The fact that this patent was issued indicates to me that the patent office does not understand computer technology. There is nothing new here that I was not using for other purposes at least 20 years ago. Unfortunately, once a patent is issued, it cost a great deal of money to break. Tim Philp At 04:10 AM 7/6/96 -0700, you wrote:

MicroPatent, 4 July 96

Systems and methods for protecting software from unlicensed copying and use (Assignee -- Convex Computer Corporation)

Abstract: Disclosed systems and methods for protecting a software program from unauthorized use and copying through the removal at least one of a plurality of instructions comprising a software program, and encrypting the removed instruction utilizing an encryption algorithm to produce an encrypted instruction, the encryption algorithm responsive to a randomly generated key.

Ex Claim Text: A processing system for protecting a software program from unauthorized use, said software program including one or more unencrypted instructions stored in memory associated with said software program, said processing system comprising: a processing unit operable to: remove at least one selected said unencrypted instruction from an executable area in said memory associated with executable portions of said program; encrypt said at least one selected unencrypted instruction removed from said software program utilizing an encryption algorithm to produce an encrypted instruction; store said encrypted instruction within a first non-executable data area in said memory associated with said software program; and insert at least one trappable instruction in place of said encrypted instruction within said executable area in memory allowing said software program to be linked with one or more other programs.

Assignee: Convex Computer Corporation

Patent Number: 5530752

Issue Date: 1996 06 25

Inventor(s): Rubin, Robert J.

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Copyright 1996, MicroPatent