Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!vsi1!altnet!uunet!portal!cup.portal.com!Richard_Alan_Kaapke
From: Richard_Alan_Kaapke@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Copiers
Message-ID: <10551@cup.portal.com>
Date: 27 Oct 88 05:56:00 GMT
References: <58125JJL101@PSUVM> <2500@rtech.rtech.com>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 26

FTL wouldn't have been able to sell Dungeon Master far & wide if they had
little or no copy protection. Many software DISTRIBUTORS, the people who
REALLY get software to market, were adamant about copy protection on games.
This is why some larger software houses (Electronic Arts, for example)
ARE distributors for (at least) their own products. FTL simply isn't the
size of EA or Broderbund, so they have to do some 'dirty' work to get their
products sold.

Additionally, there's the SPA - Software Publishers Association (pro-
copy protection, including harder legislation and litigation) that also
foments the continued use and implementation of copy protection. FTL
doesn't like to do the copy protection, but they have no real say about
it - if you want to make a case against copy protection like DM has, as
well as other related beefs, contact the SPA and let them know your view-
points. Sorry, *I* don't know their address.

Of particular note: software exported from America to Europe and points
abroad MUST be copy protected, or the overseas people don't want to take
a chance on it. As I recall, even EA software for export had to still be
copy protected, even though domestically, it isn't. That MAY have changed,
now that EA can do this business themselves and have such a popular line that
they can actually throw their weight around.

Richard Kaapke, voice of the Running Giggler "Heh-HEE-Ha-Ha!"
Consultant to, NOT spokesman for, FTL Games.
Richard_Alan_Kaapke@PORTAL.CUP.COM