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So let's say there's no disk protection, in what form is the software protection.

Say it's one .exe file, like the program Flash. It's 'protected' and I use that term very loosely by a serial code.

Anyone can use the code to install it anywhere, send it over the internet, copy it to disk with the code in a read me file. Then there's cracks for turning the trial version into the full version as well.

Because though it's a company development tool macromedia make a lot of money from it, as most companys are afriad to use illegal software.

But companys don't use games, home pc users do. So how do you protect this code?

Serial codes? Pointless.

Dongle? You'd have to swap that thing around for every game.

What's the answer? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />


I'll grant you that this is a very interesting question. However, there are people paid bucket-loads of cash for coming up with the very thing you're talking about. I enjoy wondering about the solution, as this is a difficult question.

The bottom line, however, is that the law enforcement agencies should deal with it. I know they're not doing a fantastic job in some countries, but law enforcement isn't anyone else's responsibility, and at the end of the day, it's a crime.

Over here people buy cheap cigarettes that have been imported. Again, it's against the law to sell them, so what should the tobacco companies do? Ban cigarettes in all other countries completely, in order to effect few people who import them? You can't make everyone suffer, just to target a minority.

Perhaps this money so heavily invested in protections could be spent on independant organisations to investigate this matter... Perhaps online authentication or monthly/ one-off subscription is the way. Perhaps they could invest in more pubilicty, so that the governments change the law (in their favour) or embarass the authorities into doing something about it.

I'm just a dumb gamer! If i can come up with these, I'm sure the collective might of the publishers can do better <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />


Faith is believing in something you know isn't true