Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site psivax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!psivax!friesen
From: friesen@psivax.UUCP (Stanley Friesen)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: Re: Copy Protection
Message-ID: <896@psivax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 13-Dec-85 12:45:50 EST
Article-I.D.: psivax.896
Posted: Fri Dec 13 12:45:50 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 16-Dec-85 04:28:34 EST
References: <3624@think.UUCP> <131300002@ima.UUCP>
Reply-To: friesen@psivax.UUCP (Stanley Friesen)
Organization: Pacesetter Systems Inc., Sylmar, CA
Lines: 52

In article <131300002@ima.UUCP> johnl@ima.UUCP writes:
>
>In article <506@uvaee.UUCP> jaj@uvaee.UUCP (James A. Jokl) writes:
>>A friend ...
>>selling a Data Base Application Designed To Run on IBM PCs and compatables,
>>and wishes that it be copy protected.  ...
>
>Since there has been a great outpouring against copy protection here, I will
>try to paint the other side of the picture.
>
>Second, you have to keep in mind the needs of the user when you implement 
>your copy protection scheme.  Allow hard disk installation, without needing 
>the key disk to start up.  Allow de-installation, so the user can move to 
>another machine.  Allow an extra install, for the poor user whose disk 
>suddenly gets amnesia.  Include a backup copy of the key disk in the 
>package.
>
	This is *vital*, I will *not* buy a program that does not meet
these *minimum* qualifications, that is unless I already have the copy
protection breaker so I can install it on my hard disk rationally!
Note that I am not talking about using the breaker to get an illegal
copy, I am talking about using it to get my legally purchased program
converted into a useable form.

>Third, good manuals go a long way toward encouraging people to buy legal 
>copies of your program....  Similarly, provide good technical support for 
>your registered users.  Let people register over the phone, if they haven't 
>gotten around to sending in their registration card.  
>
	Oh, and provide updates to registered users *very* cheaply,
especially if the update involves a significant bug fix. (When I say
very cheply, I am talking about only a small mark-up from the price of
the medium - like maybe $10). 

>The only things that will resolve the current copy protection mess is 1) a
>distribution medium that is easy to use, unlikely to fail, and hard to copy,
>and 2) a software market that is large enough and mature enough that authors
>can expect to make a living selling software for $10 to $50.  We may be nearing
>the latter, but the former is nowhere near in sight, unless CD ROMs are an
>unexpected hit.
>
	Actually, I find #1 unacceptable, as you said above it is
important to allow machine migration and installation on hard disk. It
is also vital that the user *not* be required to insert some special
object to run the program, if a person owns more than a handful of
such programs the pain of juggling the inserts will get out of hand.
-- 

				Sarima (Stanley Friesen)

UUCP: {ttidca|ihnp4|sdcrdcf|quad1|nrcvax|bellcore|logico}!psivax!friesen
ARPA: ttidca!psivax!friesen@rand-unix.arpa