Selling Python Software

[Peter Hansen]

Erik Max Francis wrote:
> 
> Most copy protection schemes these days, such as they are, are intended
> to discourage casual violations.  Things like requiring a serial number
> or the right CD in the drive are usually considered fairly good common
> ground solutions, because they're well-known territory and the average
> customer won't be put off too much by them.

And, sadly, there is a large number of "average customers" who seem
to be aware of Warez sites and know enough to download and install the
broken versions of software.

The number of people I know with "free" versions of XP is somewhat 
shocking.

I think Quicken is one of the few programs I've seen lately which seems
to remain somewhat intact.  (I'm quite sure I'll hear otherwise now, but
so far I haven't seen rampant copying.)  The basic technique used there
is online registration, which I assume decrypts and/or enables certain
critical portions of the code after server verification of credentials,
and prevents repeat registrations using the same CD.  Maybe that's a 
good new baseline for such protection.

-Peter