But I also work in the software industry and I think that some copy protection is valid and is required.
I disagree. Copy protection might be required if it were infallible. However, that's not the case. I expect Bioshock to be cracked within a week at most. Less excessive forms of copy protection get cracked within days, sometimes before the game is even officially released.

Unless you can create a copy protection scheme that is unbeatable, it's a waste of time and ends up annoying your customers more than anything else.