Digital Workshop

Hi, I've created a standalone publication that runs from a CD. Is there anyway to prevent this CD from being copied? Please help.

Thanks, Mike

Hi Mike,

Whether CD protection will be effective or advisable is debatable but here's a list of methods and solutions:

http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cd ... ions.shtml

Mack

Hi Mack,
Thank you for your reply - i will check out the link. Why do you question whether it is advisable to do so?
Mike

Hi Mike,

Many, many reasons including:

a. cost against benefits gained
b. effectiveness - even the big boy's systems like DVD CSS got cracked. If something is worth something to somebody - they'll find a way and you're back to item 'a'.
c. legality - look at Sony and their AudioCD protection mess.
d. It's very big brother - 'you can't do this' - which is annoying for legitimate users. I know many businesses and schools that simply don't have CD-ROM access any more - it's all virtual discs run from a server.

I'm not saying that protection is bad or wrong, we have activation / registration systems in all our software and it's a popular addition for our client's software in one form or another but it's a bit like those speed signs that flash up when you're driving too fast - they make 'most' people stop and think and do the right thing. We bypass the Digital Workshop security method and create licence keys that, like a lot of software, are linked to the company's name. This registration information is displayed on publication launch. It won't stop piracy, and we could add other on-line checking, but in 'most' cases our software is used in group / class situations and what person would want another company's / school's name always splashed up?

Mack

When I generate a user key, it actually contains the username.
First I generate a suitable key using a custom algorithm from user details, then I split the serial number in half and embed the user name into the serial key.
To use the application for the first time, the user enters the key containing their name, being reminded their name is embedded in the key.
Internally Opus then extracts the key from the string and checks it for legality.

Each time the app starts, display it as Mack suggests in the splash screen, ie like

XXXX_Joe_Bloggs_XXXX (showing part of the key for effect)

Don't hide it in the About box - Fear of embarrassment is a strong deterrent...

Paul

Great minds think alike.

Mack