[2581] in WWW Security List Archive
Re: keeping a game from being pirated
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Steven Johnson (BUS))
Sat Aug 10 01:15:54 1996
Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 23:08:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Steven Johnson (BUS)" <johnson@bayflash.stpt.usf.edu>
To: Alan Olsen <alano@teleport.com>
cc: Josh Bettoni <pcplus@tristate.pgh.net>, www-security@ns2.rutgers.edu
In-Reply-To: <2.2.32.19960809203909.00f90908@mail.teleport.com>
Errors-To: owner-www-security@ns2.rutgers.edu
This is off-topic. However, I cannot resist
On Fri, 9 Aug 1996, Alan Olsen wrote:
> At 01:06 AM 8/9/96 -0400, Josh Bettoni wrote:
> > Is there any way to really keep a game from being pirated?
>
> 1) Make the CD-ROM from plastic explosives, so that the first time it is
> read, it destroys the user, the computer and everything around him.
Unfortunately, in today's computing environment you are unable to sell a
product without full and detailed documentation. Many users, and it has
been my experience that all users read the manual thoroughly, will notice
this "feature" of the product and may decide to forgo the use of it.
> 2) Seal the disk(s) in cement and drop in a deep and unmarked part of
> the ocean.
This may not damage the integrity of the media, thus making possible
recovery and eventual infringements on copyrights.
> 3) Put the game on 3 1/2" floppies and bundle a large permentent magnet with
> every purchace.
Such a promotional item would warrant a premium price for the product.
Thus, it would be place it financially out of reach of the selected target
audience. Please reread all of the published books by Michael E. Porter
and Phillip Kottler. Pay particularly close attention to Porter's thesis
on Low Cost Vs. Differentiation marketing strategies.
> 4) Require that every purchacer have the serial number of the game tattoed
> to his forehead opon purchace. Make it a long number so that you will be
> able to track everyone who buys the game. (The output of an MD5 hash has is
> a good start.)
This is the most feasible solution. Not only does it promote brand
awareness by having your own customer's be your billboard - We all know
that word of mouth is invaluable - it also will strategically lower your
technically support costs.
Since 25% of all technical support costs are spent on identifying the user
and authenticating their licence you can dramatically reduce the time by
outfitting all of your technical support people with hand-held barcode
scanners. Users can simply stop by a convenient technical support/Kodak
photo hut to have their forehead scanned and their queries answered.
> 5) Don't worry about it as it will be obsolete in six months anyways...
six months? try three.
