Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!gargoyle!oddjob!mimsy!chris
From: chris@mimsy.UUCP (Chris Torek)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Copy protection etc
Message-ID: <10332@mimsy.UUCP>
Date: 25 Jan 88 11:53:30 GMT
References: <4663@watdragon.waterloo.edu> <22628@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <1869@optilink.UUCP>
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
Lines: 21

In article <1869@optilink.UUCP> cramer@optilink.UUCP (Clayton Cramer) writes:
>As much as I hate copy protection schemes, I appreciate why they exist --
>I've worked with far too many people over the years who think nothing of
>buying a program, then offering everyone they know a copy of it.  The
>rationalization is usually, "I wanted it, and it was overpriced."  I
>usually respond with, "A Mercedes is overpriced also.  Are you planning
>to steal one?"  The conversation usually ends right there.

Indeed.  But as it happens, I have constructed a matter duplicator.
If you will provide the raw materials---an equivalent mass of copper
will do---and a borrowed Mercedes or Jag (or whatever you prefer),
I will fire it up, and in a few minutes you will have two.

And therein lies the problem.  You can return the borrowed car, yet
still have your own.

Fortunately, my matter duplicator just dissolved back into a pile
of imaginary particles, so I need not face that one now.  :-)
-- 
In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 7163)
Domain:	chris@mimsy.umd.edu	Path:	uunet!mimsy!chris