| From: | Matthew Garrett |
| Date: | 16 Aug 2000 at 12:11:54 |
| Subject: | Re: Amiga Piracy |
On Wed, Aug 16, 2000 at 11:31:56AM +0100, Andy Wanless wrote:
> The only real option is for the software to run off to a server somewhere
> when you first use it with a keyfile and check it's a valid one. If you're
> not online, this won't work. And if you are, I suspect a lot of people
> wouldn't be happy about the idea anyway.
I'd have absolutely no problem with it if the documentation included
something along the lines of:
"When used online, this software may connect to a server to ensure that
your keyfile is valid. If it is determined that your keyfile is invalid,
the software may behave in unusual (but non-destructive) fashion. No data
will be communicated other than a one-way hash of your keyfile. If you do
not agree to this, you are not obliged to use the software and should
request a refund."
> And what happens if you have to reinstall the software? Checks the keyfile
> against the server, discovers that keyfile has already been used and
> assumes you've got your hands on someone elses keyfile?
The most obvious way would be to check if the keyfile is being used in
more than one place simultaneously.
> I don't think there's any _technical_ solution to piracy, or at least not
> one that doesn't make things difficult for legitimate users. Just have to
> get all legal on the pirates, really.
There is no way to prevent software being pirated, as given enough time
and skills people will be able to reverse engineer any copy protection
system. As has been suggested, the best solution is probably to make the
things that /can't/ be copied (the documentation, the technical support,
the quality of the packaging - little things that make owning it rather
than having a CD-R with a handwritten label more satisfying) high quality
and go after the big pirates (ie, those who are duplicating large numbers
of CDs in a professional fashion).
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