the real question is this; is it still illegal if you own it, or is it just getting a well-made backup pre-made? if you already own it, you can copy it. if you download a copy it is the same. you are doing nothing more than acquiring a copy of your own media in a different (and often quicker) fashion. if the mpaa tried to sue you for it, you could simply provide a copy of your reciept. as we all know the mpaa doesnt sue the downloaders but the uploaders.
Poll: Would You Pirate Media You Already Own
- Thread starter WinterOrbit
- Start date
Recommended Videos
If my VHS player no longer works and I have a huge library of videos, then I would download ONE copy of wach VHS for my DVD player (or depending on how many blank discs I have). Also, old games in which you have no system for, but you still have the cart in a box under your bed. I think it is okay to have ONE and only ONE copy.
With that is a factor of reverse capability and natural degredation. If a VHS loses it's magnetic proprerty and "Dies" then you likely need to buy the DVD. But if you have it, still have a tangable copy, and really, really want to see that movie or play that game, then I believe in making ONE copy. WHen it gets wrong is when people try and make money on pirated DVD's that they made and try and sell at the local flea market.
With that is a factor of reverse capability and natural degredation. If a VHS loses it's magnetic proprerty and "Dies" then you likely need to buy the DVD. But if you have it, still have a tangable copy, and really, really want to see that movie or play that game, then I believe in making ONE copy. WHen it gets wrong is when people try and make money on pirated DVD's that they made and try and sell at the local flea market.
Techically that isn't piracy... but I feel for you. I mean, not only do you have delays on games, but also you have that sea of red tape to cut through just to get a freaking copy of Resident Evil 4/5.TheSniperFan said:
The point, you are a hacker, not a pirate. It is a thin line easily crossed, but you remain in legal right because you own the game and that copy is legally entitled to your person. You can mess that game up anyway you desire and the company can only watch in horrified awe. I'm not saying that you messed the game up but, in example, a car company can't do anything about someone putting glitter flame stickers on their car. It nulls the warantee, but they can't do anything about it. You nulled the warantee on the game, but were you seriously going to use it?
If I've already paid for the product, then downloading another copy for my own use (if, for example, my original copy broke) then I don't see any moral dilemma and wouldn't really have a problem with it. I know it would be illegal, but if I'm not hurting anyone, I proablay owould do it.
I already do, there are lots of times when I buy a copy of a game for the 360 and then pirate the PC version.
The first reason being that there are times when the PC version comes out later than the console and I want to play the game as soon as it is out. So I buy the 360 version, but in most cases I don't finish it because my home TV is rather small and I'm not a huge fan of controllers, so I end up pirating a PC version and finishing it with a keyboard and mouse.
The second reason that has recently come up is my disdain for DRM, I'd rather buy a console version that showing my support for the PC version with DRM. The company still gets my money and I play a cracked PC version without DRM.
Also in some cases when I lose my CD keys, seriously why aren't keys printed on the CD? Why print it on the back of a damn booklet or some other easy to lose thing when you can print it on the CD?
The first reason being that there are times when the PC version comes out later than the console and I want to play the game as soon as it is out. So I buy the 360 version, but in most cases I don't finish it because my home TV is rather small and I'm not a huge fan of controllers, so I end up pirating a PC version and finishing it with a keyboard and mouse.
The second reason that has recently come up is my disdain for DRM, I'd rather buy a console version that showing my support for the PC version with DRM. The company still gets my money and I play a cracked PC version without DRM.
Also in some cases when I lose my CD keys, seriously why aren't keys printed on the CD? Why print it on the back of a damn booklet or some other easy to lose thing when you can print it on the CD?
Well... If you lost it, you don't own it anymore...GeraltofSmeg said:Er, you lost the medium somehow?Squid94 said:
This remind me of my quest for Chrono Cross. Back when it was new my family got it and the strategy guide, and around 10 years later I lost the CD. So after looking all over I found it for $14 at a used game store but when I bought it, it didn't work! Even using the toothpaste trick didn't help. So I went online and got it. As for proof I still have the broken CDs.
Can and have. I was convinced it was legal (or at least I really want it to be) but I'm too lazy to actually research it.
I can't really see any advantage for the business if it pressed charges on someone illegally downloading on a small scale, especially when they own their own copy. All it could cause is backlash for their going after actual customers, rather than true pirates.
Morally? There is nothing to object, save the fact that one is technically breaking the law.
Morally? There is nothing to object, save the fact that one is technically breaking the law.
In my opinion, an illegal download can't be illegal if you own the media in question. If I have CDs and DVDs that I want to then put onto computer, MP3 player, flashdrive, etc. - you can't argue with me because I paid for it in the first place. There's a law about free distribution, but not personal enjoyment and convenience.
