Copy protection
Producers of commercial software have a very reasonable wish to protect their product against unauthorized copying. Many different methods have been invented, but unfortunately all these methods have usability problems as well as problems of distinguishing between legitimate and unauthorized copying:
- Original disc is tampered with
- A floppy disc supplied as part of the software product is tampered with in
a way that is not easily copied, e.g. a specific part of the magnetic layer
is removed. Problems:
- The user has to insert the disc every time the product is used
- The user cannot make a legitimate backup copy
- Requires direct hardware access or a special driver that may be incompatible with future hardware or operating systems
- Does not work in network systems
- Hidden information is stored on the computer
- This information may be lost when the user updates hardware or operating system
- The user may have more than one computer
- May be incompatible with future operating systems
- A fingerprint of the computer hardware is stored
- Lost when the hardware is updated or repaired
- The user may have more than one computer
- May be incompatible with future operating systems
- A dongle
- This is a little piece of hardware that has to be connected to the
computer. Problems:
- Requires direct hardware access or a special driver that may be incompatible with future hardware or operating systems
- Must be moved all the time if the user has more than one computer
- May be stolen, misplaced or damaged
- Difficult to protect against theft
- May be incompatible with other dongles or other hardware
- The number of dongles that can be attached to a computer is limited
- Does not work in network systems
- Printed manual
- A manual is more difficult to copy than software. Problems:
- Users prefer online help
- Registration
- The user fears that he may receive spam mail
- Serial number
- The user has to enter a serial number when the program is installed
- Hotline
- Only legitimate users have access to help from a hotline
- Free updates
- Legitimate users get free updates and bug fixes
Most copy protection schemes contain combinations of these methods. However, most software producers are now using a serial number only or refraining from using any copy protection at all because of the severe usability problems and technical problems they entail. Shareware and freeware products are gaining popularity for similar reasons.
This page was last modified 2008-Dec-08