Is it okay to pirate stuff you already own?

[Kroxile]

Piracy is piracy. Just because you paid for something doesn't give you a legal or moral right to pirate another separate item.

Its like buying a car and it breaks down. Do you feel you then have the right to go into a car lot and steal another one because you had already shelled out the money? Its the same argument.

Actually making your own backup copy of media items is perfectly legal.

The whole car thing does not relate and is a terrible analogy at best.

 

[Acehalo-2]

Piracy is piracy. Just because you paid for something doesn't give you a legal or moral right to pirate another separate item.

Its like buying a car and it breaks down. Do you feel you then have the right to go into a car lot and steal another one because you had already shelled out the money? Its the same argument.

This argument doesn't really apply to software/music/movies. When you buy a car, you are paying for a physical object. When you are buying the software/music/movies, you are paying for the license (read those EULAs) to use an easily replicable string of bits. Taking another car would be taking money from the car lot owner. Buying a second license to use something when the first license still applies is just a waste of money. Furthermore, the legal backup of something one owns is generally accepted as being legal.

However, downloading via something that also uploads at the same time (i.e. torrents) is illegal, because you are then distributing copyrighted information.

You are still buying something, physical or not. People that defend piracy keep trying to make that fickle argument. Taking another car would be taking money from the car lot owner, but he also has to replace it from the original supplier. Just because there is another step in the chain of purchase doesn't mean there is a loss. Pirating something online means that there is one less purchase being made from somewhere, so someone else loses revenue as well.

You may have the right to back up the copy you bought, you do not have the right, if you missed that opportunity, to pirate (lets call it steal) another piece of software simply because you feel justified.

I don't think you're getting this quite how he's explaining it, so here's a handy picture:

You have a different opinion, and I respect that. I personally take the side of "It's not physical data so it isn't theft at all if you bought it already". Yes, the company is being denied HYPOTHETICAL profit, but theft is walking into the office and taking the dosh directly out of their wallet. "Nothing gained, nothing lost" I suppose?

(people who agree with me, am I phrasing this correctly?)

 

[drisky]

Piracy is piracy. Just because you paid for something doesn't give you a legal or moral right to pirate another separate item.

Its like buying a car and it breaks down. Do you feel you then have the right to go into a car lot and steal another one because you had already shelled out the money? Its the same argument.

Actually making your own backup copy of media items is perfectly legal.

The whole car thing does not relate and is a terrible analogy at best.

Exactly it is actually legal to download something you already own, I think its also legal to test software provided you delete it within 24 hours, although that might be an old rule.

 

[CheesusCrust]

Arrgh! There be nothin wrong with piracy matey. If ye already handed over yer booty to the scurvy dogs ye be the owner of the trinket in all forms.

 

[joshthor]

in my opinion its ok. in the laws its probably different. personally, i think if you are willing to buy something and then pirate it, it is a testament of just how good the product is. it shows that not only you know how and where to pirate it, but you choose to buy it instead for good measure. if a pc game has obnoxious drm (like online only) and i want it, i will buy the game, download the cracked version and play that.

I find drm rediculous. not only is it expensive to make, or to licence; it is normally broken within weeks if not days. it only hurts the legitimate buyer. so i say, if you buy the game all the more power to you if you get the crack.

Also: mods: i dont know if i can get in trouble for this. feel free to delete this post or message me or whatever if i shouldnt post this.

 

[insaneHoshi]

Piracy is piracy. Just because you paid for something doesn't give you a legal or moral right to pirate another separate item.

Its like buying a car and it breaks down. Do you feel you then have the right to go into a car lot and steal another one because you had already shelled out the money? Its the same argument.

This argument doesn't really apply to software/music/movies. When you buy a car, you are paying for a physical object. When you are buying the software/music/movies, you are paying for the license (read those EULAs) to use an easily replicable string of bits. Taking another car would be taking money from the car lot owner. Buying a second license to use something when the first license still applies is just a waste of money. Furthermore, the legal backup of something one owns is generally accepted as being legal.

However, downloading via something that also uploads at the same time (i.e. torrents) is illegal, because you are then distributing copyrighted information.

You are still buying something, physical or not. People that defend piracy keep trying to make that fickle argument.

