EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

Hi,

On 29-Dec-04, at 2:29 PM, Andris Sice wrote:

>  I think if people are treated like lousy
>  thieves from the start they're more likely to behave that way so
>  psychologically copy protection might even encourage dishonesty.

It depends on how you look at it.  I accept copy protection as a fact 
of life and something that companies feel helps protect their 
interests.  I don't have to be happy with the implementation and design 
of it, and I can certainly look at suggesting alternate methods that 
would still achieve the goal that they want while being less obtrusive. 
  There are many companies who are trying to provide protection schemes 
which do not get in your way (as best they can).  Do you think that 
Emagic/Apple is treating you like a thief for requiring a dongle in 
order to use their software?  I haven't had any problems with the 
dongle at all (neither the serial one I had initially nor the xskey) so 
I may be lucky but it has never really gotten in my way.  I keep it on 
a keychain so that I never forget it.

Fact is, *all* copy protection will get in your way at some point in 
time.  That's part of its characteristic.  I may be lucky but much of 
the copy protection employed by a bunch of my paid software has not 
gotten in my way really.  I have Logic Pro 7, Elemental Audio, Native 
Instruments Komplete 2, a variety of Kontakt-based VSTi's, OhmBoyz 
plugs, all of the Spectrasonics plugs, and now the Sonalksis stuff too. 
  It can be a pain when I need to reinstall only because of having to 
reauthorize stuff but it doesn't take all that long I have to admit.

>  An interesting experiment would be if a company provided one or two
>  lines of unprotected samples along with their usual range of protected
>  ones to see if it made any difference to sales.

If a company only has one or 2 lines to begin with it could be a 
devastating experiment.  Also a company will probably not try this 
experiment on their flagship product which is usually their most 
expensive and most sought after product.  If it doesn't work and sales 
drop off dramatically, what happens then?  Does it become a dead 
product that the company no longer updates and a bunch of people (who 
may have paid for it because they didn't want a crack on their system) 
just got it for free?

>  It would be on both parties. Of course customers should support the
>  vendors. It's quite unreasonable not to.

Not everyone feels this way though.  :-(

I think that copy protection will not be going away anytime soon.  It 
is probably best if we look at better ways to implement copy protection 
so that it still protects the companies and does not become a huge 
obstacle to the legitimate customer.

>  OK, I won't say any more.

Same here.  All the best in 2005!

Fernstudio


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