I think the evidence shows that not protecting your software doesn't work.
This is something that has been discussed numerous times on this forum.
There have been systematic comparisons of the results of having a
registration scheme versus not having one. The bottom line is that the
public will not voluntarily pay for something that is essentially free, that
is, is available widely for free once an unlocked version has been posted
all over the Internet, or can be freely beamed, copied, etc.
What you are assuming is that given a choice between downloading and paying
for a full version from you, or downloading a full version for free that the
last paying customer has posted on the Internet, a normal rational human
will choose to pay you. As a student of human behavior, I don't believe the
former behavior is more likely than the later.
The difference between having a registration scheme and not having one, is
that if you don't have one then ANYONE can post your software. If you have a
scheme, it takes cracker to figure it out before they can post it. You
increase and prolong your chances of having sales that way.
So I say keep the crackers occupied; have a registration scheme.
Mitch Fawcett
Tapn'see Software
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Sean L.
Gilley
Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2000 9:17 PM
To: Palm Developer Forum
Subject: Re: software cracking
On the subject of cracking software, I haven't heard anything of
the scheme of *not* using registration codes, and instead giving
the complete version only to those who have paid for it.
I spent some time reading up on licensing a while back, and basically
what the writer said was that giving out crippled software which could
be enabled via a registration code was considerably less effective than
not giving a full version to anyone who had not paid.
Has anyone tried both? Is the logistics of sending out the full
version just so much work that it isn't worth it?
I'm really curious, as it will very much affect how I handle my
next project.
Sean.
---
Sean L. Gilley I'm the kid who has the habit of dreaming.
614-860-0247 (h) Sometimes gets me in trouble too.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] But the truth is I could no more stop
dreaming
Then I could make them all come true.
--
For information on using the Palm Developer Forums, or to unsubscribe,
please see http://www.palmos.com/dev/tech/support/forums/
--
For information on using the Palm Developer Forums, or to unsubscribe, please see
http://www.palmos.com/dev/tech/support/forums/
