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From: johnl@ima.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Copy Protection - a case stu
Message-ID: <131300004@ima.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 15-Dec-85 23:44:00 EST
Article-I.D.: ima.131300004
Posted: Sun Dec 15 23:44:00 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Dec-85 04:45:11 EST
References: <31@gumby.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:gumby:-3100:ima:131300004:000:845
Nf-From: ima!johnl    Dec 15 23:44:00 1985


/* Written  3:53 pm  Dec 13, 1985 by kucharsk@gumby in ima:net.micro.pc */
/* ---------- "Re: Re: Copy Protection - a case stu" ---------- */
> 	(c) On EVERY distributed diskette, include (somewhere)
> 	    in the code an encrypted serial number. Keep a
> 	    record of which user has which serial number.

For software that is sold at retail, this is practically impossible.  The
vendor sells the boxes to a distributor who sells it to a store who sells
it to and end user, and none of the intermediates have much interest in
keeping track of serial numbers.  You can beg and plead and cajole all you
want, but most users do not send in their registration cards, even though
it's free, it gets them a free backup disk, a subscription to the newsletter
and a free three-week vacation in Hawaii.  Wish it were that easy.

John Levine, ima!johnl