Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site mips.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!glacier!mips!kim From: kim@mips.UUCP (Kim DeVaughn) Newsgroups: net.micro.amiga Subject: Re: Maxidesk, Deluxe Paint (long) Message-ID: <288@mips.UUCP> Date: Mon, 13-Jan-86 20:16:35 EST Article-I.D.: mips.288 Posted: Mon Jan 13 20:16:35 1986 Date-Received: Wed, 15-Jan-86 08:09:39 EST References: <831@caip.RUTGERS.EDU> <185@uscvax.UUCP> <1048@utcs.uucp> Organization: mips ... where RISC is a way of life Lines: 76 > I have DeluxePaint, and I've noticed a few things that seem strange. > Together, they smack of copy protection, but I'm not sure. > ... > > At this point, I'm postulating that the program has some copy protection > scheme whereby the original (presumably subtly damaged) disk must be online > somewhere during the initial boot-up. After that, you can (seemingly) remove > the original and run on the copy. > > Does anyone know if I am surmising correctly? Can anyone confirm or > contradict this from their experiences? Your surmising is right on target. EA is using a "key-disk" form of copy- protection on DPaint. > At that point, I have no > idea what policies of return and so forth Electronic Arts subscribes to, but > I am betting that I will be without the usage of my program for at least a > while. Somewhere in the documentation for DPaint, there is an "offer" to provide a "back-up" disk for $10. Sorry, I don't remember if it is in the "manual", the "reference card", or on the "registration postcard". I sent in my $10 back in mid-December, but haven't received the duplicate disk yet. Beyond that, I believe EA offers to replace a trashed disk for $7.50 upon receipt of the disk that's bad when accompanied by "proof-of-purchase". I'm not sure what the time-limit is on this, but it's mentioned in the Warranty somewhere. > While I sound very calm about all this, I am actually rather upset. I just > don't emote well in ASCII. But if only I could speak, face to face, with > the executive who thought he was doing his company some good by making his > program less than reliable ..................................... I agree 1000% with you. On the positive side, EA *has* been doing a fair amount of investigation into "alternative" methods of "protection" for their "productivity software". They state upfront that they will probably *always* copy-protect their games. On their productivity software, such as DPaint, they are looking at replacing copy-protection with things like: 1. Requiring the user to "unlock" the program by answering a question that relates to the package itself (e.g., What color is the circle in the 3rd picture shown on the inside cover of the jacket?) I would imagine there would be several possible question/answer pairs. 2. For a non-protected version of the program, encoding the purchasers credit-card number in the opening menu. The idea here is that (1) most people wouldn't intentionally "publish" their own account number, and (2) it would be possible to trace the number to the card-holder. 3. Provide two versions of the program: the cheap, mass-market, copy-protected version; also a more expensive, speciality-item, non-protected version. None of these alternatives is a perfect solution ... point is, EA *is* taking alot of heat over the protection issue on DPaint, and they *are* listening to their customers, which is more than I can say of most CP advocating software vendors I know of. The above information summarizes alot of postings on CompuServe in the Amiga SIG there (go pcs-61, if you're interested). Jay J.... (sorry, I don't remember his last name) of Electronic Arts is their representitive there. I have no affiliation with Electronic Arts or CompuServe. The above opinions are mine, but you are free to copy them if you like :-). /kim -- UUCP: {decvax,ucbvax,ihnp4}!decwrl!mips!kim DDD: 415-960-1200 USPS: MIPS Computer Systems Inc, 1330 Charleston Rd, Mt View, CA 94043