Sony Patents Way to Check for Pirated Software Via Load Times

By Matthew Bennett, Associate Editor
Posted on February 25, 2013 AT 05:46am

Sony has patented a way to use load times to check whether software is legitimate or pirated.

Basically the idea uses a benchmark load time for the selected piece of software and then checks to see if your load time is too far outside the acceptable threshold, if it is then it’s goodnight Vienna. The patent fails to explain what happens if the time is outside of the threshold, but I’m guessing it’s nothing good.

The patent is titled “Benchmark Measurement for Legitimate Duplication Validation” (via DarkZero) and was published on February 21. This patent is only connected to pirated software and has nothing to do with used games.

Matthew Bennett finally got his big break with EGM three years ago, following years of volunteer work for various sites. An ability to go many hours without sleep and a quick wit make him ideal for his role as associate editor at EGMNOW.com. He often thinks back to the days when the very idea of this career seemed like nothing but an impossible dream. Follow him on Twitter @mattyjb89. Meet the rest of the crew.