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From: fgd3@jc3b21.UUCP (Fabbian G. Dufoe)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Copy protection: A marketing analysis
Message-ID: <131@jc3b21.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Jul-87 12:50:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: jc3b21.131
Posted: Wed Jul 22 12:50:06 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jul-87 01:38:27 EDT
References: <207@cc5.bbn.com.BBN.COM> <892@omepd> <1393@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU>
Distribution: na
Organization: St. Petersburg Jr. College, FL
Lines: 46
Summary: What if you have to replace your computer?

In article <1393@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU>, ralph@mit-atrp.UUCP writes:
> In article <892@omepd> hah@mipon3.UUCP (Hans Hansen) writes:
> >The Amiga should have had an ID ROM in each machine
> >that is unique from all others.  All programmers that felt the need to protect
> >their programs would then burry the cusotmers ID within the program the first
> >time it was loaded.
> >
> Hmmm.... now this seems to be a fair way to go about things. Anyone know
> if CBM has included such a thing ? 
> And, secondarily, how about this idea: each person buys a *single* dongle
> which only contains a user "serial" number. It's the only one plugged
> into the machine, and all programs use it the same. When you first get the
> disk it is all copy protected to heck, and you perform a simple "installation"
> which makes note of you serial number and makes the software only work
> with that serial. Now if you want to visit your buddies and show them some
> programs you just *bought*, you merely bring along yer dongle (sounds
> wierd :-) ). If you loose it, no problem. It's just like car keys. You have
> the serial number someplace, and you get a new set of keys (dongle) cut (made).

     I really liked the license agreement Borland used with Turbo Pascal.
It said treat this program as you would a book.  You may use it on any
computer.  You may loan it to someone else.  But only one person may use it
at a time.

     Building a serial number into the computer limits you to using only a
single machine.  What if you have to replace it?  What if you want to take
a program to the office?

     The serial-number-in-a-dongle is a better idea.  It allows you to use
a different computer.  But if you lend your program to someone else (with
the dongle) you won't be able to use your other programs (your friend has
the dongle, remember?).  Dongles for each program lose because they only
allow you to run one program at a time.  That isn't why I bought a
multi-tasking computer.

     I hate to see schemes which would increase the manufacturing cost of
software.  Any copy protection scheme I've seen makes the program more
cumbersome to use.  Dongles do that, but they also increase the cost of
producing it.

--Fabbian Dufoe
  350 Ling-A-Mor Terrace South
  St. Petersburg, Florida  33705
  813-823-2350

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