John,

>Doug
>
>I'm not sure I agree that nobody here's code is worth the trouble. The apps my company sell took >$3,000,000 to develop. Competitors can either spend that sort of $ to try to replicate ouw work, or they can pay $500 to decompile my VFP apps and enjoy the fruits of my labour.
>
>Seems clear to me. VFP decompilation is too easy. VFP is not so special that of all development communities, only we are dumb enough as to require the ability to reconstitute source code because we might lose it.
>
>Regards
>
>JR

Well, I quite agree that to those who spend the monies to develop a product that there would be a LOT of concern that someone would steal it. My point was that the 'problem' is not whether or not you can irrevocably encrypt (and therefor protect - hardly an equality I'd think) you application but that you can get a remedy and damages should you be harmed. This is a cultural and legal issue IMO - not a technological. It strikes me that the weaknesses we try and correct via technological solutionas are more appropriately to be found in other arenas.

Here in the States we just sue the stuffings out of someone who steals things like this and then we issue press releases to finish the job. <g>

As to whether or not VFP is too easily compiled.. *shrug* Buy Refox and use your brains to devise a solution to protect yourself. Microsoft cannot change the hearts and attitudes of those who wish to steal through software. The problem isn't software - it's the human heart.