| 摘要 |
A system for protecting (10) computer software against unauthorized copying or use includes writing to and reading (47) from storage media such as diskettes (10) and determining whether the storage medium is authorized based upon the results of the write/read (47) operation (436-446, 464-466). In a preferred embodiment, a software medium (30) is prepared for distribution (10) of an application program by writing a scrambled version of the application program (40) and an install program (20) that determines whether the medium is authorized by evaluating bad spots (434) in the medium. A similar mechanism protects against unauthorized copying of an application form a hard disk (418) drive or a computer's memory. The system provides a simple software-based mechanism (46) for turning it on another computer. The system provides for emergency use (44) of the application program in the event that the authorized distribution medium (10) becomes unusable. |
