[net.micro.amiga] Electronic Arts copy protection policy.

boulton@well.UUCP (Dave Boulton) (04/13/86)

I saw a couple of articles here recently regarding non-copy protected
versions of Electronic Arts software. Rather than deal in second hand
rumors, I am reposting the following message from Tim Mott. It was 
originally posted in the Amiga conference here on the WELL. (Tim is the 
manager of product development at EA).

To avoid future confusion, I should point out that Tim is talking about
EA's 'Deluxe Series' products only, not about all EA Amiga products.
'Deluxe' products include Deluxe Paint, Deluxe Video Construction Set,
Deluxe Music Construction Set, and Deluxe Print.

----------------------------------------

> Topic  37:  Electronic Arts feedback
> # 65: Timothy Mott (tmott)      Thu, Apr  3, '86  (10:38)      29 lines
>
> As promised earlier here's an outline of how we'll be handling software
> theft protection on the Deluxe series of creativity products from now
> on.
>
> 1.  All new products, including an upcoming rev of Deluxe Paint, will
> use a clearly documented and screen prompted key disk scheme.  This
> allows the product disk, less the signature, to be copied onto other
> floppies and onto hard disks.  The original product disk, containing
> the key signature, will only be required during the start-up check.
>
> 2.  In addition, for those customers who do not want to mess with key
> disks, an unprotected back-up will be available by mail to registered
> owners for $20.
>
> 3.  Existing registered owners will be getting notice in the mail about
> this.  Those owners who have already purchased a protected back-up or
> purchased a Deluxe Paint product that contained a protected back-up will
> be able to get an unprotected one for free by mailing in their protected
> back-up instead of the $20.
>
> 4.  Existing owners who have not registered by mailing in their warranty
> cards, should do so, or if the card has been lost, they can mail in the
> sales receipt and the serial number off the "Command Summary" card.
>
> We hope that this will prove to be a satisfying response to customer
> feedback, and we will continue with this approach unless we see loss
> of sales caused by illegal copying.
>
> Thanks, Tim.
>

-- 
Dave Boulton               "Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo"
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