Canadian Recording Industry Appeals File Sharing Ruling

More Stupid Copy Protection That Does Nothing But Piss Off Legitimate Users

from the why-oh-why-do-companies-think-this-is-necessary? dept

Mon, Jul 12th 2004 2:37pm — Mike Masnick

This certainly isn't a new or unique story, but Broadband Reports has yet another story about ridiculous and pointless copy protection. The copy protection scheme, called Starforce, appears to be mainly used for protecting certain PC games from being copied. Of course, like so many copy protection schemes it does this by assuming all legitimate customers are criminals. Not only that, but it installs itself without letting you know (not even in the EULA), hides itself on your PC, slows down the PC, causes all sorts of other problems and errors, and is nearly impossible to remove -- even after the protected application has been removed. In other words, it's just as bad as some adware/spyware out there -- except that it's screwing things up for legitimate customers who actually went out and bought the games in question. As the article points out, every one of those games is available in a cracked version online, so this "copy protection" scheme doesn't actually prevent copies. It only serves to anger legitimate customers. Why is anyone using this product on their software?

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30 Comments

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homas, 12 Jul 2004 @ 3:45pm

New Game Protection That Screws With My 'Puter
Please list the game manufacturers & distributors doing this so they can be boycotted.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Griffon, 12 Jul 2004 @ 5:11pm

List of games
From their forum, a list of games that are a catalyst for the infection

"List of games

AceSaga N/A ? N/A StarForce

American Conquest N/A CDV Software Russia StarForce 3

Anito: Defend A Land Enraged N/A Anino Entertainment Asia StarForce 1
Anstoss 4 N/A ? Germany StarForce 3

Army Men N/A 3DO Russia StarForce

Bandits: Phoenix Rising N/A Tri Synergy N/A StarForce 3.03.036.001

Breed 1.0 CDV US StarForce 3.3.33.06

Breed N/A CDV France StarForce 3.3.33.08

Broken Sword 3: The Sleeping Dragon N/A

Revolution US StarForce

Chrome N/A Strategy First Russia StarForce 3

Codename: Outbreak N/A Virgin Interactive Russia StarForce 1

Cossacks: Back To War N/A CDV Software Russia StarForce 1

Cossacks: European Wars N/A GSC Russia StarForce 3

Curse: The Eye of Isis N/A Dreamcatcher Interactive N/A StarForce 3

Cycling Manager 3 N/A GMX Media N/A StarForce 3

Dead to Rights N/A Hip Interactive N/A StarForce 3

Demonic Speedway N/A ? Poland StarForce 3

Desert Rats vs. Afrika Corps 1.0 Monte Cristo France StarForce 3.3.31.19

DTM Race Driver 2 N/A Codemasters N/A StarForce 3.3.35.02

Emergency Fire Response N/A Dreamcatcher Interactive N/A StarForce 3

Enigma: Rising Tide N/A Tesseraction Games N/A StarForce 3

Etherlords N/A Fishtank Interactive Russia StarForce 1

Etherlords II N/A Strategy First N/A StarForce 3.03.031.021

Fire Chief N/A Strategy First N/A StarForce 3

Fire Department N/A Monte Cristo N/A StarForce 3

Gangland N/A Whiptail Interactive N/A StarForce 3.03.031.021

Heroes of Might & Magic IV: The Gathering Storm N/A 3DO Russia StarForce

Horse Race Manager N/A Cyanide N/A StarForce 3

Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter N/A Interplay UK StarForce 3

IL-2 Sturmovik N/A Ubi Soft Russia StarForce 1

Kicker Manager 2004 N/A Deep Silver N/A StarForce 3.03.036.001

Kill Switch 1.0 Namco France StarForce 3.3.33.08

Korea: Forgotten Conflict N/A CENEGA N/A StarForce 3

Magna Carta N/A Korea N/A StarForce 1

Magnamedia N/A Russia N/A StarForce 3

Mercedes-Benz World Racing N/A TDK Mediactive Spain StarForce 3

Might & Magic IX: Writ of Fate N/A 3DO Russia StarForce

Narsillion N/A ? Russia StarForce 1

Obscure N/A Hydravision Entertainment N/A StarForce 3.3.36.01

Pax Romana N/A Dreamcatcher Interactive N/A StarForce 3

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time N/A Ubisoft Russia StarForce 3

