Thread: New CD yet Bill?

I think this is a very good strategy for your CD.

I work in an editors firm and we publish many CD's. Since we sell them to the government we do not protect the content in any way ...

In october we will launch three CD for law-students. Since they copy erveryone and everything we decided to protect the content on a "normal " level with an unexpensive software. This is a clear signal for everyone that the stuff is protected and not everyone can manage to "get in". It is very near to your "car example".

Arguments abound, I'm sure. People pay for the CD because they want to see the money in your hands Bill. Copy protection only has to be broken once, then by the nature of digital information, it is copyable forever. Even Starforce (which is wicked nasty invasive. Worse than some Trojans) has workarounds.

Also, the argument exists that people who were going to steal it were never going to give you any money anyway. Despite what the record companys say, CD sales have not gone down. People still buy copies of Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein", even though it has been out of copyright for years.

Also, I run Linux, and many people run Mac OS. If whatever system of copy protection you use doesn't work for them, then they won't buy your CD. As much as I aspire to owning one of your razors one day, and as much as I'd like to see your skill and contribution to the community encouraged (in a real financial way), you can bet that if the CD doesn't run on my box, I'll be upset.

At the end of the day, copy protection doesn't stop anyone determined. The most invasive copy protections (which are the most effective) tend to only punish paying customers.

Electronic distribution is a valuable service (especially for those of us in Australia who are getting sick of paying so much for postage), and it is cheap and easy for you. Copy protection is a big, fat hassle and IMNSHO, not worth the effort.

Sorry for being a bit passionate, but it is something I feel very strongly about.

Also, Bill, you might consider an "upgrade" option. People can buy your CD now, for the full price, and upgrade for only $5 or some discounted price later. Since you have a list of your customers, it will be easy to work out who bought after the offer was made. This way you get paid and they get their new disks too. Everyone wins.

You can bet I'll be getting your disk (or hopefully file, damn postage!) as soon as I can. I'm a fan of your work and would enjoy the opportunity to learn the things you so willingly share.

Yours,

Daniel.

Well, I'll be buying the disk too if he ever gets it finished .

I've been holding off on several razor restorations because he told me to hold off on his CD til it was updated .

But I agree with you. Whatever copy protection used needs to be crossplatform friendly as I'm a Linux man myself, and also non-invasive

Glen F