> The best code protection I saw was a friends surveying
> software costing $5000+ US. Each week the software
> scanned their PC, generated a number and they have to
> ring the main office and get a second number. Then
> it works for a week. And nobody has ever cracked it
> yet. :o)
> -Roman

What a pain in the neck! The only thing worse than expensive software is
expensive software that can never be maintenance-free.

It would make more sense if the software were to contain some
date-sensitive information, then I could justify registering it every
week. But in this age of quickly outdated software and failing software
companies, who knows if the company will even be around when you need to
use the softare.

The 3M software that we use where I work is similar, but it DOES contain
date sensitive information, so that makes the trouble worth
while. However, I think 3M realizes this and makes the registration
process more difficult in order to compensate. :-/

The software is updated with new data every quarter. The installation will
not proceed until you enter the correct response code to a randomly
generated number (which is based on the current time). When you call 3M's
tech support to get the code, you *HAVE* to leave your name and phone
number with an operator, and the technician calls you back. Sometimes it's
HOURS before they return your call, or even days. And when they do call,
they just leave a voicemail message, and the whole process starts over
again.

The crazy thing is, all this work just for some silly medical coding
program. Yes, it is safe from copying, but I can't think of why anyone in
their right mind would want to copy this program (unless they wanted to
start their own HMO....)

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