Pro Rugby Manager N/A Digital Jesters N/A StarForce 3.3.33.08

Rally Championship Xtreme N/A Warthog Entertainment Software N/A StarForce

Rendezvous 3 N/A ? Russia StarForce

Restaurant Empire N/A Enlight Software N/A StarForce

Revolution N/A Activision Value Publishing N/A StarForce

Runaway: A Road Adventure N/A Tri Synergy N/A StarForce 3

Seventh Seal: The Resurrection of the Dark Lord N/A ? Asia StarForce 2

Shtyrlits 3: USSR Agent N/A ? Russia StarForce 1

Siege of Avalon N/A Digital Tome Russia StarForce 1

Silent Storm N/A Nival N/A StarForce 3

Silkolene Honda Motocross GP N/A Midas Interactive Entertainment N/A StarForce 3

Sniper N/A ? N/A StarForce 3

Soldiers: Heroes of World War II 1.05.1 Codemasters N/A StarForce 3.03.036.001

Tennis Masters Series: Battleground of Champions N/A Microids Asia StarForce

Tennis Masters Series: Battleground of Champions 1.1 Microids Czech StarForce 3

The Heroes of Three Kingdoms N/A N/A Asia StarForce

The I Of The Dragon N/A Primal Software Russia StarForce 3

The Westerner N/A Focus Home Interactive France StarForce 3.3.31.21

TOCA Race Driver 2 1.0 Codemasters N/A StarForce 3.3.35.02

TOCA Race Driver 2 1.1 Codemasters N/A StarForce 3.3.36.01

TOCA Race Driver 2 1.2 Codemasters N/A StarForce 3.3.36.01

Track Mania N/A Nadeo N/A StarForce 3.03.035.004

Trackmania N/A Nadeo N/A StarForce 3

UFO: Aftermath 1.00 CENEGA Spain StarForce 3

V8 Supercars 2 N/A Codemasters Australia StarForce 3.3.35.02

Wildlife Park N/A Encore, Inc N/A StarForce 3

World War II: Frontline Command 1.0.0.0 Strategy First N/A StarForce

World War II: Frontline Command N/A Strategy First N/A StarForce 3

X2: The Threat N/A Enlight Software N/A StarForce 3.3.30.5

Xuan-Yuan Sword 4 N/A ? ASIA StarForce 2

Also they apparently include this protection with the demos of some of these games ???

Why ?
"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Christian Cantrell, 13 Jul 2004 @ 5:35am

Devil's Advocate
I'm not saying I agree with this level of copy protection, but I will point out that it is not intended to prevent people from cracking software and posting it online. Cracked software has always been, and probably will always be, a fact of life. It constitutes only a very small portion of piracy, however. By far, the huge majority of piracy is what is known as "casual piracy" which is people around the office passing a CD around and installing software without even thinking about licensing, or friends sharing a new game with a few other friends. That's what copy protection and registration help to prevent.

Software companies lose huge amounts of money because of casual piracy, and I don't blame them from trying to stop people from stealing their software. That doesn't mean they have chosen the best way to do it, however, but I think their intentions are legitimate.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
eeyore, 13 Jul 2004 @ 8:08am

Re: Devil's Advocate
This is the same excuse that is used when they claim that software piracy is costing tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue without accepting the fact that most of the casual users who borrow a game wouldn't have bought it otherwise. If I buy Monopoly or Risk at Toys R Us, I can loan it to my friends and neighbors for the weekend. So why can't I do that with a computer game I probably paid fifty bucks for?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2004 @ 3:40pm

Re: Devil's Advocate
That may be true now, but if they continue with this sort of practice they may force more people to download the whole ISO to get the working game. After all, until "copy protection" got to the point where it interfered with running a legally purchased game, most people (myself included) never bothered with nocd cracks. Now, I download the crack before I even run a game for the first time.

