Don't write, sell or share software cracking patches, keygens (注册机) or cracked versions; once the money reaches the threshold you are sentenced for the crime of infringing copyright (侵犯著作权罪)
- High value
- Evidence A
- Keeps you free
- Free
- Takes minutes
- Some willpower
In plain words
Registration-code checks and dongle (加密狗) checks are technical measures of the software, and getting around them without permission is infringement, and you owe damages even if you charge nothing. Cracking software or selling cracking tools for money is enough for a prison sentence once you earn 30,000 (3万) CNY or sell 50,000 (5万) CNY worth, with up to 10 years at the heaviest. One person made dongle-cracking tools and sold them with pirated software; three people in the same case were sentenced to 1 year to 3 years 2 months.
Mentioned in
Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 11, tip 20. This section describes legal rules, mostly mainland China’s. It is general information, not legal advice; for your own case, talk to a lawyer. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer