Software Piracy Reduction!

  Copyright 1988, 1989 
     by Timothy Rue 


 Yes, the following includes a bit of incorrect spelling and even some 
poor grammer, but hey, it the idea/concept that's important. Besides,
this is T.Rue'ly freeware (nobody paid me to do this!!!). Tim

*********** This document may be distributed through and in any media, 
    so long as it is kept in its entirety and no charge is 
    presented or paid for it (except resonable cost of media 
    in which it is distributed). In other words, It's FREE!!!
    And PLEASE do spread it around!!! Thanks. ***************

Software Piracy results in negitives. A situation that seems to be
        collapsing upon itself with no solution, until perhaps now.

Software Piracy---

1). Takes income from software developers.
2). Takes software developers away from developing quality software.
3). Takes quality software away from computers.
4). Takes consumers away from computers.
5). Takes computer use away from industry and home.

For computers to be more used in industry (and home) means for them 
to be made easier to use, explaining the trend or direction of the
computer manufactures. But the hardware is only half of a system 
with the other half being the software, which also needs to be made 
easier to use, even more so than the hardware. A matter of profit to 
the companys that could use computer but don't due to problems with 
software (and hardware) that would and do cost money. A matter of
ease of use and usefullness for the home user and their comfort.
Certainly, a great number of small companys that cannot afford to 
make costly mistakes in the hope of profiting from the advantages of 
computers, simply don't use them. Perhaps because they cannot afford
to deal with such additional costs as can be created by complexities
that shouldn't exist in the first place and are contridictary to the
advantages of computers. With the phone book listings of small 
Cabinet shops, one can verify the large number of shops that don't 
use a CAD package, perhaps due to the cost of obtaining a system 
(computer and software) that will be of real benifit in the areas
it should and can be.
 
6). Takes some progress away from industry (including the computer
    industry).

   OK, so maybe it's not all this bad, but a little here and a 
little there does add up to produce an overall negitive effect.
Or perhaps it is worst than thought, due to being short sighted,
not seeing what doesn't exist, though could and/or could have.
 
SOLUTION: (But no solution will work all the time!)

   Billions of dollars is spent each year on advertising.
   People who work (and play) with computers are looking at the
monitor (and perhaps listening to the speaker).
   By directing some of the advertising dollar to software 
developers, advertisers get the opportunity to not only put there 
name in front of computer users but to give the user something to
remember them for (quality software), while software developers 
gain a more reliable income (being immune to piracy).

   Advertisers will put their name on quality programs, researching 
what users consider quality and/or making additional use of knowledge 
already known from R&D of their product line(s), resulting in higher 
quality, more effective (useful), user oriented programs. Programs 
that may also educate/inform the user/consumer about the company/
advertisers product line.

   Piracy will be reduced as a result of elimination (at least in 
part) of the crime, due to "AD-Ware" or "Sponcer-Ware". Also Pirate-
        Crackers may be hired by Ad agencies to specialize in Software "ADd"
work (adding the ads into the Programs, without being destructive to
the programs or program "ease of use"). Such employed talent will be
less likley to give their work and/or time away for free. In effect
there will be a decrease in crackers (those who are good at not only
breaking copy protection but adding their "mark" in artistic ways).
And there's the effect that such talent leaving piracy/cracking will
have on the rest, being a way to make money may very well cause less 
to do such for free (feeling they are being cheated?).

   As a result of Free and low cost quality software, the computer 
industry (and others that can benifit from computers) will turn the 
negitive "Effect" of piracy into a positive productive promotional 
tool. Real examples of how this could grow and effect industry and 
home are the realities of how TV and Radio has had effect. Free to 
consumer, TV and Radio programming, paid for by Advertisers - (this
helps advertisers communicate information about their products to 
the consumers, otherwise who's going to buy what they don't know 
exist?).

   Such an example of an AD might be:

A game of strip poker or other sexual oriented programs
that contains an Ad for a company that produces and sells 
Prophylactics and spermicide (perhaps promoting SAFE SEX 
in more ways than one). Or (for versatility to ad agencys) 
the data disks are created for the individual company ads.

