LENSLOK is a new device used by some software developers as a means to protect their software from illegal copying. It has been met with negative response by many software purchasers, so I would like to put my two cents in here.
Lenslock is a small plastic device, which contains a viewing screen which is composed of a number of prism like pieces of transparent plastic. The device itself is claimed to be virtually indestructable.
Upon loading a LENSLOK protected program (such as Supercharge for the QL) you have to adjust for your particular screen size. You do this by placing your unfolded LENSLOK on the screen and either expanding or contracting it to match the length of your LENSLOK.
Once that is done, you bend your LENSLOK as indicated on the device, line it up with a center line now showing on screen, and attempt to read the letters OK. (HINT: USE ONE EYE, AND LINE IT UP EXACTLY ON THE CENTER LINE. MOVE UP OR DOWN SLIGHTLY UNTIL YOU SEE THE OK). When you have it aligned, and see the proper letters, you are now ready for the final test.
Pressing the space bar will cause a set of randomly chosen letters and/or numbers to be created. Without moving your LENSLOCK, they should become readily apparent to you. Enter them properly, and you are admitted to the program. Miss three times and you are locked-out and you must re-enter the program to attempt anew.
At first this device frustrated me and I found myself missing in three attempts. I quickly caught on, though, and now almost always get into the program on the first attempt. Why then the negative response? For one thing, it is an added effort to run a program, and does take a bit of practice. However, the main reason for the complaining is that you cannot now copy a friends program for your own use.
As a software author myself, I am all in favor of this method of piracy protection. (These may or may not agree with those of SINCUS). AS A LEGITIMATE SOFTWARE OWNER/PURCHASER, YOU ARE ABLE TO MAKE UNLIMITED COPIES OF PROGRAMS WHICH WERE OBTAINED IN A LAWFUL MANNER. Your LENSLOK will work on all of your copies, but your friend cannot run an illegal copy, as you have the proper LENSLOK!
Piracy hurts us all, and though no system is foolproof, this is a fair compromise. The lawful owner now may make all the back-up copies he feels he needs (especially simple on the QL)but cannot distribute pirated copies. If the device is ever damaged or broken, you must return all the parts before are placement is issued.
We should all embrace this protection scheme rather than opposing it.
Thanks for the article Mark. It just so happened that we reviewed a LENSLOCK program at our last meet, and I had a few words for it,on page one. Points of view on pirating also in this issue. Points of view are often determined from your own circumstance, however, when it comes to stealing there can be NO justification.
You can contact Mark Fendrick at PO Box 2392, Secaucus, NJ 07094-0992.