Since we have now learned that UbiSoft have decided not to use the notorious StarForce program in their Heroes series, we can leave that discussion. Instead, let us focus on its replacement: Sony's
SecuROM.
It has filtered out that Ubi intend to use SecuROM in Heroes V, and of course this is quite understandable.
Some form of copy protection is to be excpected in today's market. Some of us - myself included - may be disappointed that they did not follow in Stardock's apparently successful path: using no protection and instead issuing free patches & updates for valid key-holders (buyers) only, but I for one take the latest development as a sign of good faith from the producers.
About SecuROM, their own website tells us little about how the thing really works; its only lavish praise and boasting of their own accomplishments.
CD Media World explain it better:
SecuROM is a patented CD-ROM copy protection technology that identifies a ‘genuine’ CD-ROM by a special authentication mechanism. During Sony DADC’s mastering process an electronic fingerprint is applied onto the glass master which assigns a unique number to each CD-ROM title.
The most recent version also detects if it is being run from a CD-R media (V-Rally 2), to solve this just use a CD-ROM, instead of a CD-Writer, to play the game from.
The latest SecuROM New revision includes "Trigger Functions" which allow the developer to program multiple and fully customizable authentication checks throughout the entire application, providing what is said to be a much stronger copy control than systems with only one check at program start. The Trigger Function toolset enables the publisher/developer to customize a unique security code for each title to prevent even title-specific cracks and Internet piracy.
This means you have to use the original CD in the drive while playing the game. Some sites, however, do claim that you can override this and create a backup copy to use as your personal disc - which is neither illegal nor immoral.
It seems this Sony DACD scheme is aimed at those wishing to make lots of copies, trying to make this a cumbersome procedure. I have little against such programs, as I am not trying to produce copies to all my friends and/or put them out for sale on ebay, though I adamantly insist upon the right to create a backup copy for my own personal use.