Is it stealing to pirate a game you own physicaly but cant install

[DarthFennec]

If mostly everyone had laid out to me reasonably and clearly why it wasn't illegal why would I have argued through 5 pages?

Here, I'll try to explain it in a way that makes sense, because I've noticed a lot of people being confused by this (not in this thread, just in general).

Let's say you buy a game. What does that entail? It's the physical game, so it means you pay for a dvd in a case with some shrink wrap on it, which is worth around a dollar maybe. The reason we pay sixty bucks for these things is because the valuable part of the game is the actual software, which is nothing more than a series of bits that happens to be represented by burn marks on the dvd. These bits are in a certain order. This order isn't a thing, instead it's an idea, a design, a recipe for the game.

Let's make a copy of that design. We take another dvd and tell the computer to burn. What happened? Well, the design, or recipe or whatever you want to call it (the actual software) got transferred to the disk. You didn't steal the blank dvd, you bought that with your own money, so it's not stealing. You didn't steal anything physical, you just copied the design from one legally obtained physical object to the next.

Let's do exactly the same thing with the truck. You buy the truck. You take it apart and analyze it, and figure out exactly how it's built and with what parts. Then you buy replacements for all the parts individually and put them together to make an exact copy of the truck. Congratulations, you just `pirated' a truck. You took the design of the original truck that you obtained legally, and copied that design over to another physical medium that you also bought legally.

That is what you're doing with software. It's just cheaper and easier to do it with software, so the design is much more valuable than the design of the truck. Does that make any more sense?

If not it's because it's 6am now and I'm tired as fuck, I'm going to bed. If you reply I'll get it when I wake up at 3pm tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Galad]

really now, what the hell does it matter?

 

[DarthFennec]

or even retyping the code into your computer from a printed out hard copy.

I lol'd. Hard.

 

[V8 Ninja]

Technically, pirating a game you already own is illegal, but no one will care enough to spam you with messages saying "WAT UR DOIN IS ILEGALS!!1!11!" I say go ahead and pirate to your heart's content (as long as you own a legitimate copy).

 

[TheGuiggleMonster]

It's legal in the USA to copy something you own as much as you want as long as you are the only person using the copies. In England it isn't. I would personally pirate it anyway because piracy laws are only there to protect the gaming industry but what you're doing isn't going to damage them in any way.

 

[AmbitiousWorm]

[pins]

Thanks. I do understand and and sorry to everyone for my, apparent, trolling (not really).

I knew that some programs/software (I'm not hip on the tech babble, yo) you could install on multiple devices but the fact that when you copied it from someone else, even if you had purchased it before, just completely sounded wrong.

 

[drbarno]

You can buy USB disk drive's online. It's what I did when I wanted to play my copy of Black and White.

 

[hawkeye52]

go ahead since they arn't going to get your money since its a game that doesn't sell anymore.

 

[Switchlurk]

Okay, few things.

1) Pirating a game isn't stealing. It's copyright infringment. Still illegal and harmful, but different. This misunderstanding fuels 90% of pro-piracy bullshit.

2) There are alot of people in this thread talking about legality, which i don't think anyone really cares about. If you pirate you're not getting caught,so it's really up to your own moral compass to decide the manner, not a fear of procescution.

3)If you already own the game and you then aquire the files elsewise, then speaking from the point of the developers, you're probably fine. You bought the game, they got thier return from it, nobody minds if the files you use to install it on your netbook didn't come from the discs.

4) The problem with Piracy however, is that from a moral standpoint, you're still buying into the process. While downloading (presumably from a torrent site) you're enabling others who dind't purchase the game to download it eaiser. Granted, it's not much of an impact, but still. If you wanted a squeaky clean conciouness on the matter, rent, buy or borrow an external USB CD drive.

5)HOWEVER, that all said, when you consider the game was made a fair time ago, you probably wouldn't be hurting the developer that much. They went on to make a damn good sequal and a pretty good 3rd and 4th installments, and i've heard Gothic 5 in the works, so i'd feel the above points apply substatially more to games in the first few months of release, or games from struggeling or independent developers. But agian, you've heard my squeaky clean option, so choose what you will.

Hope that helps.

 

[Asehujiko]

ITT: People raging against making a (legal) backup copy simply because Pirates were mentioned.

OP: Go right ahead.

 

[Penguinness]

I think because you have to download it, probably from torrenting. You are also helping people download the game illegally. You would be helping piracy in doing so, even if you own the game. So it's probably wrong.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

Legally yes, it is stealing and you can be punished for it. You bought one license and you are only allowed to use that one license. You can't then download the game and have another license to play it without breaking the EULA that you agree to at installation of the game or simply buying the game.

 

[Continuity]

Downloading a copy of a game without paying for it via a legal service (steam, GOG etc..) is wrong even if you do own a copy, however making a copy of a game you have bought for your own personal use is fine.

The difference being that the first scenario contains piracy (in the online distribution) and the second does not. Isn't this ok because you bought the game already? no, simply because you're partaking in and thus supporting and normalising what is certainly an illegal act, you may have a right to the game but you don't have a right to get it by illegal means.

 

[Paul Trudel]

I bought a truck and it broke down so I stole another one from the dealer.

