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Probably the biggest question towards copy protection technologies is legal one. Consumers may start a class action against publisher that uses certain copy protection mechanism and therefore affect publisher’s reputation. All suits are pretty the same and aimed similar aspects:
Our monitoring of the past suits marked that protection programs most often claims to be:
- concealed programs
- stand-alone programs
- install surreptitiously
- install separately from game
- uninstallable
Thereby plaintiff accuses that publisher`s copy protected program:
- fully controls user’s computer during protection program installation
In case of using StarForce solution without drivers protection program is installed along with protected application. Installation process does not differ from usual program installation process with use of programs similar to InstallShield.
- initiates installation process of new (undisclosed) program on user’s computer
In case of using StarForce protection program has nothing to hide. All installing modules are totally in free access for user. User receives warning message about protection module installation that contains offline protection FAQ, help and installed module description. User may agree or decline protection module installation.
- brings changes and additions to user computer's operation system registry
In case of using StarForce protection program becomes a part of protected application on the stage of protection implementation. All protection modules contain only publisher copyrights. All registry keys are created under protected program publisher name. Thus all protection modules are integral part of protected program.
- tunes up protection program to operate on user’s computer without warning and consent from user
In case of using StarForce user receives warning message about protection module installation that contains offline protection FAQ, help and installed module description. User may agrees or declines protection module installation.
- does not allow user to control protection program installation and operation
In case of using StarForce there is special tool designed to remove all protection modules and registry keys from computer. At any time user may initiate protection uninstallation from computer and complete this operation.
- protection program installs itself into operation system kernel
In case of using StarForce driverless protection schema protection does not use operation system kernel for its operation.
- utilize user’s computer Internet connection
In the case of StarForce protection with disc binding protection program does not use user’s computer Internet connection at all.
In case of using StarForce protection with binding to user PC it is wasted just few kilobytes to send necessary information via Internet for program activation and only while first program launching process. For the further using no Internet is needed. And if it`s not online activation but manual there is no Internet needed at all.
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