted: Wed Aug 21 11:52:48 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 24-Aug-85 14:00:12 EDT
References: <268@sesame.UUCP> <6200059@hp-pcd.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Middletown NJ
Lines: 54

> <<<
> >... 
> > Finally, and most important I want a money-back guarantee.  If I buy, a 
> > kitchen appliance , a pair of pants, a set of Ginju knives advertised on TV,
> > or almost anything else in America and I don't like it I can take it back
> > and get my money back.  Why can't I do this for software?  
> > 
>   Better yet, find a record store that will sell you Kate Bush's new album
> and let you return it the next day for a full refund. (" I only played it
> once").

I have had experience with a local record store that accepted (on more
than one occasion) return of a cassette for a full refund.  In each case:
   -	The tape had some audio-quality defect that disturbed me. (Only
	one of the returns was for a quality defect that the sales
	person in the store admitted to hearing, but they accepted
	my dissatisfaction as fact.)
   -	I didn't make a copy that I kept.  Why should I?  It was defective.
	If I knew it were defective, I wouldn't have bought it in the
	first place. And if it weren't defective, I'd have kept it.

The analogy is relevant; we're looking for the SAME ATTITUDE from
software suppliers.  The record store knows the abuses that an
honorable attitude will invite from dishonorable customers.  But
they assume they are dealing with mostly honorable customers. And
I don't see them losing money!

<end reply>
<begin soapbox>

I don't know what the ultimate solution to the software piracy problem is,
but it can't be based on:
   -	the notion that the vast majority of potential customers
	are crooks.
   -	the notion that customers can't try something out - extensively -
	before they decide they want it.
   -	an inconvenient and restrictive mode of use for legitimate
	paying customers.

Note that I DON'T have any hangups that we need to punish software
suppliers for their greed.  That would be a pretty silly position
for someone making his livelihood from software development.  I just
believe that the market for software is still maturing, and has
yet to establish a practical set of norms.  It will probably be
market norms (and not some hi-tech protection) that eventually
solves the problem.

<end soapbox. sorry!>

			Dave Tutelman
			Physical - AT&T Information Systems
				   Holmdel, NJ 07733
			Logical  - ...ihnp4!mtuxo!mtgzz!dmt
			Audible  - (201)-834-2895