Great news, nice to hear the little guy beating the big companies who think they are untouchable.
No, this is not good news at all.
David Colvin's patents Appl. No.: 161278; Filed: May 31, 2002
A method for reducing unauthorized software use includes supplying a first code with the software. The first code enables the software on a computer for use by a user for an initial authorization period upon entry by the user. The user is required to contact the representative for retrieval of an additional code. The software is operable during a subsequent authorization period beyond the initial authorization period without further communication with the representative following entry of the additional code. The user provides registration information to the representative prior to retrieval of the additional code. The registration information is compared with previously provided registration information to determine if the user is authorized or unauthorized. The software is disabled following the initial authorization period if the user is unauthorized. The additional code is transferred to at least one of the software, the user, and the computer if the user is authorized.
Good grief. How on earth did this patent get issued in 2002? Or [a http://patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=colvin.INNM.&s2=piracy&OS=IN/colvin+AND+piracy&RS=IN/colvin+AND+piracy]this one[/a] in 2003. The guy's a chancer. There's been so much prior art before this, and anyone who wants to produce a timed lockout for their software or a registration key verified online (and I can think of a few people on here) is in violation of one or more of his patents.