Method for discouraging the distribution of illegal copies of computer programs over file sharing networks
AssigneeMacrovision Corporation
InventorChristopher William Szeles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Special CD-keys are generated so as to have special patterns recognizable by compliant installer programs, which require special actions to be taken by the compliant installer programs when recognized. Since the special patterns are different than those used for valid CD-keys, non-compliant installer programs will treat them as invalid CD-keys and refuse to install any computer programs for which the invalid CD-keys are provided. The special CD-keys are included in text files that have associated metadata indicating that they are for installing copies of computer programs to be protected. The text files are then offered by agent computers for downloading on file sharing networks.
Claims36
A computer implemented method for discouraging the distribution of illegal copies of a computer program over a file sharing network, comprising:
- generating a text file including an anti-piracy CD-key for defectively installing illegal copies of the computer program;
- and
- offering the text file for downloading on the file sharing network so that participants of the file sharing network may download the text file and use the anti-piracy CD-key included therein to defectively install the illegal copies of the computer program.
A computer implemented method for discouraging the distribution of illegal copies of a computer program over a file sharing network, comprising:
- receiving a CD-key during an installation process for an illegal copy of a computer program downloaded from the file sharing network;
- looking for a pattern in the CD-key to indicate that the CD-key is a valid CD-key;
- installing the illegal copy of the computer program on a designated computer if the CD-key has the pattern;
- and
- if the CD-key does not have the pattern, then looking for a second pattern in the CD-key to indicate that the CD-key is a special CD-key requiring special action to be taken.
A system for discouraging the distribution of illegal copies of a computer program over a file sharing network, comprising:
- an agent computer configured to connect to a file sharing network, and offer a text file for downloading on the file sharing network which includes an anti-piracy CD-key associated with a computer program;
- and
- a participant computer of the file sharing network configured with a compliant installer program for installing copies of computer programs, wherein the compliant installer program is configured to receive a CD-key during an installation process for a copy of a computer program, look for a pattern in the CD-key to indicate that the CD-key is a valid CD-key, install the copy of the computer program if the CD-key has the pattern, and if the CD-key does not have the pattern, then look for a second pattern in the CD-key to indicate that the CD-key is the anti-piracy CD-key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.