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From: kim@mips.UUCP (Kim DeVaughn)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: Copy Protection
Message-ID: <255@mips.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 6-Dec-85 18:54:44 EST
Article-I.D.: mips.255
Posted: Fri Dec  6 18:54:44 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 9-Dec-85 03:31:08 EST
References: <506@uvaee.UUCP>
Organization: mips ... where RISC is a way of life
Lines: 88

[ ... go ahead, eat my bits ... ]

> A friend who is not on the net asked me to post this.  He is about to begin
> selling a data base application designed to run on IBM PCs and compatables,
> and wishes that it be copy protected.  Will anyone with information on where
> to purchase such copy protection software/hardware please respond to me by
> mail.  If there is sufficient interest, I will summarize to the net.

I would advise your friend to take a page from the Borland Success Story, and
put copy protection where it belongs ... in GOOD documentation, and GOOD
technical support (i.e., you only provide technical support and/or product
upgrades to Registered owners), with special "site" licenses for corporations
and schools, if the product warrents it.


[ climbing onto the soapbox, again ... ]

This prevents Hard-Disk Hassles, reduces product cost, improves reliability,
improves customer relations, and promotes good-will.  ANY copy-protection 
scheme (or, more accurately, execution-protection scheme) can and will be
be "cracked".  This is a fact of life.  The rational approach is to make the
best of a stuation that cannot be changed (unless you find a way to alter
human nature), and to find ways of cutting your losses ... WITHOUT BURDENING
YOUR CUSTOMERS, OR ASSUMING THEY ARE ALL THIEVES!

I'm sure that Borland *has* lost some sales, but then nearly every company
that sells a product has some "shoplifting" to contend with ... its a fact of
life, and is factored into their markup.  All in all, I don't think they
(Borland) has done too badly ... you ought to see their offices in Scotts
Valley!

Copy-protection only harms the honest user ... if one wants to break ANY
scheme, one can (and that includes Dongles).  Kind of reminds me of the
East vs. West arms race, and is just as stupid!

[ steps down off soapbox ... ]


Please tell your friend to at least consider the Borland Methodology as
an alternative.

/kim


Disclaimer:

Not necessarily the opinion of my employer ... but then, they DON'T buy
software that's copy-protected, either!


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-- 

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