To: Rex Ballard 
Cc: online-news@marketplace.com, weber@world.std.com
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Rex puts in a good word for SoftLock Services, Inc. which I do not
want to dilute, but lest there be any confusiong, we do NOT  really agree
that our technique is copy-protection.  Products and passwords are
freely copyable, and backing up is in no way impeded.  The VALIDITY
of a password doesn't copy (heh heh), but this really does free users
and vendors of many of the problems associated with copy-rprotection.
Indeed, it allows all parties to encourage and glory in the benefits of
copying (free distribution, free sampling, etc.).
=============================================================================
Jonathan Schull, Ph.D., President, SoftLock Services Inc.
Schull@SoftLock.com
963 East Ave. #1, Rochester, NY 14607-2251           716-242-0348
(voice/fax)
=============================================================================
On Mon, 14 Mar 1994, Rex Ballard wrote:

> > Bob Weber: 
> > I'm aware of two cd-rom related hardware products for copyright protection 
> > offered by Wave and by Infosafe. There is a software product offered by
> > Softlock, Inc.  
> 
> > Does anyone know of other hardware/software products that (claim) to
> > offer copyright protection?
> 
> The products you describe above are copy protection schemes, not copyright
> protection schemes.  There is an important distinction.  Software capable
> of cloning itself and attaching audit trails of serial numbers, and
> encryption schemes and content registration on send and receive are
> more effective in copyright protection.
> 
> People are more willing to ignore schemes which identify copies and
> send "registration" information unobtrusively.  They are more inclined
> to try to defeat copy protection schemes which prevent them from accessing
> information.
> 
> Registration can be used to quickly identify distributors who are distributing
> large quantities of pirated content.  It can identify potential subscribers
> who may be willing to pay a "bulk license fee" to a copyright "broker" (similar
> to ASCAP or BMI).
> 
> A truly undefeatable form of encryption is illegal (RSA and DES must be
> crippled for export).
> 
> SoftLock is a good method of authenicating users.  It is also a good way
> to register and manage royalty distributions.
> 
> 
> 



From jvncnet!marketplace.com!owner-online-news Mon Mar 21 12:45:24 1994
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