Computer program protection method

• US 4,462,078 A
• Filed: 08/02/1982
• Issued: 07/24/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ron Ross
• Original Assignee: Ron Ross
• Inventors: Ross, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): Zache, Raulfe B.
• Application Number:
  US06/404,135
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/300, 178/22.01, 178/22.08
• US Class Current: 726/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/123 by using dedicated hardware, e.g. dongles, smart cards, cryptographic processors, global positioning systems [GPS] devices
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00123 the record carrier being identified by recognising some of its unique characteristics, e.g. a unique defect pattern serving as a physical signature of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00927 wherein said defects or errors are generated on purpose, e.g. intended scratches

Abstract

A computer program protection method which permits copying of the program by a user, but which incorporates a novel information coding technique to prevent operational response by the computer using a copy.

Claims

1. In a computer program protection method intended to distinguish between computer programs recorded on a bona fide recording medium and corresponding programs copied from such bona fide medium onto a similar recording medium, the steps of:

a. Writing a code signal at a predetermined location in said information recording medium in accordance with an instruction incorporated within the program to be protected;

b. Verifying in the computer the code signal stored at said predetermined location; and

c. The step of utilizing as said bona fide recording medium, a medium which is unresponsive to such instruction to write said code signal at said predetermined location.

2. The protection method of claim 1 wherein there is additionally included the step of disabling the computer upon the verification of the storing of said code signal at said predetermined location.

3. The protection method of claim 2 wherein said recording medium utilization step utilizes a bona fide recording medium constrained to reject program instructions at said predetermined location of a characteristic sufficient to carry out said instructions at said locations on a recording medium where said computer program is attempted to be similarly copied.