I've had a similar experience with "protected" music CDs. I bought a CD which wouldn't play on my computer. In order to listen to the music I had legally purchased, I was forced to download the mp3s. And then the question arises, what have I actually paid for? If you have to download the full ISO of a game in order to play it, what will be the incentive to pay?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
froger, 28 Jul 2004 @ 6:46am

Re: Devil's Advocate
this is just like back in the 80's when eveyone used to borrow their friends music tapes and record them on their highspeed tape copiers

its just a fact of life and is nature of the beast.

software companies dont lose this money because they never had it to begin with.

and lets not forget the the success/popularity of some of these games can sometimes also be attributed to the piracy (where certain groups/warez sites etc) promote how good a game is make maps and characters and then people go out and buy the game to play it online as well

and finally, tinkering with a users system, and installing items that the user is unaware of is underhanded. when they remove starforce and their system crashes will the game company pay for the costs/time to recover any data lost and to reformat that persons computer?

if the answer is no then they should not be distibuting it as part of their "protection"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 17 Aug 2004 @ 12:19am

Re: Devil's Advocate
well for games like

V8 Supercars 2 N/A Codemasters Australia StarForce 3.3.35.02

Its just stupid, you can still use the smae serial key and cd to run it on a room full of pc's, from just on dvd
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 7 Oct 2004 @ 12:13pm

starforce 3
lots of BSOD when intalling new apps
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2004 @ 11:31pm

Re: Devil's Advocate
[quote]This is the same excuse that is used when they claim that software piracy is costing tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue without accepting the fact that most of the casual users who borrow a game wouldn't have bought it otherwise. If I buy Monopoly or Risk at Toys R Us, I can loan it to my friends and neighbors for the weekend. So why can't I do that with a computer game I probably paid fifty bucks for?[/quote]

thats a stupid statement
your describing casual piracy
while attacking the existance of casual piracy.
you lend it to a friend they install it many gAmes evene when you give them the cd you can still play it
and now your friends can cAn too

a board game is physical so only one of you can have it at a time.
a cd 100,000,000,000 people can use it at once.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dan, 2 Mar 2005 @ 7:21am

Re: List of games
add SSR to the title as well as Pac Man II

this protection kills framerates, cannot run games at optimal graphics setting
[ link to this | view in thread ]
taquikhan, 7 Apr 2005 @ 12:53am

i lost my jewel case
hello sir
i lost my jewel case and i want my serial no back please send no arguments you fool
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Oghma, 19 Aug 2005 @ 6:15am

about the game listing
Also we have Space rangers 2 : Dominators

using Starforce 3.4.63.2 if im not wrong
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Gram, 18 Dec 2005 @ 10:02am

Re: List of games
Worms 4 Mayhem(US) Team17 StarForce 3
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Captain Nemo, 16 Jan 2006 @ 2:57pm

Re: List of games
Postal 2 (from Running with Scissors)
Uses: StarForce 3.4.72.03

CN
[ link to this | view in thread ]
stuggiebear, 4 Feb 2006 @ 7:22am

Re: List of games
trackmania sunrise has this aswell.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jonathan, 15 May 2006 @ 11:27am

Citylife
I have just brought a new game and looking forward to playing it waited 20mins to install the game and reboot the PC, not I can't get past the loading screen because it can't verify my CD.
Game makers should at least make sure the software works, I think copy protection just skinks and hurts people who actually pay money for a game.
Time to look on the net for a cracked version, as it maybe the only way to get this game to play.

