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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!ut-sally!ut-ngp!shell!neuro1!baylor!peter
From: peter@baylor.UUCP (Peter da Silva)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: Re: software protection - dongles
Message-ID: <336@baylor.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Aug-85 07:21:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: baylor.336
Posted: Mon Aug 12 07:21:57 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 21:19:38 EDT
References: <566@alberta.UUCP> <10800011@uiucdcsp>
Organization: Ancient Illuminated Seers of Bavaria
Lines: 25

> > If you're going to put part of the code in the dongle, why not put ALL of it
> > in the dongle? I mean, cartridge software is reliable and fast to load, and
> 
> Two comments:
> 
> 1.  A key with 1K ROM is a lot cheaper than a key with 300K ROM.  
>     One major goal is to keep key cost at $5-7.

True, but even a 300K ROM (why so big? The .exe file itself isn't 300K) is
a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of the typical copy-protected
package. And there's no reason to put libraries & other support in there, just
ws.exe and ws.ovl... $39.95 packages aren't typically $300K in size. Games
have been sold this way fpr years.

> 2.  The code is executed IN THE KEY.  This is not the same as the
>     PC executing ROM code from a key.  The 'software lock' passes
>     a subroutine ID and paramater block to the key, and the key
>     fiddles with it and passes a paramater block back.  Just

Oh what fun. Another way to slow down the computer. Isn't an 8088 slow enough
for you already? :->
-- 
	Peter da Silva (the mad Australian)
		UUCP: ...!shell!neuro1!{hyd-ptd,baylor,datafac}!peter
		MCI: PDASILVA; CIS: 70216,1076