Intellectual property protection suddenly stops. What do software developers do?

[Whoha]

IP protection is important, but protecting the physical media is not. There are methods that they could use, which would require more of an investment on their part, but would better serve their purpose in any event since no-cd cracks are available.

The tribes 2 update/multiplayer system seems solid. We couldn't find a cd key generator for it to be able to create an account so we had to try using my original copy's cd key(they did disable the check to make sure that the same cd key wasn't logged in more then once so success here).

could that be cracked

everything could theoretically be cracked given enough time and effort, but you can make it more of a pain in the ass to do.

[OzzyKP]

Re: Intellectual property protection suddenly stops. What do software developers do?

I think that developers and publishers would find other ways to get payed. I am asking you to imagine just such situation, and tell me which production/support/marketing models could/would be used?

Oh, I'm sure they'll think of something....

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by JohnT
Any assumption of fewer revenues kills the volunteer concept. Selling the software will result in more revenues than hoping that people will recognize your genius.

You apparently have not heard of shareware.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Asher
Switching to Linux isn't as easy as people want you to believe.

That's what MS wants people to believe. The fact is modern Linux distros are easier to install than Windows.

Originally posted by Asher
This is why Urban Ranger has predicted the downfall of Windows for ~5 years now, every year. And every year, MS sells more copies.

Really? Is that why MS failed to meet market expectations?

[Asher]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
You apparently have not heard of shareware.

How popular is shareware today...?

[Asher]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Really? Is that why MS failed to meet market expectations?

Not at all. It's something tough for you to understand, I'm sure.

But if you're implying that Windows and Office sales are slowing, you're completely wrong. Here we are, 4+ years after Windows XP came out, and sales are still on the rise.

http://news.com.com/Microsoft+earnings+present+a+mixed+bag/2100-1014_3-5917985.html?tag=nefd.top

For the just-ended quarter, Microsoft posted gains in sales and profits from its three main businesses--Windows client, server and tools, and Information Worker units.

If Linux is taking over the Windows desktop, that's pretty astonishing considering Windows sales are on the uptick.

(Information Worker = Office, by the way)

Considering the "big bang" of new products due out within the next year, those should increase substantially yet again.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by JohnT
I mean, how are you going to support your family by giving away 50 hours of productivity a week?

You can give away free software and make money on support. There are companies that make a pretty penny this way. You can even make a nice bundle by just supporting the gcc compiler suite.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
You can give away free software and make money on support. There are companies that make a pretty penny this way. You can even make a nice bundle by just supporting the gcc compiler suite.

A "pretty penny"? That's a load of horsesh*t.

You can make a tiny bit of money, it's completely comical compared to real software companies.

And the only reason they make money on support are their products are so poorly engineered in the first place so as to require support -- and where is the incentive to improve the ease of use and functionality of the product when you get paid to support it?




Your gcc compiler suite comment is the best though, as I've had to deal with those clowns that support the compiler all the time when we supported IBM compilers on Linux (which used gcc libraries). I'm pretty sure these people volunteered their time, because their response times were abysmal and attitude completely unprofessional.

[Sandman]

There's an easy way to get around this: create a state-owned software company funded by taxation. Probably not ideal, but it is a possible course of action if intellectual property somehow ceases to exist.

[Asher]

*cringe*

[Saras]

Soviet union had state companies for toilet paper. Guess why there was no toilet paper?

[Sandman]

Which news website gets linked to a lot round here?

[FrostyBoy]

Some of you are forgetting that a lot of pirates are downloading software simply because they can't afford to buy it; however, this is actually a GOOD thing in my eyes. Why? Think about it, they can't afford it, so they're never going to buy it; instead they download it, if they like it, they spread the word about it, they create mods/scenario's for it. They are free advertisers. These types cause no harm to the publisher - since they can't buy the game.

Also, a lot of players these days won't buy games in fear that the game sucks, due to reviewers being inaccurate in their reviews and developers and publishers lying and exaggerating.
Which is why I say "RELEASE A DEMO 1 MONTH BEFORE GOING GOLD!" If you do it after the release, a large audience are not going to be interested because it's "3 month ago, who cares?". Publishers must release a demo BEFORE actual full release to create anticipation and encouragement to buy the game.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
That's what MS wants people to believe. The fact is modern Linux distros are easier to install than Windows.

Except you don't have to install windows in the first place.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Sandman
There's an easy way to get around this: create a state-owned software company funded by taxation. Probably not ideal, but it is a possible course of action if intellectual property somehow ceases to exist.

:vomit: