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Originally Posted by searcherone

It isn't that protection schemes don't work but that the hackers and criminals eventually catch up. They are like the squirrels in my backyard. They eventually figure out how to get to the birdfeeder regardless of what I do to prevent it.

My point exactly... they don't stop the people they are intended to foil... (Hackers will never buy software. People that use hacked programs are also unlikely to buy software.) They only create inconvenience and confusion for the honest users...

It strikes me as odd that a program primarily designed for professionals, intended to be used away from home where INTERNET connections will be unlikely, would require and INTERNET connection to update.

Sorry I didn't answer this until now. I was out of commission the end of 2007.

First, with 30 years in IT (which can mean just about anyone today ), I'm surprised you never had to deal with theft.

Second, MTU provides FREE support, and have since 1977... even to users who bought decades ago. They haven't aided our support costs at all, yet demand we be there to provide them free support forever. Makes no sense, but we still help them... for free.

Since 1977, MTU has an excellent reputation for providing logical, easy to use, massively tested, crash resistant products, plus support that WILL solve your problems.

In 1999, we had minimal protection on our products. The Internet was taking off, and all sorts of forums, BB's, and swap sites popped up. We had a SIGNIFICANT increase in our support demands, way beyond our sales. That was a new "reality" for us.

I searched the Internet for our products and found them on many download sites. I became expert at getting hosting companies to remove copyright infringement sites removing the free downloads. I spent 2-3 days every month tracking down illegal download sites and getting our codes and products off them, or got them shut down. That was the new reality for us to survive.

In 2001 we re-released our DNoise(tm) noise removal software with a demo that processed a 2 minute long file. Withing a month, our sales plummeted and never recovered. We found a French website that in first 30 days had over 40,000 downloads! We learned that to stay in business, we would either develop security that worked for everyone, or terminate and close the doors.

Unlike the companies you mention below, I don't quit. I find a solution and move forward. From 2000 until today (4/09) we have continuously perfected our security making it as transparent as possible for our honest customers. You don't need to have Internet connection to RUN our programs, only to install and register. MTU is still alive when some of our competitors have closed their doors due to being overwhelmed by theft.

We found that around 90% of honest users problems were because they never updated their Windows! Microsoft Software Development Tools REQUIRE their newest Windows Upgrades for compiled programs to run.

If you haven't done your Windows Upgrades, our software Upgrades WILL NOT RUN RELIABLY! That's why we require you to go on-line to install our software.

Originally Posted by searcherone

To update I now have to unrack two main systems that are installed in bars bring them home reactivate the networking,(which is disabled when not in use, and services unloaded), connect to the INTERNET do a two minute update, disable then services again shut down networking, then drag them back to the bars and re-install and test them. About two hours of my time instead of five minutes, to make MTU feel better about a few possible hackers who will beat the protection anyway.

If your shows run successfully with Hoster, keep running that version. YOU ARE NOT FORCED TO UPGRADE!

If you want our new features and upgrades, you need to go on-line.

Originally Posted by searcherone

I feel protection schemes like this waste valuable limited development resources, while producing a function of limited life and value. These resources would be better spent improving the and expanding the product line.

If you've been in the business as long as you say them you remember companies like dbase, paradox, Harvard graphics, xywrite, wordstar, and hundreds of others that lost focus on producing the the best product, and wasted valuable development resources creating protection schemes in the belief that they were losing money or that they would make more money. End result they still got hacked and either went out of business or are no longer a major player.

If we hadn't developed our security, you wouldn't have this Forum to post in. You're welcome to state your opinion, but reality is theft RUNS RAMPANT on the Internet today. Honest companies and users must conform to the "new rules" or perish.

Of these companies you mention, as I remember their products were overridden by newer technology or they were in a market that Microsoft or others did better marketing. Some refused to evolve and survive. MTU chose to survive.