Use shareware to protect your programs

Q I have developed a CD with a program on it, which I hope to sell to people over the internet. The only problem is that people can then put the CD into their own computers and copy the files to their hard disks, then make copies of the CD themselves to sell. Is there a way to stop people from copying my files and making their own CDs?
Max Maybury

A The simple answer is no. It’s something that has vexed even the biggest software manufacturers since the dawn of the PC age. Essentially, it’s impossible to prevent your program from being copied by someone who’s dedicated to copying it.

Take a look at any internet file-sharing site and you’ll see thousands of pieces of software available illegally, from even the biggest names such as Microsoft. It is possible to copy-protect your discs, and some games manufacturers do this but it’s very expensive and unreliable, which is why it’s rarely used nowadays.

One way people get around the problem is to use what’s called the Shareware principle. This allows people to make copies of the program freely, and to distribute it over the internet but if they use it they will be obliged to pay you for it.

You could pepper the program with reminders and a link to your website, which will contain a link through which people can pay you using a system such as Paypal. Obviously this depends on your users’ honesty, but some software makers do make money from such software.

The other good way to protect yourself is to require a serial number for your program. This will, of course, require a bit of extra work so that the program will not operate (or it operates with limited features) until the user enters the serial number.

To get one, they will have to go to your website and pay you (using the same method as above) at which point you can email them a serial number. This is more work for you, but it’s one good way to stop people making copies of the software.