Almost any relatively popular iPhone application is available for download, illegally. After jailbreaking the device, pirates modify Apple’s system files which are used to copy-protect the iPhone applications. Even after 9 months of the App Store’s being here, Apple has yet to do something on its own to curb piracy of apps.
Ben Chatelain was frustrated to find a large amount of users of his app “Full Screen Web Browser”, were doing so without having paid for it. So he has taken matters into his own hands, and implemented a new protection measure for his iPhone app.
SOPODS has devised a mechanism to enable demoware functionality in cracked copies of Full Screen Web Browser, based on the advise posted by John Gruber on his Daring Fireball website. After 10 uses, the cracked copy refuses to run, and the user receives the following message: “You are running a pirated copy of Full Screen Web Browser and have used it beyond the trial period. Purchasing a legal copy helps support independent software development and will help me feed my 1-year-old baby.” The user is presented with two options: shut the app down or go to the iTunes App Store to purchase a legal copy for just $0.99.
We’ll check back with Ben to see how well his protection scheme. Hopefully Apple realises that they’re missing out on all that commission and implement a better protection scheme for their App Store apps.
Update: Apparently people are buying into Chatelain’s message. Our of the 900 users who have pirated the app, 39 have seen the message, and 5 have gone ahead and bought the app. A 13.5% conversion rate says Chatelain.
