Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!rutgers!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!fluke!ssc-vax!eder
From: eder@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dani Eder)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Software Development And Piracy (Rejoinder)
Summary: discouraging copying
Message-ID: <2433@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: 18 Dec 88 18:38:50 GMT
References: <555@icus.islp.ny.us> <12296@cup.portal.com>
Distribution: na
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Corp., Seattle WA
Lines: 29


I have an idea I'd like to bounce off the net about software
distribution.  It goes like this:

Person desiring to purchase software calls vendor by modem.
Purchaser supplies VISA or Mastercard number and expiration
date.
vendor assembles unique edition of software, encoding credit
card number in obscure form such as names of monsters.
Unique edition downloaded to user.
When program runs, it displays credit card number as part
of startup.
Now if purchaser gives a copy away, he is also giving away
his credit card number.

Variation:  Software store has phone link to vendor.
When you go in the store, you give then your credit card #,
they call vendor's machine, download unique edition as above,
and stick it in the box with the manual.  Software stores
would have an incentive to go to a system like this
since it would tend to make people come in to buy software
rather than pirate.



-- 
Dani Eder / Boeing / Space Station Program / uw-beaver!ssc-vax!eder
(205)464-4150(w) (205)461-7801(h) 1075 Dockside Drive #905 Huntsville, 
AL 35824  34 40 N latitude 86 40 W longitude +100m altitude, Earth