Re:DRM done right: Puppygames
by jcl on Monday September 27, 2010 @12:44PM
(#1732279)
The Puppygames DRM could be an interesting case, though, since there are multiple ways to pirate it. The expert crackers, having read about the DRM, will find a way to disable the game's network connection.
However, there are presumably many not-quite-expert crackers who may not even realize the game has DRM beyond displaying a name and e-mail address. These people will register the game with a suitably anonymous credentials, maybe test it on a couple more machines, then upload it. They won't know the "crack" is ineffectual until they get an e-mail asking them to reset their ten registrations. And unless they keep replying to this e-mail for every ten downloads, their upload will stop working.
Two key questions: How many wannabes are there for every expert? And how many times will someone download an ineffectual crack before giving up?
However, there are presumably many not-quite-expert crackers who may not even realize the game has DRM beyond displaying a name and e-mail address. These people will register the game with a suitably anonymous credentials, maybe test it on a couple more machines, then upload it. They won't know the "crack" is ineffectual until they get an e-mail asking them to reset their ten registrations. And unless they keep replying to this e-mail for every ten downloads, their upload will stop working.
Two key questions: How many wannabes are there for every expert? And how many times will someone download an ineffectual crack before giving up?