[comp.realtime] Caught in the act of piracy

doug@mathel.ncsu.edu (Doug James) (02/28/90)

Someone I know has a pirated copy of an expensive piece of commercial
software.  Today this person received a letter from the company
producing the software.  It was a form letter -- very polite and
understated.  But the main point was clear: "we have reason to believe
you have a copy of our product.  Send us a photocopy of your original
diskette and prove that you are entitled to have it."

I strongly disapprove of pirating software, and am quite vocal about
it.  As a result, I found myself in the uncomfortable position of
feeling like I was suspected of having turned this person's name in
to the company.  I most certainly did not do so.

My question: what mechanism is likely to have triggered such a letter?

                                        --doug james
                                       doug%mathel@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu

doug@mathel.ncsu.edu (Doug James) (02/28/90)

My apologies to readers of other than comp.misc: I editted another article
to post this one, and accidentally sent this to many inappropriate newsgroups.
I also failed to edit the references field; 1378@Terra.cc.brunel.ac.uk has
nothing to do with this posting.

If anyone cares to continue this thread, PLEASE correct my error and post
only to comp.misc.

I'm so embarrassed...              --doug james