🚀 go-pugleaf

Intuit's spin is that the C-Dilla files were added (without warning) to
prevent unauthorized copying of the Intuit software, while still allowing
customers some flexibility in doing their taxes. Intuit includes a CD key in
its documentation, which users are required to enter in order to activate
the software. TurboTax then transmits the key up to an Intuit server, which
kicks back an acknowledgement that unlocks the software. At no time is any
uniquely identifiable information exchanged between a user's PC and Intuit's
servers. This scheme can also cause problems if hardware is upgraded. Should
a user replace his or her hard drive or upgrade to a new computer, he or she
may not be allowed to print a return or prepare an amended return. TurboTax
2002 will only allow taxes to be filed or printed from a single machine.
However, the software may be installed on numerous PCs, and files may be
saved and copied from one machine to another. What this means is that you
can prepare your taxes on your laptop, for example, and then file them from
your home computer. Intuit also allows multiple filings from the same PC,
allowing spouses to file separately.

The resulting mess is causing many of the TurboTax customers to seek other
tax programs that do not incorporate DRM. To counteract the critics, Intuit
offers an uninstaller for the C-Dilla software that further complicates the
situation. Using the uninstaller also stops TurboTax from functioning.

This latest fiasco will probably serve as a wake-up call to software
developers in how they incorporate copy protection features in their future
software offerings to insure that it is less intrusive to the user.  All
sorts of privacy issues come to mind when a company attempts to control
software piracy. What are, and what are not, the best practices will be
boardroom conversation for months to come. The movie and recording
industries are facing the same up-hill battle with copyright issues. We have
no argument with these companies wanting to be proactive in their fight
against piracy -- it takes millions and millions of dollars out their
pockets. Nevertheless, if these companies want to keep their customers, they
must remember that computer users do not want to participate if it is at the
expense of security and privacy.