Crippleware

Crippleware is any product whose functions have been limited (or "crippled") with the express purpose of requiring the user to pay for those functions (either paying a one-time fee or continually paying a service). Crippleware is also used to describe software that makes use of Digital Rights Management.

In software

Crippleware programs are usually free versions of computer programs that lack the most advanced (or in some cases, even crucial) features of the original program. Crippleware versions are made available in order to increase the popularity of the full program without giving it away for free. An example of crippleware is a word processor that cannot save or print.

There are several types of crippleware programs. A crippleware version can be the full program with the features disabled; this type can be "unlocked" into a fully functional version of the software, usually via a serial number. A crippleware version can also be a special trial version of the program that does not even include the executable code for the disabled features. In this case, only users who buy a license are given access to another version of the program, which is fully functional. A third type is where the functionality of the software or hardware is permanently compromised from full functionality due to third party agreements and a fourth is where the vendor includes a clause that features time limits to mar functionality. For example, the freeware version of Fraps has in-game video recording time restricted to 30 seconds, and with a Fraps logo on the video.

For something to become crippleware, it usually requires the manufacturer or author to take active steps to reduce the capabilities that the hardware or software could otherwise handle. As can be inferred from the name, crippleware is generally not held in high regard. The authors of crippleware note that regular shareware versions are often cracked, so that the authors are not paid for their work. Therefore, crippleware can be a solution to that problem. Ironically, crippleware tends to be cracked more frequently than other shareware as a result of demand. For this reason, most companies that are serious about crippleware have a separate trial version of the program. A disadvantage to crippleware compared to other trial software is that users cannot test the full program under real life conditions and therefore do not know whether it will truly meet their needs.

In hardware

There have also been hardware products that can be considered crippleware. Examples include:

• the Intel 486SX which was a 486DX with the FPU removed or in early versions present but disabled
• Powerware has a line of UPS models that can be upgraded in the field (without replacing any components) to the top model (15 kVA). That is, all the models are equal, but the lower ones are sold with a power limit, which can be removed for a price.
• Suunto sold a line of dive computers that included the Favor and the Octopus II. The major difference between these two was that if the diver was doing a decompresson dive the Favor would display the amount of decompression time needed. The Octopus II would not display that time, although it would keep track of it (at the stop it would show a warning while the diver needed to wait before continuing his ascent. In the same circumstances the Favor would display a countdown). The Favor was about 1/3rd more expensive than the Octopus II (about 200 euros versus 150).
• Casio fx-82es has the same rom as fx-991es. However the advanced functions are simply disabled. [1]

Non-computer products

Cars

In cars there is also crippleware:

• The Mazda 2's 1.3l engine can have either 75 or 86 PS with the only difference being the ECU programming and the price.

But in cars the motivation for crippleware is more usually trying to prevent a lower model from cannibalizing the sales of a higher model. For instance:

• When the current Golf GTI was introduced its engine developed only 200 hp (tuners were able to increase that to 246 hp by reprogramming the ECU and currently that engine is available in several levels of power: 230 hp (GTI Edition 30), 241 hp (Seat Leon Cupra), 265 hp (Audi S3), although with some mechanical differences). It was suspected that this was to protect the R32 model equipped with the VR6 engine which has only 250 hp.
• The same engine when it first appeared in the Seat Leon had even less power (185 hp), possibly because in the hierarchy of the Volkswagen Group marks, Seat is lower than VW.

Customer reactions

Customers usually dislike crippleware, since they feel that are paying for something that didn't cost anything for the manufacturer to make. The counter argument is that there is a good economic reason for making crippleware: each product being sold has to cover both the marginal cost to make it and other fixed costs (amortization of development costs, fixed costs of the business, etc.). If the manufacturer makes only one model the price of that model has to be set to pay both these costs. If instead the manufacturer makes two models, one crippled that covers only the marginal cost and a small fraction of the fixed costs, and a higher model that covers the bigger fraction of the fixed costs, the lower model can be cheaper, so more people can access the product and the manufacturer can achieve greater sales.

External links

• "Court order denying motion to dismiss of Melanie Tucker v. Apple Computer Inc. in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division"
• "Want an iPhone? Beware the iHandcuffs" New York Times article explicitly labeling iPhone OS as crippleware
• "Stealth plan puts copy protection into every hard drive"
• "Western Digital drive is DRM-crippled for your safety"
• "Western Digital's 'crippleware': Some lessons from history"