“Consumers may think they are successfully burning a CD protected by Smarte Solutions, but may discover otherwise when they try to play it… Privately held Smarte Solutions is working with software publishers to incorporate its SmarteCD technology into their wares. Unlike existing copy-protection schemes, which prevent CD burners from copying a disk, SmarteCD allows the user to burn a copy of the disc, explained company president Bala Vishwanath. The software can be installed from the bootleg disc and will appear to run normally, until the program reaches a point determined by the software publisher. Then the application will halt and present users with an invitation to purchase a legal, fully functional version of the software.” – ZDnet, June 18, 2002
The TeleRead take: How long until e-book publishers cook up similar schemes, assuming they haven’t already?
