New (?) copy-protection scheme idea

[Cabinfever]

The other solution is to raise the general moral and ethical standards of world civilisation - including private and corporate attitudes. Might take a bit longer though.

[wolf_of_badenoch]

The other solution is to raise the general moral and ethical standards of world civilisation - including private and corporate attitudes. Might take a bit longer though.

But probably easier to do than create a real copy-protection scheme that is uncrackable and doesn't give legit users the irrits

[bluedad]

The software I use in tuning pianos is protected with a lock system. After I install the software, I have to lock it with this dongle like thing. Then after it's locked, I take it off and put it back in the box. Totally unobtrusive, and I've never had a problem with it in 5 years.
I've wondered why, if there HAS to be copy protection, it doesn't work as smoothly as this thing does.

[jouni]

I think just serial is okay. As pointed out, things get cracked no matter what so serial keeps amateurs out copying the software, and those who want it cracked and search for crack/serial. Although I understand companies want to to sell same product license for each computer you have in a same room....

[ericj23]

for gods sake get over the copy protection is about stopping crackers thing - it's main purpose is to stop you giving copies to your mates

does anyone who provides large volume software with a comprehensive feature set actually use just serial (which you can give to your mates)?

and before you all rush to say cakewalk, sonar 5 needs online registration

does this total lack of faith in humanity not tell you something - we are not to be trusted

But the original posters ideas of executables on a dongle seems unlikely - but i would really love my dongle to be able to remember my preferences and presets - should be easy to do and would make working from one computer to the next easier - so it would actually add value at the same time which would make it a slightly easier pill to swallow (not that i recommend that kind of thing)

[Amberience]

It's give and take, and as far as I can see, the companies who make mainstream software take far too much and do little giving. If one person has three computers, why should he have to pay three times? He's not running an educational facility, he can just afford three computers. Or maybe he can't, maybe they were given to him.

Still.. he has to pay through his nose for software that ideally should be bought ONCE.

There are tons more examples of bad service I'm sure.

[bambooman]

The other solution is to raise the general moral and ethical standards of world civilisation - including private and corporate attitudes. Might take a bit longer though.

yes, i also vote for this, at first hand.

there`s no need for new ways of copy protection!

the ones that already exist are fine with me,
except there are ones i dislike+hate!

1. i would never buy a product with a dongle,
or token-ring, respond, cd-run only, etc.

it either slows down everything, limits work flow,
or violates privacy.

what if i would buy 10x software products,
with 10x usb-dongles?
and let`s pretend, i already have 10x usb-hardware,
it would add up to 20x usb-ports - WTF?!?
i could never really use all 10x programs at once.

i prefer, and respect developers who are into:

1. free light(LE) or mini versions of a program,
so one can try the basic features of a software
without a hassle and then decide wether to buy or leave it.

2. Or everything works, but saving is disabled,
one of the best ways, to "try before you buy".

3. sometimes, (it depends on what it is)
30-day trials and stuff that only runs for 20-min,
or the program is limited to run 50x etc.
is also an okay way to try things.

so, on one hand:
based on that, one can get a real clue of what the program is like, and if it is something one really needs or not.

and, on the other hand:
if one buys a product like this,
the usage/installation process is hassle free and user-friendly as well.
since it doesn`t come with 1000x security, dongle, respond, token-ring, blahblah.

and i prefer (non boxed) downloadable software,
so i can burn everything on one compact CD.

there`s no need to collect cd-boxes - to show off, "big balls" by taking pictures of them!

and i simply don`t have the space to collect 50+ CD-boxes on my desk, like 1x Synth=1x CD-box, (like NI stuff) etc, etc.
and if the "original CD" dies..the product is gone
for good, because i was unable to create a backup, etc.

[diversheat]

I learned a lot of copy protection and cracked software in the last weeks, pushed by this forum and I get to the conclusion as follows:

1. The people who want to earn money with their music cannot use cracked software. All studios I know demand licences for, let's say a Cubase project. Ok, if it are only audio files can it be difficult. But in this case it could be uncleared samples either. So the customer has to bring the evidence of legality.
I'm sure most of the cracked soft users could not be customers. They have no money to spent for software.

2. Dear developers, make useful, hi quality applications! The musicians who want such a program save their money until they can buy it. As long as the developers sell expensive products with protection systems that crashes the OS every second time and the hotline isn't reachable, mails are not answered and so on, underrate their own product.

And, by the way, every programmed code can be reversed. It's not my perception, but from a friend of mine. He is lecturer of a well known university. His subject is informatics.

A software application must have the weight of a hardware device! Then the problem of cracks will be lowered and perhaps fade.

[Sascha Franck]

does anyone who provides large volume software with a comprehensive feature set actually use just serial (which you can give to your mates)?

MS Office. And of course a whole bunch of others.

[Sascha Franck]

1. The people who want to earn money with their music cannot use cracked software. All studios I know demand licences for, let's say a Cubase project.

I know of professional studios with racks full of copied sample CDs.
Oh yes, of course these are only backup copies...