Hi all!
While playing Ishar 1, the game asked me for a special manual word to bypass its copy protection. So do we have to print out the manual? Does Alt+Tab works with DosBox? Is there any way to crack this protection? Seems that the game crashes after some failed attempts...
Thanks for your time!

Hi!
On the second page of the manual that comes with the game, there is a list of the words it asks for. I suggest noting them down on a piece of paper and keeping it somewhere close to the computer.

Are you serious?
Are you talking about the GOG version of the game?
DRM FREE should mean that there is NO form of DRM in the game any longer.
I have only played these games a few times thus far, but I would not be happy if the GOG version has DRM still installed in the game.
Disappointing if it is GOG's version.

It is NOT DRM; it is, however, an antique version of copy protection. It was used way back by some games, and GOG has nothing to do with it, and they also can't, I presume.

True it is not Digital, but it still controls the game you are playing.
GOG says; "You won't find any intrusive copy protection in our games..."
If the copy protection interrupts your game is that not intrusive?
DRM Free has to stand for more than simply being able to install the game whenever you want or download it as many times as you want.

I'd assume these things are fairly hard-coded into the game.
For some of us, or at least me :) these manual codes were part of the experience.

The point goes to Ois for saying what I was just about to say; these are integral parts of the game, and the GOG team can not do anything with it.

@DrIstvaan:
Thanks! Didn't notice that there were the passwords on manual's second page
@Faithful:
Yes, I am talking about GoG's version of the game. I agree with DrIstvaan that this type of protection is no DRM by no mean.
Anyway, I am going to play some Ishar now ;)

Unfortunately, removal of these archaic copy protections would require access to source code and would probably require more than changing line or two as they are integrated into the game during development unlike modern copy protections and DRM that are applied to finished game.

If this is the case then GOG should be up front and tell users this still is part of the game.
DRM Free should mean totally free of copy protection. I am not looking for the complete experience of typing in codes to play the game, and assigning arbitrary points saying it is part of the game; makes for no real defense.

Personally I don't consider an entering a code when you are supplied the manual a version of DRM. Afterall the game doesn't check some external server to judge whether I am allowed to play the game..
Still for userfriendliness reasons it might be beneficial to remove it.

Interestingly, the GOG-version of Waxworks did get the (very similar & hardcoded) DRM-system removed before it was launched here. So it's too bad that it's not been removed from this one. Especially since it dislikes alt-tabbing so much.
Edit: There's no use trying to portray this as anything else than DRM - that's what it is. Ancient or not. I agree it's not as bad as systems which prevents you from making backups of what you've bought, but it is still a system designed to prevent illegal copying & distribution, which causes extra hassles for the customers (not the pirates, who had the copy protection removed by the crackers, of course).
If the choice is between GOG adding a good old game that has such DRM or not adding it at all, then clearly I prefer the first option and the extra hassle. But if possible, such systems should be removed just like with Waxworks.

happen to have a savegame just before it?
I wonder what the copyright protection looks like.

Bottom line is, if it was the same style DRM in Waxworks and was removed in that game, it should be the same with Ishar. This amounts to cutting corners to get a game to market.
Personally, I rather not have the game for sale on GOG since the entire premise of GOG is DRM Free gaming.
If they are willing to cut corners here so soon then what about the future? Is GOG going to start splitting hairs over wording of what DRM Free means for each individual game?

I still don't think you should be so pessimistic about the future. I suppose GOG had good reason to remove it from Waxworks and leave it here.
But if it bugs you so much, write a letter to Support (in the Other category) about the topic, and I'm sure someone will explain to you how it works.