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Looking around at
electronic charts and charting programs, I see that a lot use some sort
of software copy protection, even hardware “dongles” [individually
coded devices which must be kept attached to your printer or USB port
for certain programs or charts to operate]. Should I be concerned?
S.P., via e-mail
Yes, you should. Were
I collecting, I’d have a wig’s worth of hair pulled out on
account of difficult-to-get-working “protection” systems.
No doubt I’ve undertaken an unusual number of installs in the course
of my work—and I have certainly experienced painless copy protection—but
generally speaking, any scheme designed to limit file or program use involves
intricacies within your PC that are best left undisturbed.
Not that I blame the
manufacturers for this situation. Illegal copying of programs, and digital
charts in particular, is rampant. It’s one of the big issues now
facing vector chart companies as they adapt themselves to PCs and PDAs—how
to protect their work as it moves from proprietary plotter cartridges
to standard CDs and memory cards. The problem is especially acute in the
United States, where some boaters have deluded themselves into thinking
that our government’s gracious lack of copyright on paper charts
should also apply to electronic media.
What they ignore is
that, unlike paper, electronic material is so easy to copy perfectly that
no company could produce decent CDs of charts and survive if we were truly
free to duplicate them for gifts or trade. That’s why NOAA permitted
copyrighting of digital raster charts. Still, the practice goes on, which
is why more complicated protection, common in foreign products, may be
coming our way soon. This is why we should be intolerant of digital pirates.—B.E.
Got a marine electronics
question? Write to Electronics Q&A, Power & Motoryacht,
260 Madison Ave., 8th Fl., New York, NY 10016. Fax: (917) 256-2282. e-mail:
PMYElectronics@primediamags.com.
No phone calls please.
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