Either that or send it back to the game developer and 'demand' a refund.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Bill, 29 Aug 2006 @ 11:35am

Enigma Rising Tide
Countless bona - fide customers who bought this get a message telling then the 24 letter key they enter does not match !
To obtain a so called rescue key is a headache too !
Try calling starforce , russia .or see their refusal on webpage - to supply a key to those they contemptuosly refer to as ' end users' .
They shirk their responsability and deny culpability is causing trouble to those who payed money .
The attitude of starforce is rude contempt , regarding paying customers as peasantry!
Never , never , buy from any company which has any links whatsoever with this totally unworthy bunch based in Volgograd!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
يلاي, 29 Sep 2006 @ 10:13pm

fdh
[ link to this | view in thread ]
VOOLANDIS, 2 Oct 2006 @ 1:03am

JERKS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ed, 30 Dec 2006 @ 4:41pm

Yup just installed the game after bought it and the protection wouldn't let me run it!!!!!
GRrrrrrrrr
[ link to this | view in thread ]
nany, 23 Jan 2007 @ 12:25pm

i lost my serial number for gangland pc game and without it i cant play can someone give me a serial number or anyplace were i can find it please thanks
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 23 Jan 2007 @ 12:26pm

Re: i lost my jewel case
i did the same thing have u found the serial number if so can i have it to thanks alot appreciate it much
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Diablo, 17 Mar 2007 @ 12:26pm

Cossacks II : battle for europe
Can any of u give me serial number for this game becouse i can't start it without that key but i don't have it
Thank u !!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
jay, 21 Mar 2007 @ 2:56pm

Re: Cossacks II : battle for europe
i have the same problem

did u find an answer?

heeeeeeeeeeeelp
[ link to this | view in thread ]
me, 23 Mar 2007 @ 11:39pm

damn
aight i lost my code for magic battlegrounds sumone help........... im gonna kill all the "protectors"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Joe, 7 Jul 2007 @ 12:00am

Shesh!
World Rally 2

aka

WR2

Can be added to the list. It's by Evolved and according to their support page them and Star-force are no longer on good terms. Shesh, I thought STEAM was bad!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Barbra, 3 Mar 2008 @ 7:47am

Broken Sword 24 key code
Alas, I would love to play this game (Broken Sword, The Sleeping Dragon, but i am missing the insert sheet. Can anyone help? Thanks
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Conon, 29 Jun 2008 @ 7:06am

No code!
I purchased "Fire Chief" a few days ago.

After it kept constantly crashing every 5 minutes I downloaded a patch the creators had released.

Now, when I try to run the game it asks for a serial number...there was never one supplied.

I am severally pissed at this!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
desmochikNZ, 1 Mar 2009 @ 12:29pm

Re: Devil's Advocate
Thing is, in a lot of cases it's money they never would have gotten in the first place. I know that as far as I, and most of my friends go, when we do download games, movies etc, for free, it's not instead of buying them, or going to the movies, (never seen the point of buying a movie, seen it once, that's enough!) Usually we just wait to watch it on telly, or if a friend rents the video/dvd.
While games, although I try a lot of different ones, it's out of boredom on a rainy day, again I would never buy one, I would just find something else to do.
(& as far as going to the movies, haven't been since I was a teenager, and then it wasn't to watch the film!!! Nowadays I just fall asleep 1/2 way through, so I don't bother going!)
So the way I see it I'm not taking anything from anyone, as I would not have bought a copy in the first place!
;}
Having said that, it does piss me off when I can't make copies of my cds, for the car, as they get ruined very quickly if played in the car cd changer (I live up a bumpy dirt road!!) hate to pay $30 ++ and have it f*** out in a couple of weeks!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
David, 3 Jun 2011 @ 4:19pm

Starforce Drivers
My PC's Multiformat CD/DVD burner, a very early generation, use to be fast for its time.

Over time i noticed a noticeable decrease in speed. Burning times would increase and i had no idea why. But the problem always corrected itself on a NEW OS install.

I played Ubisofts Silent HUnter 3 Which had that aweful starforce on it and i am sure that is the reason why.

I came here looking for pacific fighters and it it had SF on it. Actually i am not going to bother with it even though it looks good and i bought it at a charity shop for 1 pound 50.

I have not bought any UBISOFT game since then, 2 years ago now, and i use to buy them all since apart from SF Ubisoft is a very good game publishing company.

Ubi use to get a few hundred pounds out of me per year. They dont get jack crap now cos of what they did to my system. They, SF
[ link to this | view in thread ]