Hello--
I have a client who owns a software program produced in the late 80's.
It uses an outdated and no longer supported dongle protection scheme.
I am looking for a consultant who can modify the assembly of this
program in order to allow it to function without the dongle. The
dongle does not function properly on modern operating systems such as
windows 2000 which is preventing my client from upgrading their IT
infrastructure. Will pay consultant to modify code. |
Request for Question Clarification by
duncan2-ga
on
24 Feb 2003 23:20 PST
Hi peterbrown,
While your goal and intention seems admirable, it's likely that
circumvention of the protection scheme would be illegal under the
terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). There may be
other alternatives, however, or methods to get the dongle to work
under newer operating systems.
Could you indicate what the software package is and which version? It
also might help to know what brand of dongle key it is.
regards,
duncan2-ga
|
Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
24 Feb 2003 23:24 PST
peterbrown...
Perhaps your client would be able to use the services of this site:
http://www.donglefree.com/
Let me know...
|
Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
24 Feb 2003 23:28 PST
P.S.
"We are proud to say that due to our testimony and submissions at
the Copyright Office, the Librarian of Congress has determined that
Dongles are exempt from Section 1201a of the Digital Millennium
Copyright Act!!!!!!!!"
http://www.donglefree.com/
|
Clarification of Question by
peterbrown-ga
on
25 Feb 2003 09:44 PST
Thank You. I had considered that, but according to what I have read
because we intend to only use the software on computers for which we
already have a license it should be legal. Also, we have made every
attempt to contact that original or current owners of this application
and cannot find them... The software program is called BidTrack /
Estmat and uses the Dallas Semiconductor Dallas Key. At this point I
will consider any option and am willing to pay for a solution. If
there is a software program that can be used to allow dongle
communication over the parrallel port under windows 2000 that would be
fine. All the information I have gathered suggests this won't work...
|
Request for Question Clarification by
duncan2-ga
on
25 Feb 2003 11:56 PST
Hi peterbrown,
As researcher sublime1 correctly points out, 'dongle-cracking' is a
legal exception under the DMCA, in some cases.
From the Federal Register Notice - Exemption to Prohibition on
Circumvention of Copyright Protection Systems for Access Control
Technologies; Final rule
65 FR 64555, October 27, 2000:
".. the Register concludes that a case has been made for exemptions
relating to two classes of works:
(1) Compilations consisting of lists of websites blocked by filtering
software applications; and
(2) Literary works, including computer programs and databases,
protected by access control mechanisms that fail to permit access
because of malfunction, damage or obsoleteness."
(Taken from http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2000/65fr64555.pdf Page 8,
3rd column.)
Obsolescence here, seems to be an exact fit for the problem you
describe. My apologies for jumping to conclusions.
As you suggest, I'd anticipate that a solution for your client's
problem would either be 1) modification to the software to bypass
hardware key checks or 2) virtualization or special drivers to allow
the program to access the parallel port under NT.
I'll look further, but from what I've found so far, #1 seems like the
option most likely to succeed.
|
Clarification of Question by
peterbrown-ga
on
25 Feb 2003 12:27 PST
#1 seems like the best option to me too. In fact I contracted someone
to take that route and attempt to modify the assembly, but they were
ultimately unsuccessful. The program, it seems, uses some very good
techniques to make cracking it difficult / impossible. My hope was
that I could find some genious here that might be able to do it...
Again, I am willing to pay good money for a solution.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
25 Feb 2003 16:24 PST
peterbrown...
Did you miss the fact that donglefree.com provides the
services you are seeking?
http://www.donglefree.com/
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Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
25 Feb 2003 16:28 PST
Here's donglefree's 'solution' page, describing it's Prism software:
http://www.donglefree.com/solution.htm
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Clarification of Question by
peterbrown-ga
on
25 Feb 2003 21:06 PST
Sorry no I did not miss that suggestion. I had assumed you were
working for them. I have tried donglefree and they were unable to help
me. Their prism software doesn't seem to work with the particular
dongle I have, and they were not able to modify the assembly
effectively.
|
Clarification of Question by
peterbrown-ga
on
25 Feb 2003 21:07 PST
I am beginning to think that this problem may be impossible to solve...
|
Request for Question Clarification by
mmastrac-ga
on
22 Mar 2003 14:02 PST
At http://www.grack.com/dongle they offer a dongle removal service
that is guaranteed - no charge if unsuccessful. Perhaps you could
give them a shout and let them have a go at your problem?
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