RE: [dvd-discuss] Blizzard / Battlenet FAQ

[Richard Hartman <hartman(at)onetouch.com>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tneu@smithmicrotech.com [mailto:tneu@smithmicrotech.com]
...
> The Intellectual Property Peddlers did it again.   They got 
> me riled up
> enough to write another anti-FAQ.
> 
> As usual, please post any recommended improvements.
> 
> http://www.visi.com/~tneu/blizzard.html
> 
> 

Q: How do CD keys help reduce piracy?
 

Blizzard: Blizzard uses two main methods to combat piracy: disc-based copy
protection and CD keys. As part of the login process, Battle.net
authenticates the user's CD key and prevents people from logging in with the
same key or an invalid key. 
 


tneu: These precautions are typical of software products, however, they have
no legal bearing on the matter. Assuming someone has purchased a copy of the
software in question, they are free to use it - even if they choose to
access an emulated server rather than the company's own.

rmh: this is what makes the battle.net clones a "circumvention device" under
the DMCA.  if the clones performed the same authentication, then you could
run
under the free market competetion w/ far less chance of Blizzard being able
to pursue a _successful_ lawsuit.  The question is: how important to the 
BattleNet clones to bypass the CD key authentication?  Is it worth being
shut down?  If all you want to do is compete, you may as well do so with
less
legal exposure.  If you want to make a statement about the DMCA and become
the next poster child in court (and we _do_ need one), keep on truckin'



-- 
-Richard M. Hartman
hartman@onetouch.com

186,000 mi./sec ... not just a good idea, it's the LAW!
>