See ELUA, You dont buy the object, you buy the licence to use the data, The licence allows you to use the data regardless of the sourse. I could be wrong, but if anyone is an actual contract lawyer feel free to correct me. Thats why i can go to microsofts website and download an iso of windows 7.

 

[Mistermixmaster]

I dunno, I guess it's a morally grey area? Though, personally, if the game didn't work properly after I bought it, and I didn't damage it I would be sure as hell to complain to the store and get my money back/a new copy. And I'm also not gonna lie, I have pirated a game once, because I didn't feel like taking a two hour car trip to get my actual copy of the game.

Also, someone mentioned something about pirating something you have bought beeing similar to someone stealing a car because you had one bought before (or something similar), which reminded me of this

Makes me laugh every time xD

 

[Mordwyl]

Piracy is piracy. Just because you paid for something doesn't give you a legal or moral right to pirate another separate item.

Its like buying a car and it breaks down. Do you feel you then have the right to go into a car lot and steal another one because you had already shelled out the money? Its the same argument.

You can't use that example since the car would be comparable to the disk rather than its contents. Software is volatile, and by law the restriction you have in regards to it is to not distribute it in any way, shape or form. This differs from film and music since for software you're purchasing a license, not quite a product. As in, you have the right to play the game when you have purchased it so long as you abide by the terms of service.

I don't advocate piracy, but it would be absurd not to make back ups of your own games. Some years ago the disk of a very rare game I own (Warhammer: Dark Omen) was broken by accident and the only means I could get it back is by accessing a back up copy.

 

[TerribleAssassin]

its okay to pirate so long as if you enjoyed it you then buy it or if you already own it

I went straight down, I win?

OT: It's ok, because you already paid for it, your just getting it in working condition again.

 

[Brandon237]

Piracy is piracy. Just because you paid for something doesn't give you a legal or moral right to pirate another separate item.

Its like buying a car and it breaks down. Do you feel you then have the right to go into a car lot and steal another one because you had already shelled out the money? Its the same argument.

No, it isn't.

If your car breaks down and you steal a new one of the exact same model, that costs the company money. And cars only make money because everyone has to buy more than one throughout their lives.

If you download a game you already have the disk of, you are not stealing anything, and it costs the original company nothing, they don't lose something they produced, if you stole a disk to replace an old one, then yes.

Downloads do not cost the company money if you "take" one. But I still feel you only should IF you already have the original product for the platform you intend to get the download for.

And this isn't another item, it is the exact same data that you have paid for and games do not make their money through selling the same thing to someone twice. Because to sell an item that can technically have unlimited use twice to someone is just being cheap.

 

[Kenko]

Well sure, but who's going to download something they already possess?

Game CD's can break, CD-key's can be lost. Theres plenty of things that can happen.

 

[Geekosaurus]

Spoiler: Not another one.

 

[insaneHoshi]

No. It isn't okay to pirate.

That is all.

Im amazed at the depth of your argument, how isnt it ok, morally or legaly? And how can you pirate something you allready own?

 

[Choppaduel]

Well sure, but who's going to download something they already possess?

maybe if they have a buggy steam copy *cough*Fallout NV*cough*

and want the notoriously less buggy nonsteam one

EDIT: Also for games like HL2 steam copy that require you to be connected to the internet to play, despite having no online elements.

 

[Choppaduel]

Well sure, but who's going to download something they already possess?

Game CD's can break, CD-key's can be lost. Theres plenty of things that can happen.

i forgot about that, yeah piracy is necessary to preserve the history of video games. otherwise all working copies may be lost.

 

[Evilsanta]

When a old PC game has a broken/scratched CD, and i can't buy it anymore, then i pirate it because i can't play it any other way

This. I cant count one my finger how many of my old good games that are sratched or damaged. And to actully find some of them and buy them is hard as hell.

 

[TaboriHK]

Personally, I think it's okay. The company would very, very rarely if ever be understanding and send you another copy. To me it's no different than what I used to do with Diablo II. I had my own CD key but someone borrowed the discs and never took them back, so I just used my brother's copy since he quit playing. It doesn't hurt anyone. It's a bummer if you get caught technically but as far as I'm concerned it's morally sound.