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Crippleware refers to hardware or software that has been altered to be less functional due to money issues. It can be a trial version, a separate version, or a way to encourage upgrades. DRM music management programs are also considered crippleware and have faced protests from consumers.
Crippleware is a term for hardware or software that has been altered so that it is no longer fully functional. It is generally considered a derogatory term and is not a term that would be used by manufacturers to refer to their products. There are a number of reasons for releasing crippleware, but in the end they all boil down to money issues. Many consumers dislike crippleware due to the lack of functionality and usability associated with it and because it reflects a conscious effort on the part of the manufacturer to cripple their products.
One of the more common and relatively benign versions of crippleware is a trial or evaluation copy of the software. In this case, the program may not be fully functional, but it does allow the consumer to get a feel for how the program works. If the consumer likes it, they can pay a registration key to make the software fully active. In some cases, a vendor may release a completely separate crippleware version from the full version, to discourage cracking.
The term can also be used in reference to hardware. Some manufacturers release versions of equipment that lack some features to encourage consumers to upgrade. Crippleware’s lower price makes consumers buy the product, but they eventually upgrade because they are frustrated with the limited features. Computer manufacturers are notorious for this practice.
In another case, the software is released in the form of crippleware to encourage consumers to upgrade. Many cell phone companies do this by crippling the functionality of their phones so that subscribers pay more for extra features that are normally part of the phone. Freeware or shareware companies also do this, hoping to make money from updates, since the initial cost of the product is low or non-existent.
“Crippleware” is also used to refer to music management programs that use Digital Rights Management (DRM). DRM is meant to ensure that copyright restrictions are not violated, but some consumers find that DRM is excessive and in effect limits their freedoms with music and film products. Consumers in several countries have protested the incorporation of DRM into digitized music, music management programs, and multimedia discs such as DVDs. In some cases, DRM is also anti-competitive, leading to concerns about an open market for digital media, with some artists questioning whether or not DRM is a good way to manage their work.
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