From: robertw@informix.com (Robert Weinberg)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps
Subject: Re: SPA piracy raid: Call for Solutions
Date: 24 Jul 92 15:16:16 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

In article <906701.2A686D5A@cmhgate.fidonet.org>  
Adam.Frix@p18.f20.n226.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Adam Frix) writes:
> wrr3118@tamsun.tamu.edu (Rick Russell) writes:
> 
> RR> This is what really bugs me. If some goofus took my copy of 
> RR> a program and sent it for an upgrade without my knowledge, 
> RR> I would be seriously pissed. Unfortunately, the vendor's "no 
> RR> questions asked" policy prevents me from finding out who was 
> RR> responsible.
> 
> well, if someone stole my computer, I'd be upset, too.  So I try to arrange
> things so that it's difficult as possible to steal my computer.  Why should  
we
> be any looser with our original disks?  They're as valuable as the computer. 
> In some cases, more so.  So put them where they can't be stolen.
> 
> And I think the original idea was a good starting point.  It can always be
> modified; for example, you want to find out who upgraded the copy you bought
> but was stolen from you.  OK, so the publisher asks you for a copy of the
> receipt for that purchase.  You send it to the publisher, and the publisher
> sends you the name and address of the person who upgraded your copy.  (This
> will only work if every copy of a piece of software was serialized, and the
> serial number was included on the original sales receipt.)

The problem here is that you are again protecting the original purchaser, who  
thereby loses the incentive to guard his software against copying.

Of course, we would love to know that once we purchase software, we have a  
handle on the upgrade path. But, if the original purchaser's name were kept on  
file by the publisher, legal action could always be brought against anyone  
trying to take over the upgrade path.

This is logical, but then the original purchaser would have no reason to guard  
his software against being copied all over the place, since no-one but the  
original purchaser would ever dare send for the upgrade out of fear of arrest.

Your point is very important, though - the original purchaser will have a  
receipt, thus distinguishing himself from anyone else sending in a pirated copy  
with embedded "upgrade coupon". However, the publisher could clearly state, in  
the licensing agreement, that receipts are only recognized for, say, the first  
90 days after purchase for support purposes. Once upgrade time comes, the  
publisher would never release the name and address of people to whom the  
upgrade was sent.

"Upgrade coupon" software fails to emulate real-life possessions in that you  
cannot call the cops to track down your lost goods, but it might succeed in  
emulating the "lose-ability" of real-world goods and cause the owner to share  
with the software publisher the loss due to copying.

This is tough for the original owner (I'd hate to lose my upgrade this way),  
but maybe not as nasty as waiting for an SDA raid.

*********  MY OPINIONS, not those of my employer! **************

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| Email : robertw@informix.com |       Graphic designer        |
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps