Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ecsvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!ecsvax!dgary From: dgary@ecsvax.UUCP (D Gary Grady) Newsgroups: net.micro Subject: Re: Re: software copying and protection (a personal opinion) Message-ID: <260@ecsvax.UUCP> Date: Thu, 15-Aug-85 17:32:42 EDT Article-I.D.: ecsvax.260 Posted: Thu Aug 15 17:32:42 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 04:09:09 EDT References: <409@brl-tgr.ARPA> <95@duvel.UUCP> <35@intelca.UUCP> Organization: Duke U Comp Ctr Lines: 24 > I have yet to meet a single computer owner who would not take a pirated > program if was offered to him. I think you're a little naive. I've been offered and turned down pirated copies of software on several occasions, usually dispensing a lecture at the same time (ask anyone who knows me what a pain I am!). > I have also not meet many people who have tape decks or VCR who don't have > illegal copies of records, movies, or cable TV shows. There is nothing illegal about taping a record album you own or make a videotape of a television program. Other than those two comments, I tend to agree with everything you said. It's especially noteworthy that you acknowledge that making copying difficult is a major impediment to piracy, and that one way of doing this is with a necessary and hard-to-copy manual. That might discourage user-friendly software, but perhaps it's better than copy protection (which nobody likes, even when they understand the justification). -- D Gary Grady Duke U Comp Center, Durham, NC 27706 (919) 684-3695 USENET: {seismo,decvax,ihnp4,akgua,etc.}!mcnc!ecsvax!dgary