Steam Revokes 7,000 Stolen Sniper Elite 3 Keys

[RicoADF]

Before posting please try and check your facts. The article contains a link to a list of retailers unaffected by the theft and number 6 is Green Man Gaming.

http://steamcommunity.com/app/238090/discussions/0/540744936577983546/

Eh, I did say "from what I heard" and GMG was an example off my head not a claim that they were affected.

 

[RicoADF]

No there is no legal duty to refund the money, end of story.

I think you misread, Zeckt was saying that if you bought from a legit store and this happened that the store you purchased it from would be required to give a refund, not steam/Rebellion.

 

[Lunar Templar]

It sucks for the people who bought the game, but the law in, pretty much ever civilized country on earth states you don't get to keep stolen items once it's discovered the item is in fact stolen, even if said item was acquired by 100% legal means.

Sorry, but the law is the law in this case, sucks for the gamers involved but at the end of the day, they bought stolen goods, and getting mad at the victim (Rebellion) is stupid, if your gonna get made at some one, get mad at who ever sold these places these stolen game keys.

 

[TaboriHK]

"Get refunds from thieves" is about the most condescending advice Valve could give.

What advice should they give? They needed to say something, and "Go after the people who sold you a stolen key." seems like the only thing they could say.

They don't need to give any advice at all. The 'advice' is more insult than anything.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

1. Neither Rebellion nor Valve is not responsible for giving refunds if someone else sold stolen property. They are not in the wrong. In fact they (Valve) did nothing other than revoke rights to stolen goods, which is how its handled legally, whether property is physical or digital doesn't matter.

2. That Valve didn't ban folks for the use of stolen keys seems to be something that isn't mentioned and should be, yet folks are acting as if Valve did something equivalent of an unjust act such as that. They didn't and aren't the bad guys here.

3. As previously mentioned, Rebellion is the victim here, as is Valve. They were the first party affected by the theft. Subsequent victims, the customers who bought the keys, are the low man on the totem pole. They may never receive compensation for their victimization. Crime has a habit of fucking people over, whether or not the culprit is caught. And you can sue for restitution but you're not guaranteed to receive it. Its why I say take care who and where you buy from.

4. I'm not unsympathetic to the folks who lost out, but I don't believe they should get anything from Rebellion or Valve. It is not either of those companies' responsibility. This is an example of entitlement thinking, and is absolutely wrong.

5. Sorry for your loss folks, quit blaming or downing on Valve and Rebellion. Yes I'm repeating myself but some folks are just too thick to get it the first time... blame the theives, chalk it up to bad luck and bad investments and move on. No sense in raging against two companies who, again, are not at fault.

 

[alj]

it should be seller beware as you should not be selling something that's not as described, you where selling this as a genuine key when it was not.

That's not how theft works sadly.
Hell, that's not how marketing works in general.
That's why we have to deal with things like Aliens: Colonial Marines.

As you mention at the start of your post: why would you buy from a third party? Especially if it's not a proper retailer.
That alone indicates that you weren't looking for legitimate business, which is a fault of noone but their own.

Whilst i agree with you, i still think that the whole culture of buyer beware needs to be changed , sure if you buy stolen property there is nothing much you can do but i was speaking in more general terms, buyer beware just allows bad practice like selling snake oil.

 

[Nielas]

The fact is, if they bought from one of those sites they WILL get their refunds so that's invalid.

No there is no legal duty to refund the money, end of story.

If the reseller sold stolen goods then the sale transaction will be invalidated and the buyers can take legal action to recover their money.

 

[Atmos Duality]

It still blows my mind that there are people actually slamming Valve and Rebellion for not letting the consumer keep stolen goods; something that we actually have well-established procedure and law for, something that isn't a strictly civil court matter.

To add to the irony, the complaints occur during the one time "stolen" is actually used in its proper legal context; not just the sensationalized bastard form that normally gets thrown around.