Is it ok to download a game you already bought?

Triangulon

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Nov 20, 2009
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Mr Pantomime said:
Snip

As for that last paragraph, its not our job to restrict ourselves for fear of what a company might do. Rather than worrying about a comapny will do if you download a copy of a game, just stop buying from that company.
I couldn't agree more.
 

Thaliur

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Jan 3, 2008
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evilneko said:
In a legal sense, even if you download it directly you probably could still be nailed for making an unauthorized copy.
In Europe, or at least Germany, backup copies are allowed, even of copyrighted material.
Interestingly, circumventing copy protection isn't, although that's usually necessary to make these legal backups.

Technically, you'd still be downloading an illegal copy, since it's not the one you bought.

Not that this makes any sense though...
 

Trippy Turtle

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May 10, 2010
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It doesn't really matter seeing that nobody is going to know. Do you think it is okay? If yes then its fine. If no then don't do it.
 

endtherapture

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Nov 14, 2011
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Everyone has been going on about buying a game means you own a license to use the game as opposed to the actual game?

You've paid to license the game...so you can download the game once you've paid for it? Since you still have the license to the game you can still use the content.
 

GmonXyZ

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Mar 3, 2012
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You have paid for a license to use the game + assets.

However you do _not_ own the copyright on, or have a right to modify or re-distribute the files, unless specifically specified.
 

mrjoe94

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Sep 28, 2009
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Go ahead. When it comes to situations like this the law can go to hell, especially if DRM prevents you from playing it.
 

Euskalduna

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Oct 15, 2011
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Ive been asking that myself because one of the first proper games snapped in half, so I have no idea
 

Thoric485

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It should be, because physical copies can be fickle as shit.

CDP actually did a thing now, where everyone who has a retail copy of TW2 can register their CD key for a free backup copy on GOG. Even if your discs don't give you crap, it's still better to be able to download the latest version, instead of patching.

It was more of a PR thing, I doubt it would become the standard, but a guy can dream.
 

DoPo

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Jan 30, 2012
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I do not understand the point of these threads. "Is it OK to download the game if X" where X is some circumstance that makes it sound like a good idea to download it. Is it OK how? Is it OK legally? Fuck if I know but I really doubt you'll get prosecuted. Is it OK morally? If that is what you're asking, then the question is stupid. It's up to you - I may feel it's morally justified and somebody else may feel it isn't. You're not going to get a meaningful anser about how you feel about the issue.

I feel all these threads serve only as an excuse in TCs mind to go and download the game. My advice - use your own judgement. A bunch of random people on the Internet aren't the best source of advice. Well, actually they would be for you because you'll go with those who you agree with anyway. Making the thread redundant.
 

noxnoctum

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Apr 10, 2012
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DoPo said:
I do not understand the point of these threads. "Is it OK to download the game if X" where X is some circumstance that makes it sound like a good idea to download it. Is it OK how? Is it OK legally? Fuck if I know but I really doubt you'll get prosecuted. Is it OK morally? If that is what you're asking, then the question is stupid. It's up to you - I may feel it's morally justified and somebody else may feel it isn't. You're not going to get a meaningful anser about how you feel about the issue.

I feel all these threads serve only as an excuse in TCs mind to go and download the game. My advice - use your own judgement. A bunch of random people on the Internet aren't the best source of advice. Well, actually they would be for you because you'll go with those who you agree with anyway. Making the thread redundant.
Well I was hoping there might be people who know something about copyright law when it comes to digital stuff on here seeing as how it's a gaming forum.
 

ThePenguinKnight

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Mar 30, 2012
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHk3O-fxR6Q

Anyone want to clue me in on how to insert actual videos into my posts. >.>

Seriously though, I think it's perfectly fine so long as you purchased a copy at one point or another.
 

DustyDrB

Made of ticky tacky
Jan 19, 2010
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ThePenguinKnight said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHk3O-fxR6Q

Anyone want to clue me in on how to insert actual videos into my posts. >.>

Seriously though, I think it's perfectly fine so long as you purchased a copy at one point or another.

you just put into brackets: youtube= Everything after the "=" in the video link

If that's not clear, then click quote on my post. Then take note of the formatting.
 

Woodsey

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Aug 9, 2009
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Legally? Who fucking knows. I doubt you'll be nailed for it though.

If you HAVE bought it and there's just a matter with your disc, or you've lost it, then I've really got no qualms about it. You've paid your way.
 

ThePenguinKnight

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DustyDrB said:
ThePenguinKnight said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHk3O-fxR6Q

Anyone want to clue me in on how to insert actual videos into my posts. >.>

Seriously though, I think it's perfectly fine so long as you purchased a copy at one point or another.

you just put into brackets: youtube= Everything after the "=" in the video link

If that's not clear, then click quote on my post. Then take note of the formatting.
Thanks, I asked before on a different forum a while back and was nearly lynched but you're awesome and your gift is the sound of metal.

 

thememan

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Mar 30, 2012
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black_knight1337 said:
I'm pretty sure you have every right to download a copy of the game if you already own a copy of it. It's like emulators. Your allowed to download the roms as long as you already own the game.
Actually, this is entirely false. You are not legally allowed to download emulators at all. What your are allowed to do, essentially, is create your digital copy of something you own (Certain restrictions apply, offer not available in Florida, Wisconsin, Hawaii, or Alaska; contact manufacturer for details, limited time offer while supplies last). The argument that you can download is actually quite false, and rarely goes questioned when people state it. But rest assured, it is a myth that you can legally do so. If you made your own digital back-up? Eh, most countries and states allow it if memory serves.

So in short, legally no. You cannot. Well sort of anyway, as downloading itself is more hazy than uploading which is a bit more serious of an offense. I'm not actually entirely certain on all the laws pertaining all the legalities as it's sort of a jumbled mess these days.
 

Darkmantle

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Hey, as long as game companies want to pull this "we are only LEASING it to you" BS, you should do it. Fuck em. You paid for a license, you are entitled to exactly one copy of it. If something happens to my Autodesk Maya program (which I am licensing) and it stops working, I can just go right ahead and download another copy, no questions asked. Game companies seem to want to have their cake and eat it too, they don't want to say you "own" the game, but they don;t want to take up the responsibilities associated with licensing a digital product.
 

somonels

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Oct 12, 2010
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That IS what's considered 'piracy' these days, copyright infringement is what they mean, and what you'd be doing.

I would encourage you to do so, and the Escapist can no longer silence me for declaring it since I am a believer of Kopimism, and they would be discriminating be for my beliefs - now officially a religion.
Holy be thy Ctrl+C.

[]
//just in case, also, I made a copy and photo of this post, to use as evidence.
 

Some_weirdGuy

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Nov 25, 2010
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When you buy a game, you're actually playing for that CD key that comes with it(well actually the license, but in laymans terms, the cd key). The physical disk is basically just part of the packaging really.

If you lost the little sleeve which has the front cover art of your game, would you think it's illegal to find an image of the front cover on the internet and print that off to put in the front of your box?

Same idea with the cd.


You can download the game, as long as you then use your cd key to install it. However, the people you get that copy from have done something illegal, since you're not allowed to distribute copies as far as i'm aware.

But that's not an issue for you.