In C++, a constructor is a special function that must be invoked when an object is created. Its objective is to initialize a new object to a valid state before any processing occurs using the object.

Make the copy constructor private. Of course, this might also have the side-effect of preventing the use of the STL container, given that being copy constructible is, y'know, a requirement. Use a ...

From a purely object-oriented perspective, "copy semantics" is the right way to preserve control over object ownership. But in those scenarios where ownership becomes irrelevant, C++11 "move semantics ...