Eek - the format of that post got scrambled when I cut-and-pasted, so I deleted it, and here it is more legibly: - - - - - I will gladly discuss at length this topic. First, be clear that protecting software is a pain-in-the-butt for software vendors as well. No vendor would be bothering, if they didn't believe the protection schemes were helping their sales. Now, a point-by-point response: 1. [cs] If someone was willing to give away "free" copies based off their "legit" copy, they are equally as likely to distribute the cracked/hacked version as well. [SS] That is a reasonable belief, but a mistaken one. There is a set of people for whom that is true. But there are other people who never touch cracked software, yet are sometimes willing to copy software they have for a friend. It seems harmless enough - and often it is. But other times, it snowballs. 2. [SS] A stringent and trouble-prone registration system. ... I would use such a scheme if I dared. [CS] As a software developer yourself, and your obvious opinion that some form of protection is needed, why do you state that you have not used such a system if it is overly effective and beneficial? [SS] I have indeed used such schemes, when releasing product via a large company. Currently, I have too small an operation to deal with the resultant headaches, so I have no choice but to forgo that protection. I also have no reputation to build on - negative responses by early customers might ruin me. A larger company might well choose to risk some of their resources and reputation to protect themselves, however imperfectly. These days, software vendors find themselves in a position not that different from the music labels: it has become too easy for customers to not pay money for our software, so legit customers may start feeling like patsies for paying for what so many others are getting for free. 3. [CS] is it not wise to wait until "some scheme or another is going to prevail? [SS] Exactly. Hence my thanking Curious Labs for "taking the arrows". But let me underline that the steps software vendors take, have proven to be far from futile. There may be nothing we can do about hard-core crackers. But they probably aren't potential customers anyway. In my experience, people who are making productive contributions to society, don't waste their time cracking. But it can be tempting to ANY OF US to not shell out hard-earned money. Consider software protection a "reminder" that each of us should pay for that which we receive value from. -- ToolmakerSteve