Actually, a better analogy would be: "I bought a truck and it broke down, so i siphoned the gas into my other truck."

In response to OP, you're definitely in the clear.

 

[TilMorrow]

You know you can get seperate/portable disc drives right? I have to use one now after my laptop's disc drive stopped working. But concerning your game, if your only downloading the install data and have your own serial key from the physical product and use it to activate the game then I don't believe its classed as pirating.

If you own a copy, I'm pretty sure it's legal to have it on a PC as well.

Well if you buy a console version of a game but then go and download a copy of it for the PC and use a crack to activate it as you don't have a serial key isn't that classed as pirating the game/obtaining and using a pirated copy of a game?

Actually I don't know. What is the stance on downloading PC versions of a game you have bought legally on a console?

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

You can't illegaly obtain something you've already legally obtained. That's like saying if you have a real doctors prescription for weed but you get the weed from a drug dealer instead of a licensed store, the weed is illegal all of a sudden. It's only illegal for that drug dealer, not that guy.

Well ... arguably it is illegal because you're supporting an industry by which collects revenue from the illegal sale and distribution of narcotics. Same way if you have a gun licence, but you have to go to a licenced retailer as opposed to buy one black market.

But semantics aside ... I'll say it's 'okay' but at the same time whether the most ethical pursuit wouldn't just be fixing your home computer.

Well if you buy a console version of a game but then go and download a copy of it for the PC and use a crack to activate it as you don't have a serial key isn't that classed as pirating the game/obtaining and using a pirated copy of a game?

Actually I don't know. What is the stance on downloading PC versions of a game you have bought legally on a console?

Different kettle of fish. Different people get paid in both circumstances.

 

[Pyro Paul]

Is it Illegal?
That is a very very grey area in the law.

the Digital Mellinium Copyright Act (DMCA) states:

§ 117. Limitations on exclusive rights: Computer programs

(a) Making of Additional Copy or Adaptation by Owner of Copy.- Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or authorize the making of another copy or adaptation of that computer program provided:

(1) that such a new copy or adaptation is created as an essential step in the utilization of the computer program in conjunction with a machine and that it is used in no other manner, or

(2) that such new copy or adaptation is for archival purposes only and that all archival copies are destroyed in the event that continued possession of the computer program should cease to be rightful.


Under this, It is Legal to obtain an Electronic Copy of a Game which you have already purchased... however, it is argued that this electronic copy can only be used in conjunction with the system or program it was intended to work with from the start. Any modification of the code to allow it to work on other consoles can be seen as a violation of certain copyright laws where you modify content with out developers permission...

yet this part of the law isn't explictly outlined as seen in the first provision of this act Which is very vauge allowing an open interpritation of the specifics. So Vauge that people have made open counter arguments stating that the DMCA protects the Usage of Emulators as it doesn't specifically limit the games usage of the console it is coded for.

So any definate answer to "Can i Download a Console Game to my PC?" will more often then not yeild a grey area answer. most people will explicitly say no and try and refrence the EULA or TOS, however both of those remain ominously vauge on the subject as well.

i will point out that publishers are starting renewing the copyright on several of their old games and re-releasing the back catalogs of games they own on electronic mediums (Xbox Arcade, PS Store, Steam) so a absolute answer may surface in the next few years. Until then... good hunting.

 

[ImpofthePerverse]

I think it's fair to say the majority of people agree that the OP's original dilemma of transferring a PC game to another computer via "illegally" copying or downloading the game he's already paid for once is justifiable because the computer he's wanting to put it on doesn't have a disk drive so he can't simply install it normally.

However, just because I find this topic of conversation interesting here are a few examples of different hypothetical scenarios and would like to see if people also think these are justifiable or in people's view wrong (or perhaps pushing it).

1) I go out and buy a legal copy of a multi-format game for either PC/PS3/360, and then download a copied version of the same game for the other formats.

2)I go out and buy a legal copy of a multi-format game second-hand for either PC/PS3/360, and then download a copied version(s) of the same game for the other formats.

3) I buy a game first hand for any format, I then download a copied version sell my game and keep the copy to play.

4) In 1992 I pay £50 for a first hand copy of Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Megadrive (Genesis), in 2011 I no longer have my Megadrive (lost, damaged or sold) or Sonic game, but I download a emulator and a rom of the game as it is something I paid for back in '92.

5) Same as 4 but I still have my Sonic the Hedgehog game in a closet or attic somewhere (but not necessarily have the Megadrive).

Personally I don't think any of these are really justified, except for possibly number 5 which could be argued is ok but is still a rather controversial issue. Anyway I'd love to hear other opinions either for or against.

 

[Megacherv]

I don't believe so, I know a lot of devs would argue with me (since they'd get more money if you broke it and had to buy another) but I think most of the money that is paid for a game is going towards the intellectual property, rather than a mass produced disc or cartridge so IMO if you have bought a game I believe it should be ok.

I bought a truck and it broke down so I stole another one from the dealer.

As I said, I believe most of the money is towards intellectual property, rather than individual parts made to make it, which would almost undoubtedly be more expensive in a car.

it doesn't matter what the money is for its still using an illegal copy

It's illegal to use if you don't have a license, whilst he does.