copy protection

American  

noun

Computers.

1. a routine that is included in a program by its publisher to prevent the software from being duplicated except for a single backup copy.

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Other Word Forms

• copy-protected adjective

Example Sentences

There was always the possibility of surprise — a mislabeled tape or a prankster foiling the copy protection tab and adding a weird home movie at the end of “Sleepless in Seattle.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2017

Matthew Green, a computer researcher, could be punished for investigating software vulnerabilities if he had to bypass a copy protection system to do so.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2016

In a lawsuit filed today, it argues that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s rules against circumventing copy protection — designed to stop people from pirating copyrighted works — places unconstitutional limits on free speech.

From The Verge • Jul. 21, 2016

It’s more like the Kaleidescape movie server, in that it’s a hard drive with a lot of copy protection.

From Forbes • Oct. 4, 2013

A program, instructions or patch used to remove the copy protection of a program or to uncripple features from a demo/time limited program.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.