Poll: Moral Question about downloading...

[ssgt splatter]

I say no.
If you already bought the game but lost the disc and don't want to buy the same game again then it should be, no, it is ok to do this.

Captcha: relish, xeducli
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I need to start putting these things in the motto section of my XBOX LIVE profile just to see how many people ask me what the hell it means.

 

[redisforever]

Sigh...I've had to a few times. However, only for old games, and later, when I found a copy online, I would always pay for it, so I wouldn't have an illegal copy.

I would only pirate to see if the game works, because most games don't have demos now. If it works, and I like it, I'd buy it. I don't do that though, because I really only buy old games I know I'd like, and indie games, which are usually cheap anyways.

 

[Hipsy_Gypsy]

I voted for "No" specifically for your case. Mind you, a lot of companies will send you a new copy entirely for free if your disc has been damaged, much like The Sims.

 

[demolisher360]

If you still have your old computer you could probably transfer the files using a memory stick, that way you're not downloading the game illegally, you're still using the original set of data you paid for. I assume that would be legal as long as you don't distribute the game afterwards. By the way i'd suggest buying off steam in the future.

 

[UnderCoverGuest]

Technically, when you purchase software, according to copyright law you are only purchasing a single license for that specific copy of software you obtained. So just because you bought it doesn't entitle you to legal acquisition by downloading another copy from the internet, which will undoubtedly have a different license associated with it...but I don't personally have a problem with it--hell, I've re-downloaded things. The one thing I usually end up doing is getting CD codes actually--I keep losing my damn instruction books and cases, so that I continually need to get CD codes every time I reinstall or whatever. Just did that with Crysis a few weeks ago after moving--I forgot to put the instruction book back into the case, brought the case with me on the move, but didn't have the CD key. And I wanted to play Crysis.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I have a similar situation with Empire Earth II however I lost the product key... D:

 

[Randomperson9999999]

you already paid no use paying again

 

[Vicarious Reality]

If you own a copy of the media, no of course not.

 

[plugav]

Morally? No, it's not wrong.
Legally? Copyright law allows you to make a backup copy of any computer program you own... unless the license agreement says otherwise (and I bet it does, because publishers hate consumer rights).

 

[WeAreStevo]

Like many things, it's morally right yet illegal.

I try to buy everything new to support the developers, but if I've paid for it, and I still have everything but the damn CD to the game, I'd probably DL it.

I'm OCD so I know where all my shit is all the time, but I don't see an issue with it so long as it's not the only thing you're doing.

 

[Laser Priest]

If you paid for it already, then there is definitely nothing wrong with it.

Also, if it's a game you had no intention of paying for in the first place, it's not like your stealing; you're simply making another copy. Questionable, surely, but I wouldn't say even that is downright bad.

 

[toquio3]

who the hell cares? unless you live in the UK or a country with similar law enforcement, you cant get caught, so download away.

 

[sinterklaas]

It's not. You already own the game, it's yours. There is nothing wrong about it. You're taking what's rightfully yours. It's not like your taking a new car without paying because you lost your old one, you're copying a string of ones and zeroes.

Technically, when you purchase software, according to copyright law you are only purchasing a single license for that specific copy of software you obtained. So just because you bought it doesn't entitle you to legal acquisition by downloading another copy from the internet, which will undoubtedly have a different license associated with it...

And that is bullshit. I buy something, I own it. Period.

 

[Kargathia]

Medieval 2 is tied with Steam anyways, meaning you don't need to have bought it on Steam to have it on Steam. If you have the CD key as you've said, you can register it on Steam and download it the legal way, problem solved. Hell, I think doing that is required to even play the game in the first place so you should already be good to go.

Older versions aren't. I still have a physical copy that only uses a locally checked CD-key, and in all likelihood pre-dates Steam.

 

[badgersprite]

Morally wrong? No.

Legally wrong? Yes, unfortunately.

And that is bullshit. I buy something, I own it. Period.

I'd like to see people use that argument in court. Really I would. Try driving without a license or throwing away your train ticket before boarding next time and then saying to a cop, "Yeah, well I bought one, so I technically own it, so it still counts! Period!"

 

[Something Amyss]

The law states that sharing data in such a manner (torrents, etc.) is illegal, regardless of whether or not you have paid for the data previously. You have to go through sanctioned channels to download anything legally, anything else is subject to landing your ass in court. Morally downloading a backup isn't wrong, but from a legal standpoint the where is the deciding factor.

The ethics of downloading a backup you didn't make for something you no longer have the media for are highly questionable, I'm sorry.

And honestly, I think this is probably one of the smallest-fry cases possible. Condemning this is about the furthest thing from productive a company could do, but then, I think the war on piracy is pretty stupid in the first place.

I'm not really pro-piracy, I just think that DRM punishes the actual purchasers (cracked copies don't have copy protection), and combatting piracy tends to be a waste of time. Plus, the RIAA and MPAA have proved they'll sue anyone, guilty or not. It's bad PR to sue a 200 year old woman who probably didn't do anything, and I hope games don't follow that path. Piracy isn't going anywhere. Spending money to stop it seems like you're just wasting money. Dickish policies, further, seem to encourage more.

So I'm not saying this because I'm all "oooh, corporations!"

 

[monkey_man]

In your case, not really. Not morally nor what I would want to be legally.
But downloading is often bad, and shouldn't be done.
But coming from that's a bit hypocritical. I download movies all the time, and will probably download games in the near future. I shouldn't, but I don't have the money (as in, I won't play the game otherwise because I won't dish out 60 bucks for a game I don't like that much) to buy every game I want.
Fortunately, it's legal where I live, at least from what I've been told. So I'll just be downloading anyway, because NO ONE CAN STOP ME! hahaWHAHAMHUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
*lightning bolts on a dark background*

 

[sinterklaas]

Morally wrong? No.

Legally wrong? Yes, unfortunately.

And that is bullshit. I buy something, I own it. Period.

I'd like to see people use that argument in court. Really I would. Try driving without a license or throwing away your train ticket before boarding next time and then saying to a cop, "Yeah, well I bought one, so I technically own it, so it still counts! Period!"

I realise it's still illegal, but since the chance of getting caught is very small I have no problems doing it (not to mention moral objections are absent entirely). If I own the digital product already, of course. The law is just stupid in this case.