{I wonder what sort of data they have that suggests actual users are pirating the software?} Well the copies are coming from somewhere. The choices are CL's servers being hacked A CL employee An employee at the duplication plant A distributors employee A reviewer A physically stolen boxed copy or computer A purchaser A copy stolen from an open access computer eg a computer lab A copy stolen from a computer in for repair My guess would be one of the last three. I'd also guess that it only takes one copy. I wonder why it can't be at least partially tracked through the serial number, or has this been cracked or spoofed on the stolen copies? I don't think the copy protect will stop theft completely but it will make it harder. It might make it traceable. I don't think CL is being arbitrary or malicious in wanting to implement copy protect. I believe it has every right to try to protect its business as it sees fit. I'm sure they've weighed up possible losses of customers against increased sales. I think it'd be a good idea for them to publish details as soon as they can rather than generalities and snippets. (as an aside, security that relies on secrecy generally isn't secure, not that I want/need that level of detail) (As another aside on piracy see if anyone can find the comments by Kai Krausse in the Bryce 2 manual...) My experience of similar schemes does not lead me to believe that any information is collected other than that I'd give in registering the product or purchasing it. It has not affected the working of my computer (crashes just the same;-). The inconvenience is minimal. The benefit is Electronic Purchase direct from maker. I hope that this will be available from CL now. I would also hope that their license would follow Adobe's and others lead and allow an office copy and a home copy as long as they aren't used concurrently. For Maci about Open source project Good idea and competition is always healthy. BUT to program even a limited graphics program I suspect is a vast and complex undertaking. I wish you luck if you try it, I don't have the skills to help. I'd be interested in the results. Apple II and history of copy protect One difference now is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in the U.S. which makes circumvention devices illegal. Previously various devices while illegal to use were legal to make and sell. (it'll have a couple of strong competitors within the year} A program from scratch in a year I doubt it. Look how hard it is for CL to get Poser5 out the door and they've a huge head start. But as a consumer I'd welcome some competition to give me choice and maybe spur each other on.