Thursday, March 16, 2006
Copy Protection Company Encourages Piracy?
Posted by Jeremy Charette in "NEWS" @ 10:20 AM
"In an ironic twist last week, a moderator on the forums for copy protection software StarForce made it easier for people to pirate a game, posting a link directing users to a site from which they could download illegal "warez" copies of Stardock Systems' PC strategy game Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords. In response to a user's remark that Dread Lords has been experiencing strong sales despite a lack of copy protection (other than a serial number used to download updates), StarForce forum moderator JM posted a link to a Web site and a message saying that several thousand people were downloading the game illegally. He suggested that the game's success was despite the lack of copy protection, and not because of it."
For those who aren't familiar with StarForce, read about it here. Apparently these companies will stoop to any level to "prove" that copy protection is necessary, when in fact, the marketplace is demonstrating otherwise. Stardock Systems is giving customers what they want, rather than treating them like a potential pirate right from the start. Consumers are responding with their wallets. Companies like StarForce depend on the fear of their customers (content providers) to stay in business. Success like this creates serious doubt that copy protection is in fact needed, and that threatens their business model. I'm a pragmatist, and I believe that it is nearly impossible to legislate human behavior. Give people the motivation to do the right thing, but don't take the choice away from them. Some people will always do the wrong thing, no matter how hard you try. That's a fact of life, and of nature. Trying to stop people from pirating content through DRM and copy protection is a losing battle, and I just wish content providers would understand that. If they did, perhaps they might see the same resounding success that Stardock has with Galactic Civilizations II.
For those who aren't familiar with StarForce, read about it here. Apparently these companies will stoop to any level to "prove" that copy protection is necessary, when in fact, the marketplace is demonstrating otherwise. Stardock Systems is giving customers what they want, rather than treating them like a potential pirate right from the start. Consumers are responding with their wallets. Companies like StarForce depend on the fear of their customers (content providers) to stay in business. Success like this creates serious doubt that copy protection is in fact needed, and that threatens their business model. I'm a pragmatist, and I believe that it is nearly impossible to legislate human behavior. Give people the motivation to do the right thing, but don't take the choice away from them. Some people will always do the wrong thing, no matter how hard you try. That's a fact of life, and of nature. Trying to stop people from pirating content through DRM and copy protection is a losing battle, and I just wish content providers would understand that. If they did, perhaps they might see the same resounding success that Stardock has with Galactic Civilizations II.
