Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!husc6!bbn!uwmcsd1!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!aehl
From: aehl@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (Donald J Aehl)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: De-Protecting IIgs Programs
Message-ID: <4255@uwmcsd1.UUCP>
Date: 19 Jan 88 20:23:20 GMT
Sender: news@uwmcsd1.UUCP
Reply-To: aehl@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (Donald J Aehl)
Organization: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Lines: 54

A while back (before semester break) there were some postings on this 
newsgroup with regard to de-protection of IIgs software.  I greatly appreciated
this information.  It helped me to make backup copies of the protected software
which I owned at the time and helped me to decide which programs that I would 
purchase in the future (I have found that it is best to avoid copy-protected
software if it is possible). 

If anyone has obtained any further information along these lines I would
really appreciate it if you could pass it along (either by posting the info
to this newsgroup or emailing it to me).  Recently, I purchased Instant Music
and Fantavision GS.  Both of these programs are spectacular! Yet, I cannot
make a backup of either without extra payments and a 4-6 week wait.
I am hoping that someone can pass along Compuserve info (as was done before) 
so I can avoid this costly route to abtaining backups.

Also, I would really appreciate any information about protection and the
software currently available for the Apple IIgs.  I know that some companies
have been re-releasing their programs without protection, and I applaude this
decision.  I think its great that software producers are beginning to realize
that copy-protection just doesn't make sense on anything that isn't an arcade
game.  High-performance programs just don't mix well with protection and only
cause a big headache for those who use them regularly.  Activision has dropped
protection from Paintworks Plus, Music Studio, Draw Plus, Writer's Choice
elite. Datapak has dropped protection from GraphicWriter 2.0.  I'm not sure
about any other developments.

I have heard that Electronic Arts is releasing Bard's Tale GS without 
protection, can anyone confirm this?  And I've also heard that Multiscribe GS 
version 3.0 is being released WITH copy-protection! Can anyone confirm this?
I was really eager to get this program upon release, now I'm not so sure.
Correct me if I'm wrong but the earlier Multiscribe GS's were released
without copy protection weren't they?

Finally, has anyone gotten to use Copy II Plus version 8?  I recently saw
an add for this program in the latest issue of NIBBLE.  It claims to be
able to make backups of protected IIgs 3.5" disks (via bit copying). 
Very little info was given in the add, can anyone supplement what is
provided there?  Anyone have a list of programs which it can copy?

I would like to stress that I am mentioning this topic only as a concerned
software purchaser and user.  I am interested in using such information in
order to make backups of programs which I have rightfully purchased and am
a registered owner of.  Once again, thanks go in advance to anyone who is
helpful enough to respond to my questions.

Thanx.   


==============================================================================
ARPA: aehl@csd4.milw.wisc.edu        USMAIL: Donald Aehl            


UUCP: ihnp4!uwmcsd1!uwm-evax!aehl    ICBM:   43 4 58 N / 87 55 52 W
==============================================================================