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From: arh@bdaemon.UUCP (arh)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: Re: Copy Protection - a case study
Message-ID: <343@bdaemon.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Dec-85 14:43:08 EST
Article-I.D.: bdaemon.343
Posted: Tue Dec 17 14:43:08 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Dec-85 05:29:56 EST
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> 	(c) On EVERY distributed diskette, include (somewhere)
> 	    in the code an encrypted serial number. Keep a
> 	    record of which user has which serial number.

If you sell only via direct means, this may be doable, even
though a bit impractical.  But selling through distributors
and retailers will obviate this scheme (if you can get the
disribution channels to buy into this, let me know how!).

> 	(d) If you find a pirated copy of your code, check
> 	    the serial number and trace it back to the
> 	    source! 

How many opportunities to find stolen copies do you think
you'll get in your lifetime?  How much will it cost you in
time and dollars?  When will you get time to do any useful work?
Forget it - it isn't worth the effort.

I wrote a program called the Chrome Ranger in 1982, dutifully
copyrighted and "execution" protected it, and sold a few thousand
copies through IBM dealers.  The protection, such as it was,
did little to deter copying and definitely reduced sales,
especially to the hard-disk crowd.

I now sell the program without protection and find that it
sells itself on the basis of stolen copies.  Free advertising,
in effect.  Sure I lose some sales, but I make some that I
might not otherwise, so I still come out ahead.

Now I have time to write new programs instead of chasing after
crooks, who are usually 14-year olds that I can't or won't
prosecute anyway.

Augie Hansen
Omniware
Denver, Colorado