Copyprotecting system for software protection

A copyprotecting method for preventing the pirating of computer software programs, comprising:

• placing at least one permanent input/output error on the target disk in a random pattern;
• updating said permanent input/output error on the Volume Table of Contents of said disk;
• loading an error software program on said target disk;
• updating said error software program to acknowledge said permanent input/output error;
• such that said error software program deletes the copied program on the reproduced disk based on the absence of said permanent input/output error on the reproduced disk.

A method for copyprotecting a computer software program on a disk to prevent pirating of computer software programs comprising the following steps:

• placing at least one permanent input/output error on at least one sector of a target disk;
• updating the volume table of contents of said target disk to indicate said sector with said permanent input/output error;
• loading the input/output error trap software program on said target disk;
• updating said input/output error trap software program to read said sector with said permanent input/output error;
• searching by said input/output error trap software program for said permanent input/output error during the use of said target disk;
• encountering said permanent input/output error;
• continuing with normal processing of user software programs.

A method for copyprotecting user software programs comprising:

• a target disk;
• said target disk including at least one input/output error means;
• a software means so constructed and arranged to locate said input/output error means on said target disk;
• such that a copied disk would not include said input/output error means;
• said copied disk would be rendered useless upon running of said copied disk;
• said input/output error means cannot be stored or read and therefore is not machine readable and thereby not transferable for copying purposes;
• said software means includes means to bypass the located input/output error means to allow continuous use of the target disk but to prevent further use of a copied disk.

A target member that is not copyable, comprising:

• magnetic material;
• at least one input/output error means untransferable for copying purposes by machine readable computers;
• a physical magnetic readable signal;
• said physical magnetic readable signal inducing a signal means for allowing bypassing said input/output error means to allow continuous use of said target member but to prevent use of a copied member.

A copyprotecting method for preventing the pirating of computer software programs, comprising:

• placing at least one permanent input/output error on the target member in a random pattern;
• updating said permanent input/output error on the Volume Table of Contents of said target member;
• loading an error software program on said target member;
• updating said error software program to acknowledge said permanent input/output error;
• such that said error software program deletes the copied program on the reproduced member based on the absence of said permanent input/output error on the reproduced member.

A method for copyprotecting a computer software program on a member to prevent pirating of computer software program comprising the following steps:

• placing at least one permanent input/output error on at least one sector of a target member;
• updating the volume table of contents of said target member to indicate said sector with said permanent input/output error;
• loading the input/output error trap software program on said target member;
• updating said input/output error trap software program to read said sector with said permanent input/output error;
• searching by said input/output error trap software program for said permanent input/output error during the use of said target member;
• encountering said permanent input/output error;
• continuing with normal processing of user software programs.

A method for copyprotecting user software programs comprising:

• a target member;
• said target member including at least one input/output error means;
• a software means so constructed and arranged to locate said input/output error means on said target member;
• such that a copied member would not include said input/output error means;
• said copied member would be rendered useless upon running of said copied member;
• said input/output error means cannot be stored or read and therefore is not machine readable and thereby not transferable for copying purposes;
• said software means includes means to bypass the located input/output error means to allow continuous use of the target member but to prevent further use of a copied member.