TECHNOLOGY - Sept. 14, 1993

Rainbow, KidSoft Sign Deal: Rainbow Technologies Inc., an Irvine company that specializes in protection of computer data, has signed a licensing deal with KidSoft Inc., a distributor of children’s software.

Using Rainbow’s technology, KidSoft in Los Gatos will be able to control the distribution of its software on compact disk by providing users with access codes that can unlock programs for which the user has paid. KidSoft makes software for the education market.

KidSoft will be able to put dozens of software programs on a CD-ROM, which is based on the same technology as music CDs. Rainbow’s Vendor System allows it to restrict access to the programs, depending on whether the user has an access code provided by KidSoft.

The user can also test demonstrations of a program before deciding to buy it.