Is it ok to download a game you already bought?
- Thread starter noxnoctum
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I thought there was a debate on whether you own the copy of the game or whether you own the rights to the game (EA and modding). So I guess if you consider it that way, it should be legally okay?
How about this:
You bought a game for the Xbox but now you want to play it on the PC?
How about this:
You bought a game for the Xbox but now you want to play it on the PC?
It should be fine considering that you already own a physical copy of said game. If I remember right, if you do not have a physical copy then you can legally only have a downloaded copy for 24 hours. Don't quote me on that though, the law very easily could have changed over the past few years, especially regarding readily available titles.
Morally? Yeah man. Nothing wrong with that, you payed for the game, if the copy you got won't work, then I believe you're entitled to download it on the internet to play it since you've already payed for it.
Legally? No clue. I'd imagine it's illegal, though I don't understand why, unless they just really want to milk you clean for money.
Legally? No clue. I'd imagine it's illegal, though I don't understand why, unless they just really want to milk you clean for money.
This, this, and so many times this.Darkmantle said:
[hijacking the post here]
If you sold me the license, you sold me the right to use the software (as long as it's for personal use, I make no profit off it, yadda yadda). If my original copy gets damaged, you are, because you sold me the license to use it, obligated to get me a free replacement. If you refuse to own up to that obligation, fuck you, I'll find my own way to get what belongs to me.
Now if you only sold me a copy of the software, you of course are not obligated to provide me with a free replacement. If I bought one particular copy as opposed to the license, tough luck for me, buy a new one. But if I have a license to use it, you have no grounds to make me pay up again, because I'd be paying for what I already bought.
And don't start about the EULA. Unless I agree to it, I'm not bound to it. That's how contracts legally work; both parties have to agree to it before it carries any legal weight. Just buying a game doesn't bind me to its EULA, and everyone, consumers and publishers, would do well to remember that.
The problem is that they do ask you to agree with the EULA when you install it. The company agrees by default, and by hitting that "I agree" button, you have declared you do too.Vegosiux said:
As for the rest of your post, yeah, I absolutely agree. Either you are buying a product that the user owns or is licensed to use. Though the easy solution would be just to take better care for the software to begin with.
Yes, but if you crack it to get around the EULA, they have nothing on you. You can't be sued for breaching a contract you didn't agree on. And not even agreeing to it makes it sure, if the contract is not in line with a higher instance of the legislation, it's still null and void.salinv said:
That's why I say the EULA should be agreed upon at the time of purchase. But that would likely decrease sales and they can't have that, can they?
They [the US] cannot discriminate against your religion, as per the 1st amendment, when compared to other religions. However, as your beliefs aren't a religion in the US, they can do as they please (if you are in the US; if not, then why would they care?). Regardless, the Escapist is not the US government, and are not bound by the 1st amendment in that same way, and by posting against their ToS, they have every right to act against you.somonels said:
And, legally, if you obtain a cracked copy, it is copyright infringement, bringing forth a whole different bag of worms. If you crack your copy before installing it (once again: copyright infringement), then you are considered to be directly avoiding the EULA, showing knowledge of its existence. You are declining the EULA at that point and using the product without consent. Right there you have voided any basis to claim you have a license on the product.Vegosiux said:
Anyways, do you really want to turn purchasing games and other software into such a legal matter you literally have to sign a contract when you buy them? That's just so.. bureaucratic and would only make dealing with this legal stuff more of a headache.
Can't prove that beyond reasonable doubt, however. We can't assume you know something you couldn't have known when you bought the game. Or rather...we can't assume anyone knows something everyone would know. If someone who has no clue how the industry works buys a game, they have no clue it's an EULA in there somewhere. But it's that someone who should be setting the legal benchmark. I hope I am getting my point across clearly. But you can't be held accountable on the basis of information you did not necessarily have. Again, there's the need for the EULA to be presented on purchase.salinv said:
No, I just want the publishers to get their heads out of their asses. And if bureaucratizing the entire process of purchase is the only way to do it, I guess yes, I want that too.
I always read everything I sign. Twice. And I have turned down a contract before. I want other people to act responsibly like that, too.
Actually, that's not quite true. You can't download any copy of media, even if you own it. What you can do is make copies of it yourself, for personal use, but obviously that goes out the window when the source material is broken.black_knight1337 said:
OT: So, legally speaking, no, it's not okay. I think morally speaking, however, it is. Then again when you use most download sites you are raising their ad revenue, so I suppose you could say that you are helping others profit from piracy.
I don?t know whether you can legally (I suspect you can?t) but morally I have no issue with that.