Copy Protection Provider Tries Publicity Stunt To Show It's Safe
from the read-the-fine-print dept
With copy protection systems under constant attack these days, as security researchers are finding new security holes (often dangerous ones) every other day or so, one firm has decided to fight back. Broadband Reports notes that the company Starforce, who makes copy protection for certain video games has issued a challenge to people who say their technology creates problems: they’re offering $1,000 (maybe) for showing them how their product breaks things. However, as always, the important details are all in the fine print. While the headline talks about destroying your “PC,” the fine print is a lot more specific. In order to win this $1,000, you have to go to their headquarters in Moscow (“at your own expense”) with a PC that is still under warranty. You need to show that the PC is fully functional at that time. You then have to install their copy protection software — after which you need to show that the CD/DVD drive no longer works. Note that this has absolutely nothing to do with mucking up other aspects of your computer. It’s just that the drive doesn’t work. Then (no, we’re not done yet), you have to remove that particular drive from the computer, and put it in another computer that has none of their software on it, and see if the drive still doesn’t work. If it still doesn’t work, then you’ll win the contest — and get the $1,000, plus get reimbursed for the trip and 2 nights in a hotel. Only the first person wins the award — but we get the feeling there won’t be much competition. If you fail to meet any of these conditions, you agree to have your name placed on their website in the (no kidding) list of losers.
Comments on “Copy Protection Provider Tries Publicity Stunt To Show It's Safe”
What's the point
They’re just trying to bend people over for grins now? There’s no way that a piece of software is going to kill a drive, unless it rewrites the firmware with crapware. And I highly doubt that anyone’s willing to try that to copy protect their IP.
Re: What's the point
I used to provide technical support for a company. You won’t believe how many people would install something, then blame that something that they installed on their now broken “insert peripheral here”
Most people are smarter than that. But its the ones who aren’t that tie up technical support for so long so much of the time.
Re: Re: What's the point
there ARE those who should not be alowed to own computers, or vote.
Re: Re: Re: What's the point
“there ARE those who should not be alowed to own computers, or vote.”
… and some of them work as tech support, and probably assume software can’t damage hardware when it happens.
MANY is the time I’ve known “tech support” people try to lie their way around not understanding a problem, and it turns out they don’t have a clue.
MANY are the policies at tech support departments which say “if you don’t know, tell them to reinstall”, or “strongly imply user error” over known bugs, too, so don’t try and deny what goes on.
what a joke...
So now the copy protection writers are attempting to write the definitions in regard to what can be considered a “problem” created by their software using a ridiculous challenge. Bravo P.R. department.
No Subject Given
Well that means, short of flying there…I won this over a year ago?
HAHAHAHA.....
HAHAHAHAH oh my GODD, oh my FRIGGIN god… oh, oh… hahhhhahaha….
ok I’m done now.
oh, damn, i’m not … HAHHAHHAH…
—-
fine, let’s see if Sony tries similar defense in court “see, CD-ROM’s ok if you move it on a clean computer, it’s just our software that b0rk it in this one? see.. oh crap…”
No Subject Given
scum…
No Subject Given
… bags
Oh, and the other codicil...
There’s another clause in the contest which says that in order win you have to look exactly like Pam Anderson and must have sex with everyone at the company 13 times.
Re: Oh, and the other codicil...
I guarantee this post to be 100% free from defects.*
*for the purposes of this guarantee, a “defect” is defined as any flaw, bug, or problem that causes immediate and complete destruction of this and any other possible universes.
Dave I’m sorry but you really REALLY must learn to read ALL of the fine print.
“All contestants must look like Pamela Anderson* and have sex with everyone at Starforce 13 times”
But if you’d read the footnotes:
* or anjelina jolie, christina aguilera or britney spears (pre-skank)
You’d have noticed that the conditions aren’t as strict as you made out!
Admittedly there is further fine print (in Times New Roman 1 Point, written in the cipher used in the Da Vinci Code) which says you must also provide proof of life after death, be able to fly like superman AND be the second coming of Christ, but whats a competition without a little challenge!!!!!
Dave I’m sorry but you really REALLY must learn to read ALL of the fine print.
“All contestants must look like Pamela Anderson* and have sex with everyone at Starforce 13 times”
But if you’d read the footnotes:
* or anjelina jolie, christina aguilera or britney spears (pre-skank)
You’d have noticed that the conditions aren’t as strict as you made out!
Admittedly there is further fine print (in Times New Roman 1 Point, written in the cipher used in the Da Vinci Code) which says you must also provide proof of life after death, be able to fly like superman AND be the second coming of Christ, but whats a competition without a little challenge!!!!!