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<blockquote data-quote="Cergorach" data-source="post: 57598" data-attributes="member: 725"><p><strong>Re: Re: Re: How do you plan on stoping e-mail/copying?</strong></p><p></p><p>Gargoyle:</p><p>1.) Could you give me a reference to an article that states that it's a proven fact that copy protected games have better sales. In my experience such facts are often researched using two different games (in worst case scenario Raiders-X vs. Final Fantasy IX). Just like in the music/movie business, certain parties have a vested interest in keeping certain illusions intact....</p><p>2.) Games, music and movies are rather bad examples for representing digital downloads. It often happens that kids buy a game, make a copy of it and return it, getting their money back. This doesn't happen with PDFs (unless you plan to give people their money back if they promise to delete their copy, in that case i have a beautifull peace of land in calafornia ;-).</p><p>3.) What does happen, is that it's quite easy for people to distribute PDFs. When a new PDF hits the web, within hours it's available on certain 'warez' sites, when a hardcopy product hits the game stores it's a couple of days before it's on certain 'warez' sites. Yes, this does mean that PDFs are easier to distribute, but it doesn't stop 'warez'. It just takes a little longer, 95% of the people who might use 'warez' will wait a couple of days (weeks even) to get that 'free' product. [edit]Let me explain bit about 'warez'. It's a system where small groups (or individuals) get a certain product and 'crack' it, they then distribute it across the web to all who are interested. This creates a redundant network, thus if some groups cease to function (for whatever reason), the rest of the network keeps on working. This setup requires only a few individuals with any technical expertise.Thus a few supply the many.[/edit] Why don't people seem to get this, shees!!!</p><p>4.) Copy protection on PDFs, well, we have a couple of ways. All of them are either (easily) circumventable, or the PDFs lose all functionality to the user. You mention Adobe's Ebook, i certainly don't hope publishers will start using that format, because it lacks a lot of functionality. Publishers often turn off printing capabilitys, editing functions, copy functions, i have to type my password every time i open the damned thing, can't add notes, or more horrible, i can only use it on a single computer. I will tell you and any publisher that i will not buy any products that are so protected and that i can't remove without to much hassel, some would even say (but not me) that they'll rather wait for the 'warez' copy of the product. A russian broke the last unbreakable ebook 'standaard', it shouldn't take long before this one is broken as well. A rather simple way: Use Linux > run a virtual machine > set the monitor resolution very high (1920*1440 or higher) > use the print screen button > copy paste in photoshop and voila, a copy. (no harm was intended by mentioning this example, the only reason this is mentioned is to dispel some illusions some people seem to have (thus consider this a 3rd level spell)).</p><p>5.) Interesting idea with the proof of purchase idea, but would require a lot of administaration with all the mail you'll receive. Why not try to include an unique code number with each single unit of your product. Something like a piece of thick paper with the code on it and has a layer of 'scratch' paint on it, the only way to read the number is to scratch the paint away. With this code (make it long) they can go to your web site enter their personal info and the code, the site references this to the database and if all is correct, it automatically transfers a certain amount to the persons bank account. Minimal fuss to you, maximum gratification for your customers...</p><p>6.) You intend to release PDF material at the same time as our print product? Why? One can often release a PDF far faster than you can release a printed product. why make people wait?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Cergorach, post: 57598, member: 725"] [b]Re: Re: Re: How do you plan on stoping e-mail/copying?[/b] Gargoyle: 1.) Could you give me a reference to an article that states that it's a proven fact that copy protected games have better sales. In my experience such facts are often researched using two different games (in worst case scenario Raiders-X vs. Final Fantasy IX). Just like in the music/movie business, certain parties have a vested interest in keeping certain illusions intact.... 2.) Games, music and movies are rather bad examples for representing digital downloads. It often happens that kids buy a game, make a copy of it and return it, getting their money back. This doesn't happen with PDFs (unless you plan to give people their money back if they promise to delete their copy, in that case i have a beautifull peace of land in calafornia ;-). 3.) What does happen, is that it's quite easy for people to distribute PDFs. When a new PDF hits the web, within hours it's available on certain 'warez' sites, when a hardcopy product hits the game stores it's a couple of days before it's on certain 'warez' sites. Yes, this does mean that PDFs are easier to distribute, but it doesn't stop 'warez'. It just takes a little longer, 95% of the people who might use 'warez' will wait a couple of days (weeks even) to get that 'free' product. [edit]Let me explain bit about 'warez'. It's a system where small groups (or individuals) get a certain product and 'crack' it, they then distribute it across the web to all who are interested. This creates a redundant network, thus if some groups cease to function (for whatever reason), the rest of the network keeps on working. This setup requires only a few individuals with any technical expertise.Thus a few supply the many.[/edit] Why don't people seem to get this, shees!!! 4.) Copy protection on PDFs, well, we have a couple of ways. All of them are either (easily) circumventable, or the PDFs lose all functionality to the user. You mention Adobe's Ebook, i certainly don't hope publishers will start using that format, because it lacks a lot of functionality. Publishers often turn off printing capabilitys, editing functions, copy functions, i have to type my password every time i open the damned thing, can't add notes, or more horrible, i can only use it on a single computer. I will tell you and any publisher that i will not buy any products that are so protected and that i can't remove without to much hassel, some would even say (but not me) that they'll rather wait for the 'warez' copy of the product. A russian broke the last unbreakable ebook 'standaard', it shouldn't take long before this one is broken as well. A rather simple way: Use Linux > run a virtual machine > set the monitor resolution very high (1920*1440 or higher) > use the print screen button > copy paste in photoshop and voila, a copy. (no harm was intended by mentioning this example, the only reason this is mentioned is to dispel some illusions some people seem to have (thus consider this a 3rd level spell)). 5.) Interesting idea with the proof of purchase idea, but would require a lot of administaration with all the mail you'll receive. Why not try to include an unique code number with each single unit of your product. Something like a piece of thick paper with the code on it and has a layer of 'scratch' paint on it, the only way to read the number is to scratch the paint away. With this code (make it long) they can go to your web site enter their personal info and the code, the site references this to the database and if all is correct, it automatically transfers a certain amount to the persons bank account. Minimal fuss to you, maximum gratification for your customers... 6.) You intend to release PDF material at the same time as our print product? Why? One can often release a PDF far faster than you can release a printed product. why make people wait? [/QUOTE]
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