Note: This example is given because the subject matter is
a Big Seller and there is a world problem with AIDS. AIDS,
which spreads similar to the spreading of pirated software.
Being open about the subject matter has proven very helpful
in combating AIDS.

   Another example:

A Lumber company (or perhaps an Organization of national
builders) hire/pay a programmer(s) to produce a CAD package
that is complete, versatile, and easy to use. The package
is then given to customers and potential customers (whom 
using it are able to cut some cost). Software support could 
come from the advertiser or by agreement from the software 
developer (though a quality program here will keep cost in 
software support to a minimum). The customer (being able to 
cut cost, produce more, make use of the advantages of 
computers - rather than just hear about possible advantages) 
will be much more inclined to purchase from the company, 
their woods or other building material or services. The 
advertisers name, address, phone number, etc... is where?
Perhaps simply in the program credits under Sponcership.

The Key, Innovation and Intergration:

           There are many variations with the general Idea presented here 
as is the advertising world of ideas, concepts, promotions, etc...
Facing the fact that computers are indeed another (and perhaps the 
most versatile) communication tool of man. A tool that is not only 
evolving in quanity but also in quality. A communication tool that 
advertisers will and are using as they have all of the other tools
of communication (not to mention the ability of advertisers to turn 
things into communication tools. ie balloons, small to very large 
- blimps). With such a versatile communication tool at hand it is 
even possible to produce "Interactive Ads" or "Expert System based
Sales-ware". However, the end-user may be more interested in such
programs that make their life easier, such as a "home checkbook"
program, sponcered by their bank. Or a game to entertain the kids,
sponcered by a company that makes cereal. And the office or shop
worker interested in such programs that help their daily work,
sponcered by suppliers of materials and/or services they use.
   The limits of the general idea presented here are determined
by of course the computer manufactures and software programmers. 
But more so by the programmers, for it is the Software that makes
computers not only useful but also what makes the computer industry
grow. Software developers are the farmers that grow the feed the
computer industry lives off of. And the advertising dollar is there
to help feed the software developers. All of which needs consumers
and are the consumers, whom eventually pay for the advertising. 
   There is more than plenty of room for innovations in software
development and by intergrating the interest of all involved it is
more than possible to satisfy the needs of all involved, using the 
win-win attitude as a common objective and goal. 

Looking at Individual Objectives and Goals, the following 
classification is only one perspective. Those listed in one
may also fit another, or perhaps a different classification
structure would better fit your needs. Due to the many possible
objectives, I leave blank the definitions of Individual goals,
and realize their may be other concerned parties not listed 
(or perhaps not realized their place in list). 

The END-USER:
Consumer (the end-payer) -

SOFTWARE PRODUCTION:
Crackers -
Software Developers (programmers) -
Software Marketers (the ad agencies)-

SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION:
Software distributers (and book stores)-
BBS's - (also support line?)
Pirates -

SOFTWARE SUPPORT & FUNDING:
Advertisers (producers) - 

Why hasn't advertising been seen and used as a solution to piracy? 

   In the advertising world there are many factors to take into
account, one of which is the number of potential customers an ad
or promotion WILL reach for the advertising dollar spent. Such
software ads and promotions will and do take into account this
factor. At the very base of this factor is the number of computers
in use with the Operating System needed for the Ad-Ware, then the 
number of users of the proper OS that not only qualify as potential 
customers but CAN and WILL access such software (via modem, disk 
magazine, etc...). Once these and other factors are accounted for 
the number of potential customers reachable must be within the 
limits of the advertising budget for the selected promotion. 

