Way to combat software piracy

Way to combat software piracy

"Just Wondering"	9/14/2004 3:46:40 AM
Imagine you're installing a new software package that you just bought online. During the installation process it pops up the following dialog box "Warming! The serial number you are about to enter will be checked with our online database If it is found to be invalid, your hard drive will be erased. The erasure may happen today, or it may happen a month from now, or somewhere inbetween. By clicking OK, you agreee to let us do this. Be aware, we have released many fake serial numbers and serial number generating programs. Using these numbers will guarantee that your hard drive will be wiped out. Click OK to agree to these terms and continue with the installation, or click cancel." Would something like this be legal?



systems.controller@usenet.headquarters.org	9/14/2004 12:48:42 AM
On Tue, 14 Sep 2004 03:46:40 GMT, "Just Wondering" <no@spam.please.org> wrote: Imagine you're installing a new software package that you just bought online. During the installation process it pops up the following dialog box "Warming! The serial number you are about to enter will be checked with our online database If it is found to be invalid, your hard drive will be erased. The erasure may happen today, or it may happen a month from now, or somewhere inbetween. By clicking OK, you agreee to let us do this. Be aware, we have released many fake serial numbers and serial number generating programs. Using these numbers will guarantee that your hard drive will be wiped out. Click OK to agree to these terms and continue with the installation, or click cancel." Would something like this be legal? Actually this already exists. I just checked your computer and you are running some illegal software. Because of this, your harddrive will be erased as soon as you close this message.



Daniel Ganek	9/14/2004 9:54:54 AM
Just Wondering wrote: Imagine you're installing a new software package that you just bought online. During the installation process it pops up the following dialog box "Warming! The serial number you are about to enter will be checked with our online database If it is found to be invalid, your hard drive will be erased. The erasure may happen today, or it may happen a month from now, or somewhere inbetween. By clicking OK, you agreee to let us do this. Be aware, we have released many fake serial numbers and serial number generating programs. Using these numbers will guarantee that your hard drive will be wiped out. Click OK to agree to these terms and continue with the installation, or click cancel." Would something like this be legal? For the sake of argument let's assume it's legal. (FWIW it probably is) First, you'd better make damn sure that you don't make a mistake and erase a hard drive by mistake. A lawsuit could wipe out any and all of your profits. I've been a SW developer for 40 years and I can tell you that there is no such thing as bug free software. Second, if it were me I just say FU and not buy your software. I suspect alot of people would do this. User's aren't going to put up with a bunch of Draconian crap. Look at what happened when Intuit tried to use activation with TurboTax 2 years ago. You can only get away with something like this if you've got a monopoly - aka M$ /dan



"Bootstrap Bill"	9/14/2004 8:09:58 PM
-- Wow! Those grubs at the Golden Horseshoe Saloon are a good deal! "Daniel Ganek" <ganek@comcast.net> wrote in message news:ci6t7e$pkr$1@pcls4.std.com... For the sake of argument let's assume it's legal. (FWIW it probably is) First, you'd better make damn sure that you don't make a mistake and erase a hard drive by mistake. A lawsuit could wipe out any and all of your profits. I've been a SW developer for 40 years and I can tell you that there is no such thing as bug free software. You could always put a disclaimer in there somewhere. "We are not responsible for any damage that may occur with the use of this program."

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