Encode my program.

[Mr. X.]

Hello,
Is there any attitude to encode, and protect my executable program (it's for
local market, so it may be something simple).
Kind of 3rd-party software that create a serial code, by MAC address & some
internet registration.
Just thinking : I can use GUID that the computer creates, and put it on some
kind of database, and then save it somewhere (how) as a token on the
computer?

Any sample would be grateful, please.

Thanks

 

[Finn Stampe Mikkelsen]

Mr. X. wrote:

Keep in mind that even the simplest form of copy-protection, if you are
not VERY careful to implement it perfectly, can result in legitimate users
locked out of your program. And if you wind up locking legitimate
customers out of your program, you will find that people who normally
would have paid you for your program are pushed toward pirating it. And
make no mistake: no matter what you do to "protect" your program, it will
be pirated, if there's some actual value in doing so (and if there's no
any value in doing so, then why worry about piracy?).

Pete

Hi Pete

I often read your last argument about encoding and protecting the code/use
of a particular software application or it's data..

I don't understand the reason for it though.. I mean, i do understand the
actual question and it's underlying reasoning, but why not just help the
person wanting to do this encoding either by telling/showing him how or by
pointing him to places where he could find what he was looking for.. You did
that so this is not targeted at you, but you still found the need to bring
up the last point.

Why question his motive to do so? I would assume that if he bothered to ask,
he found it worth the while to do so and if he did so, then that should be
reason enough to help him out...

Don't get me wrong. There is legitimacy in your point and i grant you that,
but why confront every person that ask's about protecting his/hers work with
this. Even if the code/data only has real value in the persons own mind,
this newsgroup should be about helping them realize there wish and not
qustion the reason for there wishes...

I know i might generalize this and you are by no means the only one doing
this and i can't say i have seen you do this often or even before this
posting, but since you did i thought you might give me insight into why this
qustion is posed to persons asking about this subject. So please excuse me,
if this posting offends you and please believe me when i say, that this was
in no way my intention.

/Finn

 

[Finn Stampe Mikkelsen]

Finn Stampe Mikkelsen wrote:
address.

The world doesn't need more annoying or broken software. I take any
opportunity I can to try to help prevent there from being another annoying
or broken program from being written. And any question about
copy-protection is just such an opportunity.

Pete

Hi Pete

Fair enough. You point about th OP's attempt to tie it to a MAC address was
wrong and i accept your premise that you believe to help a person is to get
to the bottum of their real problem. That is a good policy, no doubt about
that...

I still think though, that to generalize the issue and to say that everyone
who asks about protection of their code/data have not thought the situation
through is not valid in my mind. I think one could point out some concerns
that neet to be made about the actual protection without telling a person
that the need to protect their project is non-existing.

The above point about broken software is also valid, but i believe it better
solved by giving sound advise instead of telling a person not to protect a
project..

Anyway i thank you for your answer and also for taking my response in the
manor you did. It was written in that mindset and i'm glad you read it like
that... ;-)

Happy coding and thank you for your help to me in the past and to others as
well..

/Finn

 

[Finn Stampe Mikkelsen]

"Peter Duniho" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelelsen Hi Pete

Fair enough. You point about th OP's attempt to tie it to a MAC address
was wrong and i accept your premise that you believe to help a person is
to get to the bottum of their real problem. That is a good policy, no
doubt about that...

I mean the OP's idea was wrong, not your point.. Sadly that is written wrong
in the above text..

/Finn