Is it just the zeroes and ones? Or software concepts as well? For instance, you can copyright Halo, but you can't stop Halo clones, or stop every FPS since from having a regenerating shield. The basic gist being that the software is still copyrighted, but a copyright doesn't stop you from learning how it works.įor something as complicated as software, there's also issues of what components are copyrighted. Every EULA on the planet says that you can't reverse engineer their stuff, but in many places, reverse engineering is not only perfectly legal but also a legally protected action. Depending on how contract law works where you live, if ONE pertinent section of the contract isn't actionable, then the ENTIRE contract isn't actionable.
#No cd cracks downloads no cd
So No CD cracks are A ok.Īnother issue is that there are LOTS of stuff in most EULAs that are simply not actionable.
If its not for sale in any form, its 'abandonware' ie anything that is old enough for the developer to either not be around or not care if its pirated.
#No cd cracks downloads full
That is why Steam and other major download places have 'sales' that are dirt cheap.because they shouldn't really even have them for regular full retail price since you don't get a CD with the deal.įor older games, game companies hardly care since they aren't making money on them anymore and with Netbooks and people not liking to haul all their CDs around it works for people. The industry prefers digital distribution from saving on manufacturing costs and not paying the retail store middle man: its almost all profit with every dollar they make now. *Silent Hill Homecoming was exclusive to Steam and Direct2Drive in the US bypassing the stores with the pc version* Sites like Gog and others mean it makes less sense to buy them in stores. Retail copies are becoming few and farther between with a few big sized regular PC games have little to no retail versions. This is pretty much becoming a moot point because of how the PC gaming industry is heading. They are one of the most underhanded things in the industry that I want to be gotten rid of. Due to this it can argued that EULAs aren't a valid form of contract law because the contract was done when money was exchanged and NOT when the game was installed.Įdit: Also I really wish EULAs legality would hit the Supreme Court. The problem with a EULA is you have to agree to it after purchasing a product as opposed to before. If something stops the product from working then it is my right to modify it until it works like with any other thing. If Ubisoft uses their DRM and they go belly up I can go onto a torrent site and the get files needed to make my software work because I paid for a working product. It is generally accepted that they serve a purpose of bypassing protection that can prevent the user from using their product, which is covered under the DMCA. There has been no precedent set so the 'actual' legality of it is in the air.