[LGP-copyprotect] Why a constant call-home copy protection system is a bad idea

[Wolter Hunter]

Hmm...  LGP site seems to be down, but if I recall correctly, your message
on the website gave the impression that you posted broken versions of your
software ON YOUR OWN WEBSITE for people to download and get a broken game.

You're standing at the precipice of VERY BAD PRESS, and you really REALLY
need to be explicitly clear about thw following:

1. That the defective software was uploaded to a file sharing site alongside
of pirated versions.
2. That the software stops calling home once it verifies your key, and won't
disable the software if it can't connect.  You need to show that it's
similar, and even nicer than copy protections that people are already used
to.

You are taking a very fair approach to the copy protection, but at a cursory
glance (what most people will do), it doesn't appear that way.  This is a
war of perceptions, and you're being perceived unfavorably at the moment due
to miscommunication.

The copy protection explanation itself is too long.  Most people will just
skim over it and will miss important bits.
Use short words, and keep it down to 2 paragraphs maximum.  Make them big
and bold on the front page of your site.  Put everything you say in a
positive light.  If you can't do it effectively, hire a public relations
expert to do it (even if it costs a couple hundred bucks for a 1 time thing,
it's worth it).  Once the blogs start posting negative stuff about you, it's
very difficult to reverse the damage.
You might even consider contacting some of the bigger bloggers to get your
message out (have a PR guy look over your message before you do).

Perception drives the world far more than reality does.


On Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 11:52 PM, Michael Simms <
michael at linuxgamepublishing.com> wrote:

>
> On Fri, 2008-06-27 at 13:46 +0800, Senectus . wrote:
> > Provided it works forever I'm ok with _this_ version of "copy
> > protection".
> > Having said that I really disagree with LGP's methods of counting the
> > number of pirated software users.
> >
> > Seeding the web with copies of your software and then being surprised
> > and annoyed when people download it is like giving a child a lolly and
> > smacking him when he eats it.
>
> We put a file onto one file sharing system where our game was already
> available for download. It wasn't an 'attempt to see what happens' it
> was an attempt to dilute the downloads by having people download the
> game, find it doesn't work, oh well, I guess I'd better buy it... The
> requests for support for the game came as a COMPLETE surprise.
>
> --
> Michael Simms, CEO - Linux Game Publishing LTD
> http://www.linuxgamepublishing.com
>
> _______________________________________________
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> LGP-copyprotect at linuxgamepublishing.com
> http://linuxgamepublishing.com/mailman/listinfo/lgp-copyprotect
>
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