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From: higgin@cbmvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Copy protection: A marketing analysis
Message-ID: <2143@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 21-Jul-87 09:02:10 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbmvax.2143
Posted: Tue Jul 21 09:02:10 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 23-Jul-87 01:36:06 EDT
References: <207@cc5.bbn.com.BBN.COM>
Reply-To: higgin@cbmvax.UUCP (Paul Higginbottom SALES)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 28

In article <207@cc5.bbn.com.BBN.COM> denbeste@cc5.bbn.com.BBN.COM (Steven Den Beste) writes:
$[an analysis of the affects of various copy protections schemes.]
$     Steven C. Den Beste

First of all, thank you for an intelligent, in depth analysis of copy
protection methods.  I was tired of reading "religious ramblings".

However, having done contract software work during 1986, and having
wrestled with the protection issue from a commercial standpoint, I'd
like to add my $.02.

From an individual company's standpoint, I agree with you, the "dongle"
or "gizmo" (as you call it) approach cannot be beaten.  BUT, the only
snafu with these is that if a LOT of companies went with this approach
then the user's game port is going to wear out FAST due to the constant
pulling in and out of different gizmos.  Also, it defeats the purpose
of the multi-tasking element of the Amiga is these devices cannot be
daisy-chained.  One company might be able to make a range of chainable
dongles for it's range of products, but users will often buy products
from a number of vendors.  I think this is the only flaw with dongles.

Again, thanks for the rational analysis.


	Paul.

Disclaimer: these opinions are my own, and do not necessarily represent
the company I work for.