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Software piracy is an ever-present problem for
software developers, and unfortunately there is
no way to entirely prevent it. Software developers
can employ tactics such as hardware dongles, registration
codes, passwords, online activation, separate
downloads for licensed versions, etc, but the
fact remains that none of the protection schemes
are absolutely foolproof or failsafe. All software
protection measures can ultimately be circumvented
if someone is persistent and determined enough.
As such, the goal of most MicroISVs is to simply
minimize piracy as much as possible. Part of curbing
software piracy involves implementing software
protection schemes. There are a number of different
tools and hybrids that ISVs use in an attempt
to stay ahead of software pirates, from registration
key hashes to separate downloads for licensed
versions.
An important aspect in all this is that MicroISVs
should deploy a software protection scheme that
is effective, yet at the same time will not cause
undue frustration or problems for legitimate customers.
Sadly, piracy is simply a fact of life for most
ISVs, and one they must be vigilant about. Keep
in mind that a widely-distributed "crack" can
negatively impact an application's sales by as
much as 30%! With that in mind, it is important
that you release an update quickly once you discover
that a crack has been released, and the new version
should be designed so that the crack will no longer
work.
Another tool to combat piracy is educating consumers
about software piracy and the effects that it
has on the software industry. Like it or not,
all software purchasers ultimately pay for software
piracy. Software piracy impacts a company's ability
to provide customer and technical support, and
combating piracy often takes time away from new
development efforts and product improvements.
When deploying a new version, many software developers
include a splash screen that can identify those
using illegal keys, and explains that they are
in fact using an illegal copy of the software.
The program then encourages the illegal user to
purchase a legitimate version, and many MicroISVs
are able to convert these often-unintentional
software pirates into legitimate customers.
The key to beating piracy is to stay vigilant
against the software pirates, and to implement
an intelligent fraud protection scheme that will
not unfairly penalize legitimate customers.
Additional Resources:
Everything
You Need To Know About Registration Systems
Business
Software Alliance
Software
Piracy Rates By Country
AntiCracking
FAQ
What
Is Software Piracy?
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