I can actually cite decent proof of this. You sometimes get this in DVDs and Blu-Ray as of late. They come with an extra disc that's designed to allow transfer of media onto other devices. Another thing that I discovered was a fun little option of my PS3. It can extract music tracks from any music CD and whatever audio tracks can be found in other discs, like original Playstation discs.
If machines and companies are allowing the transfer of media like this, then it must not be illegal. I suppose that means it's also not pirating either, but the general idea is that I can see no problem with taking what is already yours that's in a different format when it's freely offered. That's a donation and a favor.
I can actually cite decent proof of this. You sometimes get this in DVDs and Blu-Ray as of late. They come with an extra disc that's designed to allow transfer of media onto other devices. Another thing that I discovered was a fun little option of my PS3. It can extract music tracks from any music CD and whatever audio tracks can be found in other discs, like original Playstation discs.
If machines and companies are allowing the transfer of media like this, then it must not be illegal. I suppose that means it's also not pirating either, but the general idea is that I can see no problem with taking what is already yours that's in a different format when it's freely offered. That's a donation and a favor.
Bizarrely, I only pirate games I already own.
I refuse to pirate them if I don't own them, but if I do I generally want to avoid DRM as much as possible.
My one exception is games connected to a download/install service like STEAM or IMPULSE. Those two services have both offline modes *and* mean I don't have to worry about constantly swapping (or losing) disks, which are the only reasons I ever download cracked version of a game.
I refuse to pirate them if I don't own them, but if I do I generally want to avoid DRM as much as possible.
My one exception is games connected to a download/install service like STEAM or IMPULSE. Those two services have both offline modes *and* mean I don't have to worry about constantly swapping (or losing) disks, which are the only reasons I ever download cracked version of a game.
I feel the need to point something out, though others might have already:
When you purchase a game you are not purchasing the data on a single CD but a licence to access the data on it. For this reason you don't own that data, not in the slightest, which is why it is a breach of contract if you modify or even unencrypted much of this data. There is a small fee for the media the data is printed on of course, distribution companies need profit too, but that is about it for buying a copy. Interestingly this fee is on all media you purchase, even blank CDs have a fee to pay off distribution companies for the cost of anyone copying data onto blanks instead of buying it from them. Bet you didn't know that, it is something they set it up in VHS era and no one ever repealed.
The upside of this is, because you are purchasing a licence to use that data, that it doesn't matter what that data is printed on. Hell it can be printed on punch cards, if you want to have a ware house filled with the damn things, and it won't matter the slightest as none of that is 'illegal'. As long as you can assure no one is accessing the data then no breach of contract, your licence is still valid and all that stuff.
This is also why I always put 'illegal' in quotation because it isn't a crime persay but a civil matter, a breach of contract that the companies have to sue you for in civil courts. Before someone cries out that I am wrong I will point out that mass sale is a crime but not for reasons most people think of. It is considered defrauding customers given that the licences they are purchasing are fake, even if it is clear they are fake it still is fraud to sell them to the 'unsuspecting' public.
As there is many reasons for making a back up copy of any data it only makes sense that the media doesn't matter, only the data and your right to access it.
When you purchase a game you are not purchasing the data on a single CD but a licence to access the data on it. For this reason you don't own that data, not in the slightest, which is why it is a breach of contract if you modify or even unencrypted much of this data. There is a small fee for the media the data is printed on of course, distribution companies need profit too, but that is about it for buying a copy. Interestingly this fee is on all media you purchase, even blank CDs have a fee to pay off distribution companies for the cost of anyone copying data onto blanks instead of buying it from them. Bet you didn't know that, it is something they set it up in VHS era and no one ever repealed.
The upside of this is, because you are purchasing a licence to use that data, that it doesn't matter what that data is printed on. Hell it can be printed on punch cards, if you want to have a ware house filled with the damn things, and it won't matter the slightest as none of that is 'illegal'. As long as you can assure no one is accessing the data then no breach of contract, your licence is still valid and all that stuff.
This is also why I always put 'illegal' in quotation because it isn't a crime persay but a civil matter, a breach of contract that the companies have to sue you for in civil courts. Before someone cries out that I am wrong I will point out that mass sale is a crime but not for reasons most people think of. It is considered defrauding customers given that the licences they are purchasing are fake, even if it is clear they are fake it still is fraud to sell them to the 'unsuspecting' public.
As there is many reasons for making a back up copy of any data it only makes sense that the media doesn't matter, only the data and your right to access it.
Depends on what you mean by "media you already own."
If you mean owning a video game for one particular system, then pirating it for another system or PC, then I'll say yes, as I have already done that once or twice.
If you mean simply pirating something you own because your copy has degraded or has overprotective DRM, then I will say yes as well, although I have never done that myself.
If you mean owning a video game for one particular system, then pirating it for another system or PC, then I'll say yes, as I have already done that once or twice.
If you mean simply pirating something you own because your copy has degraded or has overprotective DRM, then I will say yes as well, although I have never done that myself.