In response to the need for a better distribution system for small commercial publishers and shareware authors of Macintosh software Copperhead Software has developed a "CD-ROM Locked Program Sales Kit". The programs contained in the kit allow the preparation of the files for a CD-ROM in a "locked" format that can be unlocked with a simple phone call to the seller company. This allows a CD-ROM disk full of unlocked working and interactive demos as well as a folder containing the locked full working versions of the programs.
Now small software company cooperatives, large mail order operations, users groups, or even a single publisher can offer demos and programs for sale on CD-ROM at reasonable prices. To allow as many groups as possible to get into this type of distribution, pricing for the "CD-ROM Locked Program Sales Kit" is only $49 per CD-ROM master plus one percent of the selling price of programs sold (no per disk charge). This lets anyone get started for just the $49 for the kit. (A new kit is required for each CD-ROM master because coding keys are hard coded into the "CD-ROM Make" program.) The 1% royalty is not payable until you actually sell something.
Since the authors of Macintosh shareware so rarely get paid we suggest that shareware authors and small publishers consider preparing both a demo version and "sellware" versions of their programs. The "sellware" version would consist of a single folder that contains the full working version of the program and all of the needed documentation (DocMaker™ is one good way to prepare the manuals). Make sure that you include everything that is needed to run your program in the folder. Then use Compact Pro™ to create a self extracting archive. It is the self extracting archive that would be installed on the buyer's hard disk by the "CD-ROM Activate" program. (The “CD-ROM Activate” program also produces on the buyer's printer an "instant" registration form that the buyer mails or faxes directly to you, the publisher, so you know not only who bought your program but also who sold it.)
The "CD-ROM Kit" from Copperhead Software consists of three programs:
1. CD-ROM Make program - Creates the locked programs and two support files to be move to the CD-ROM (the files are called "Catalog", "Encrypted", and "Publishers")..
2. CD-ROM Activate program - placed on the CD-ROM with the files created by the "CD-ROM Make program". Allows the end user to unlock a program and install it on his hard disk when provided with a code from the seller.
3. CD-ROM Sell program - Placed on the computer of the telephone sales person. Enter three codes provided by the end user and this program will generate the "unlocking" code to give to the buyer. This program can generated unlocking codes for all CD-ROMs produced by the sellers company as well as generating royalty reports for the publishers that own the programs being sold. (Network version available.)
Since virtually all companies selling programs in this manner would be running a separate order entry program the "CD-ROM Sell" program can be operated as a DA under System 7.xx.
The street price of “glass” CD-ROM masters is now only a few hundred dollars and CD-ROM disks produced from the masters are available for about 90 cents each in lots of only 1000. Because of the drastic reduction in the price of producing CD-ROMs other uses of this technology are now practical such as distribution of mailing lists, interactive text books or courses of study, fonts, standardized tests, or even corporate information where files can be unlocked only to those who call for authorization. Contact Copperhead Software for special licensing fees for these other types of applications of the technology.
Note: Authors of shareware, small business software and educational software for the Macintosh who are interested in CD-ROM distribution of their products are urged to contact the Software Authors Co-op c/o True Basic Direct, 12 Commerce Avenue, West Lebanon, NH 03784 , phone 603-298-8517, fax 603-298-7015. They are in the planning stages right now for Co-op CD-ROMs to be released in 1994.
