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From: gbs@voder.UUCP (George Smith)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: Re: Copy Protection
Message-ID: <936@voder.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Dec-85 12:51:34 EST
Article-I.D.: voder.936
Posted: Tue Dec 10 12:51:34 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Dec-85 07:36:26 EST
References: <3624@think.UUCP> <131300002@ima.UUCP>
Organization: National Semiconductor, Santa Clara
Lines: 45
Summary: The wrong people are being punished

In article <131300002@ima.UUCP>, johnl@ima.UUCP writes:
> 
> Since there has been a great outpouring against copy protection here, I will
> try to paint the other side of the picture.  Not to say that copy protection
> is a wonderful thing, but there are, unfortunately, good reasons why you
> would want to do it.
> 
> ... you have to keep in mind the needs of the user when you implement 
> your copy protection scheme.

AHH!  This is the heart of the matter.  The poor soul who pays their
hard earned cash is THE ONE THAT IS PUNISHED!  Not the people who
break legal and moral laws.  The person that paid for the software
has to put up with stupid key desks, never knowing when the master
disk is about to go bad (always at a critical time).  The person that
steals the software has no such worries.  Copy protection just hinders
the legal purchaser in using the software and they are the ones who
deserve far better.  Hasn't Borland shown software vendors the light yet?  

> 
> ... good manuals go a long way toward encouraging people to buy legal 
> copies of your program.

Another point that Borland has taken care of very nicely.  The format
that they use for their manuals is pretty much copy resistant for thiefs
(note the correct term for a thief is "thief" - not "pirate" or "copier").
And their manuals are easy to produce in quantity, easy to package for
shipment, easy to store, convenient to keep by the computer, etc, etc.

> The only things that will resolve the current copy protection mess is ...
> ... a software market that is large enough and mature enough that authors
> can expect to make a living selling software for $10 to $50.

Again, Borland has already shown the World that the time is ALREADY here.
Borland products list anywhere from $35 to $99 but are readily available
at large discounts.  From all accounts in newspapers, magazines, and even
television, Borland is doing QUITE well (thank goodness there is some
sense in the world).

> 
> John Levine, Javelin Software, Cambridge MA 617-494-1400
> { decvax!cca | think | ihnp4 | cbosgd }!ima!johnl, Levine@YALE.ARPA
> 
> The opinions above are solely those of a 12 year old hacker who has broken
> into my account, and not those of my employer or any other organization.