*** The above is only a generalization of some of the factors that
come into play in the world of advertising and by no means express
any given formula for producing a successful promotion. The Science
of advertising has evolved to be very well researched, tested, and
applied, having estimatable results before promotion and measurable
results during and after a promotion. ***

   To answer the question "Why hasn't advertising been seen and 
used as a solution to piracy?" is very difficult. Realizing such
an answer could be as extensive as all the articles and proposed
solutions to the problem of piracy along with all the complaints
and proposed solutions to and about buggy, hard to use, software.
So I feel very safe to answer with "I don't know!" as so many 
others have reguarding a solution to Piracy and Poor Programs. But 
there are those to talk about the problems and those who do what
it takes to correct them (or make use of the problems and causes). 
 
Making the change and recognizing the exceptions ...

   As with all new ideas, there is the process of evolution that
takes place and this concept/idea is certainly no exception. There
is no complete solution to the piracy and poor programs problem,
exceptions will always exist. However, the exceptions can amount to
perhaps less than 20% of all software produced. Examples of some
exceptions are such software that is it-self a product that requires 
such high cost in development and/or specialization in such a small 
field that it cannot be profitably funded by the advertising dollar.
But the type of software we are dealing with here is that which can
be funded by the advertising dollar and is determined by the many 
many different business and their advertising interest. 

{One need not be in a selected industry to purchase and use the 
products of that industry for advertising vehicles. Or, why would 
someone buy a product of an industry if it is being given away in 
advertising that industry? <- the dilemma of the software industry 
and how to promote a software package without giving it away!?}

  As a start at looking at the "available to the advertising dollar"
software one need not look far. Though the Public Domain Library 
would not be a good place to find programs for ads (being available 
and spread without a sponcer results in its value to potential 
sponcers to vanish) it is a good place to see who can produce what. 
Also many programs are upgraded and such program improvements can 
regenerate the sponcer value (especially if the program is popular). 
Shareware is closely related to PD and is the midway point between 
Free and "Paid For" software. Another midway point in costs are the 
program listings in magazines (most magazines are paid for by both 
the advertisiers and consumers, as are most newspapers). Software
that would have or require printed documentation with it might be
paid for in a similar manner, shared between advertiser and consumer,
or even software that has no printed documentation but has a high
development cost.

   All in all, starting or doing things on a small scale first and
letting the methods, technicalities, problems, solutions, etc...
develope, evolve, grow will bring much more success than making big
moves with hopes of consumer acceptance. Even consumer acceptance
must evolve!

New Ideas Applied - New Problems Generated.

And If Columbus knew.... Would America have been discovered?
 
In Closing...

   Perhaps there is more to consider than what is contained in this 
document. The idea is original, original in that I didn't get it 
from someone else. But put my head to work and thought it out, using 
the knowledge base I've aquired over the years. Unfortunatly, this 
knowledge base of mine doesn't include the knowledge of how I might 
personally directly financially benifit from this idea in such a 
manner I'd be in some control of it. Realizing alot of people can 
benifit, I think it would be wrong not to communicate the Idea.  
   Being someone with good ideas but also realizing another type of 
pirating (that of ideas, which are more than difficult to protect,
but near impossible unless hidden and never used) perhaps I'll 
benifit by the change in enviroment, in which I live, that the 
application of this idea/concept causes. 

   To help in generating interest, I'm willing to keep record and 
evidence of responce to this document and will post responce totals 
as they change in meaningful amounts. Perhaps updating this document
to included responce totals broken down into somewhat useful tables
of information.   
   So send me a postcard stating your interest (programmer, consumer,
advertiser, distributer, etc...) and System(s) you use, along with 
maybe the type of work you do. And perhaps this will help in getting
the attention of those in other positions to not only pay more 
attention to this contributing solution to the Problem of Piracy 
and Poor Programs, but to get involved in it. 
   Including a return address is not needed unless you're interested 
in maybe ending up on mailing lists. Sending a SASE (Self Addressed 
Stamped Envelope) will result in your receiving the above mentioned 
responce totals via U.S. Mail (but if you do this please include the 
other info.). Sending an SASE will not put you on any mailing list 
(unless requested).

Timothy Rue




Email: timrue@mindspring.com

Copyright © 1988, 1994, 1996 Timothy V. Rue