Quick question about legality

[Luciel]

I think it would be legal as theoretically, it's just a backup for your own.

[Grumpy]

Hmmm, I tend to disagree.
It is a technicality but you are entitled to create a backup of 'your own' game discs. If you download it then it would not technically be a backup of your own disc, it would be a backup of someone elses disc! Like I said it is a technicality.

Plus I dont think downloading games should be encouraged, it is better to learn how to do your own backups, even if this requires you to purchase the right hardware to do so. (meaning having the correct burner).

If you start the habit of downloading games then it could be very easy to fall into bad practices.

Thats just my interpretation of the laws etc.

[Slon]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Hmmm, I tend to disagree.
It is a technicality but you are entitled to create a backup of 'your own' game discs. If you download it then it would not technically be a backup of your own disc, it would be a backup of someone elses disc! Like I said it is a technicality.

Plus I dont think downloading games should be encouraged, it is better to learn how to do your own backups, even if this requires you to purchase the right hardware to do so. (meaning having the correct burner).

If you start the habit of downloading games then it could be very easy to fall into bad practices.

Thats just my interpretation of the laws etc.

What about miniimages and fixed exes? Those are all legal, right?

Also, do you guys think companies should just do away with copy protection? CD-Key is already a simple and impenetrable protection from playing downloaded games online. CD protections, on the other hand, can either be cracked or are too intrusive/vulnerable to failing on legal copies (see StarForce).

[kyee7k]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Hmmm, I tend to disagree.
It is a technicality but you are entitled to create a backup of 'your own' game discs. If you download it then it would not technically be a backup of your own disc, it would be a backup of someone elses disc! Like I said it is a technicality.

Plus I dont think downloading games should be encouraged, it is better to learn how to do your own backups, even if this requires you to purchase the right hardware to do so. (meaning having the correct burner).

If you start the habit of downloading games then it could be very easy to fall into bad practices.

Thats just my interpretation of the laws etc.

unless it's an official download from the company or reseller like newegg or direct2drive.

[Grumpy]

@kyee7k

unless it's an official download from the company or reseller like newegg or direct2drive.

Yes of course, but that is obvious!

@Slon

What about miniimages and fixed exes? Those are all legal, right?

Mini Images and fixed exe's are not the same as downloading a full version of someone else's game.
But it could be argued both ways if it is legal or not.

The original question here was:
"is it legal to download a copy of a game, to use as a backup, if you own an original version of it?"

I think the logical way to answer this question is to ask yourselves,
"Is it legal to copy your own game and then put it online for everyone else to download for free?"
Now the answer is obvious isnt it?

[Slon]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

@kyee7k

Yes of course, but that is obvious!

@Slon

Mini Images and fixed exe's are not the same as downloading a full version of someone else's game.
But it could be argued both ways if it is legal or not.

The original question here was:
"is it legal to download a copy of a game, to use as a backup, if you own an original version of it?"

I think the logical way to answer this question is to ask yourselves,
"Is it legal to copy your own game and then put it online for everyone else to download for free?"
Now the answer is obvious isnt it?

No, but last I read, dealing drugs provided a much more serious amount of jailtime than buying them.

[Karasu_the_Black_Cat]

Legally, you are entitled to own a virtual copy of any software you own in the real world. Whether or not the copy has to be made directly from your own software isn't stated. Which was my case to Napster a few years back. I was allowed to download those Metallica MP3's, because I already owned the CD's...

Hope I helped a small amount....

[Grumpy]

@Slon

dealing drugs provided a much more serious amount of jailtime than buying them.

Ok, lets just change a few word in your sentence, cause we are not talking about drugs here.
"Supplying games provides a much more serious amount of jailtime than downloading them."
Now lets break that sentence down.
Supplying games will bring you jailtime! Therefore it must be illegal.
Downloading games will 'possibly' also get you jailtime, but not as much jailtime as supplying them!
So if you are going to get jailtime, (but I believe at worst you will only get a large fine for downloading though), then it must be looked as illegal to do!
And that of course is regardless of if you do own the originals.
Now does that sound logical?