C/R thoughts

[ZINO]

People hate C/R. They generally hate it even more than a dongle protection. And that's because of the uncertainty it brings with it. When you buy a license you want to be able to use it 'forever', not only as long as the developers are in business.

Some Game developers have found a way to combine C/R like copy protection and yet satisfy the the above need with a simple yet effective for the user solution. They use the full copy protection for a period of time after the release of the software for as long as they think is effective. Then in the last, or one of the last update patches they release for their product, they include a removal of the annoying part of the copy protection either that is the internet activation or DVD check (SecuROM or whatever) or even the copy protection completely. Some examples are: Bioshock (As of June 19, 2008, 2K Games has removed the activation limit, allowing users to install the game an unlimited number of times.), Neverwinter nights 2 (v 1.23: Modified the SecuROM implementation), Trine (Full patch 1.06 notes: removes copy-protection from some retail versions of Trine (Europe, North America).

This satisfies two basic needs: It frees up resources (servers, reduces support emails etc), and keeps their customers happy, while the first, biggest and most important wave of piracy threat is confronted by using their greatest weapons (more or less successfully).

Now what's the reason of still having a C/R protection in Kontakt 1 and 2 or Atmosphere for Gods sake? And if you believe that WHEN they go out of business the will give you the magic patch that removes the copy protection like NI claims, I can assure you that when a company goes bankrupt it has a million other things to worry than to develop anything, let alone a solution for an ancient product.

Anyway, this is what I believe the right thing to be done from every company that chooses this stupid, ineffective, and annoying copy protection.

[hibidy]

Not sure this is on topic, but it really depends on the C/R. My NI stuff always just works. They don't seem to have imposed limits (which they used to). Spectrasonics is another one I've really never had an issue with. I've also had good luck with IK and I think the 5 auths is fair.

Toontrack on the other hand has been a PITA on more than one occasions. (why god can't they please make it stop!!!!)

[ZINO]

My point is: I see that other developers are more rational, less dogmatic and more adaptive to the reality. Yes their produt is not "PRO" but they are subject to the same piracy theats and revenue loss yet they decide to do, what I consider to be, the right thing.

[kritikon]

C/R & iLok. Won't touch them with a barge pole. I'll accept pretty well all other forms of protection though. No problem with anyone else's dongles, I just won't have anything to do with those PACE c***s. C/R is too dependent on the goodwill of the company for my liking. I don't change my PC that often, but the point of C/R is that if I wanted to change my PC every 3 months, I wouldn't be able to with some of the C/R based companies.

As long as it's not too intrusive I don't mind. I personally don't find dongles intrusive in any way. Passkeys, obviously are the least intrusive. C/R - I just don't like the idea of it at all.

[hibidy]

Oh, the fun I'd have missed without C/R! All the TT stuff, all the ik stuff (I can't imagine that!) the NI stuff (though they are a little bit looser) that alone would indeed have saved me money, but I would not have had that fun!!!!!