[valprop1]

I still cannot get my head around on to why the world is not embracing open sourcing of data. One way or other people get what the want so you might as well give open access and reinvent the entire business model altogether. Harnessing the power of community could be the key for this reinvention.

[qwerty456127]

I also could never understand why software companies like Microsoft invest into software activation stuff. They constantly try to improve protection of their apps, run activation servers and probably have already spent huge lots of money on this and I have never seen anybody willing to use pirated software facing any real difficulty. Whoever wants it gets it anyway. Those who can afford a license easily and those (mostly businesses) who care about the legal aspect buy anyway. A simple (even easily crackable from the technical point of view) low-tech "enter a serial" dialog is enough to stop the rest (lazy/stupid people).

I understand how does this work in games and movies (the publisher gets most of the profit in the first hours after the release, before it gets cracked) but can't understand what's the point with business/utility apps.

[valprop1]

Interesting point, I guess it is just be a marketing gimmick so as to show the customer that "security" is our priority.