Help Desk

The Efficacy Of Imposition

The Efficacy Of Imposition

Comic Transcript

ALEX: Ubersoft Technical Support. Alex speaking.

CUSTOMER: I was told by the Nifty Doorways Special Update Wizard that new updates were available for download… but when I tried to get them I was required to prove that I owned a legal copy of Nifty Doorways! What’s going on?

ALEX: In an effort to combat piracy, we are requiring that you prove you own a legal copy of Nifty Doorways before downloading program updates. Many customers own illegal copies of Nifty Doorways and don’t even realize it.

CUSTOMER: Don’t realize it? How is that even possible?

ALEX: Well, in order to prevent users from pirating the Nifty Doorways CD that came with the purchase of a new computer, we began to require most computer resellers to stop shipping the CD, but to put the “install image’ of the CD on a hidden partition of the computer’s hard drive. Unfortunately, this makes it very easy for unethical computer resellers to copy that image as many times as they want, without having to purchase additional licenses.

CUSTOMER: If the unethical computer resellers are the problem, why don’t you go after them instead of taking it out on the customer?

(Silence.)

ALEX: It’s easier to take it out on the customer.

CUSTOMER: I see.

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