stuart@bms-at.UUCP (Stuart D. Gathman) (08/05/87)
The best method of protection for publishers I have seen is the serial number.
Every copy has a unique serial number. This in no way prevents a user from
making as many copies as he wishes and using them as he wishes. It does,
however, let the publisher demonstrate wrongdoing when a serious offense
occurs. (What? 500 copies with the same serial number?!)
Encryption is usually used to make changing the number difficult. But even
if the number is changed, it is difficult to pick one that does not belong
to someone else, or has not yet been issued!
When it is too expensive to manufacture the media with serial numbers, many
companies let the user apply the serial number. A serial
number and encrypted key are supplied with the product on a sheet of
paper.
This method is particularly effective when the publisher has records of
which numbers go with which customers, i.e. most users register their
purchase.
--
Stuart D. Gathman <stuart@bms-at.uucp>
<..!{vrdxhq|dgis}!bms-at!stuart>keeshu@nikhefk.UUCP (Kees Huyser) (08/06/87)
In article <470@bms-at.UUCP> stuart@bms-at.UUCP (Stuart D. Gathman) writes: > >The best method of protection for publishers I have seen is the serial number. >Every copy has a unique serial number. This in no way prevents a user from >making as many copies as he wishes and using them as he wishes. It does, >however, let the publisher demonstrate wrongdoing when a serious offense >occurs. (What? 500 copies with the same serial number?!) > >Encryption is usually used to make changing the number difficult. But even >if the number is changed, it is difficult to pick one that does not belong >to someone else, or has not yet been issued! > >Stuart D. Gathman <stuart@bms-at.uucp> > <..!{vrdxhq|dgis}!bms-at!stuart> Let me see what could happen : 1) I get a copy from a friend, change the serial number to another serial number. 2) You just bought and registered the same product and you happen to get the serial number I just invented. 3) WeAlwaysProtect Inc. finds out there are 20,000 copies floating around with YOUR serial number and sues YOU. 4) What ME worry??? -- Kees | UUCP : keeshu@nikhefk.uucp or {[wherever]!seismo}!mcvax!nikhefk!keeshu | BITNET : keeshu@hasara5.bitnet | FIDO : 2:508/15 (Opus_MacSaga) or 2:500/11 (HCC_Amsterdam_1) | SNAIL : kees huyser, NIKHEF-K, PO Box 4395, 1009 AJ Amsterdam, Netherlands |----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | As official spokesman for the Institute it is my privilege to announce that | the board of governors of the Institute have withdrawn my privilege of being | the official spokesman for the Institute.