Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!mcdchg!behemoth!mph
From: mph@behemoth.UUCP (Mark Huth)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Dark Castle copy protection
Message-ID: <1613@behemoth.UUCP>
Date: 9 Dec 88 21:29:56 GMT
References: 
Reply-To: mph@behemoth.UUCP (Mark Huth)
Organization: Motorola Microcomputer Division, Tempe, Az.
Lines: 56

In article  mp1u+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael Portuesi) writes:
>...
>
>The people arguing for copy protection can simply go to hell.  I paid
>$25 for this program and I have the right to use it in any manner I
>please.

Unforunately, you probably did not pay $25 for this program and you
probably do not have the right to use it anyway that you please.

You probably bought a license to use the program in the the manner
specified in the license.  With the exceptions of certain "fair use"
extension to those rights, you don't have the right to use the program
in any other manner.  

I hate copy protection, but have been unable to stick to my resolve
not to buy copy protected software.  I put off buying Dr. T's midi
stuff for quite a while because it is copy protected, but finally
bought a bunch of it the other day.

What we need is a group like AA to help us in those moments of
weakness when we cannot resist the temptation of software and buy that
which we know is harmful to ourselves and the industry in general.
You know, like someone to call before I buy my next copy protected bit
of software.

"Hello, Joe?  Ya' gotta' help me.  I'm at Confuser Discontents and
just saw this really wonderful program."

"Well, Mark, how can I help."

"This program has wonderful graphics in hyper-realtime, and the sounds
are beyond belief.  Just like being in the shuttle at throttle up."

"So what's the problem?"

"It's (gasp) copy protected.  (Sob)  I know it's no good for me, but
the pull is really strong.  I don't know if I can resist."

"Hang on there, brother, we got an emergency team on the way.
Meanwhile, remember last time you went on a CP binge?  The long hours
dumping files looking for the absolute file names so you could move it
to the hard disk?  The curses you wrote on the warantee registration
card that got the Postmaster General on your case for using the mails
to promote obscenity?  How about all that time you spent trying to
find the key disk validation routine to defeat it?  And what about
your keyboard?  Last time it almost left you because you became so
abusive.  It is really worth it for one fix of unCRACKable software?"


Well, what do you all say.  Can we really boycott the copy protectors?
Can we put this evil menance out of our lives?  Or will we turn our
beloved country into a police state?  If anyone can do it, we on the
net can.

Mark Huth