I was curious as to how Steve handles copy protection. I believe I heard at one point that he doesn't really have any and just allows users to download the full version after payment.

Would this be a better option then allowing the user to download the full version and enter in an unlock key?

My reasoning for the above is it would just add one more extra protection measure to stop even the casual players from uploading the full version on the internet. As time goes on I think it may come more likely for this to happen since bandwidth will get cheaper and high-speed internet is taking over.

However the other side to this is that it will give pirates more of a pull towards our software for the satisfaction of cracking something. If there is no protection, then there is very little satisfaction to uploading the software.

Also, a downside to have full version download + unlock key is that it is just annoying for the honest paying customer.

I'm aware that more time should be spent on development of a project then piracy protection, because of the impossibility to prevent it. However, these two options above have been going through my mind lately and I was curious as to what you guys think would be the best option to gain the most or lose the least amount of money.

(p.s. I did do several searches on these forums for this topic. I know it must have been discussed several times, but I could not find any results.)

#1 The issue of copy protection has been discussed to death on this forum. LizardSoft recently had a thread (see the link below). I told him a bunch of websites to get information on how to protect your programs. I don't know how you did searches but found nothing. What exactly did you search for?

http://www.dexterity.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2749
http://www.dexterity.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2637 (my post)
http://www.dexterity.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2453


#2 I doubt that Dexterity or anyone else will divulge information on such a sensitive issue as how they implement copy protection. You'll either get a dry response like "We have enough to keep honest people honest" or no response at all. The reason should be pretty obvious. Maybe if you were a "Association of Shareware Professionals" member, then perhaps he would discuss the details with you. Not sure...

#3 If you are *really* curious how copy protection is handled in a program, try breaking it yourself for "educational purposes". As long as you don't mean harm, I don't see any harm in learning from the experience.

I hope this helps.
Good luck.

Take a read through: http://www.unsanity.org/archives/000101.php

Read Slava's main post (developer at unsanity - a Mac OS utilities company), and my followup for more thoughts on developing a protection system.

Our applications with our latest system are being cracked, but no one has broken our algorithm. I'm really not concerned at all about cracks for software as only the most dedicated of people will use them. However, serial code generators do bother me as they make it easier for people who don't normally pirate software to do so.

In the end, I don't think it's worth a lot of effort (aside from the pure joy of developing a system) as most people who pirate, probably aren't going to buy your software anyway. The best you can do is make it mildly difficult and annoying to pirate your software over buying it. People are generally lazy creatures (I know I am!), and would rather pay and not deal with problems such as always getting the latest crack patch for a piece of software.

Good Luck!

Jeff

I think copy protection is a waste of time and tells your paying customers you dont trust them...

If someone wants to crack a piece of software they will either, a) crack it, or b) find another piece of software similar that they CAN crack.

people who buy software are going to buy it and are probably not going to be uploading it to the net for other people to NOT buy it... I mean, how many people would go and spend money on something and then put it out on the front lawn for anyone to borrow?

I think there are two audiences, the buyers and the stealers... and you wont be able to convert either of them... so keep your buyers happy so they dont go elsewhere to continue their buying...

My philosophy is to help "keep the honest people honest."

When copying is trivially easy, people will do it. Even normally honest folks may find it hard to resist the temptation to accept a burned CD with the latest full version of a commercial, registered game.

I think what you want to do is add enough copy protection that it's easier to buy the thing than it is to hunt down the crack. No, you aren't going to stop the hardcore pirates, or those who are really in tight with that community. Leave that to the law-enforcement agencies. But casual piracy is something you can prevent, and its probably in your best interest.