Serialkeys

[Belissarius]

I would be extremely surprised if that were the case.

Downloading a replacement from a developer (a la GG) is one thing but its hard to imagine that downloading a ripped copy of a game from a P2P service is in anyway legal.

In canada we have very liberal copy right laws. It is legal to copy anything for your own personal use, Music, games, movies. I can copy anything legaly so long as it for my own personal use and i in no way make money from it. It is illegal for me to make copies of material avalable to be download however. And here is the kicker I can give an original media to a friend and they can copy the material legally. Yet if I have a copy of material on P2P I'm breaking the law. If I download from P2P its legal.

Hows that for hypicritical laws?

Yet there is something that is more important here, whats the moral thing to do? I dont think people need to be told what teh "right" thing to do is here.

 

[unmerged(20604)]

I think it is a good idea to register...

And I believe it is quite funny that the same people that see no problems in registering on this forum, has a problem registering when they have bought the game.... I believe that the Registering of the game can be made even more anonymous than registering for this board...

can they please tell me what the difference is?

 

[Registered]

Um so is the key tied to IP addresses?

I'd doubt it. People with a modem would be screwed.

 

[Brent15]

As one little story... Back when we kept track of ip's downloading patches...

We had about 500 sold copies in one fairly rich western european country for eu1. We had 5,000 unique ip's from that country downloading each patch for that territory, during the first few days of release of a patch.

Considering we pay for bandwidth, its not that fun to pay people to pirate your games.

Yea, this is really bad and I don't think we can rationalize that number of IPs away no matter what. But I do use three different computers to download material and only play games on one of those.

I completely understand a companies desire to protect its investment and intellectual property. It really can be a pain in the butt to register though. Last time with Diplomacy, I had to wait for a Paradox rep to assist me with my registry as the system was having problems. They were relatively prompt, but I still had to wait an additional day for a response. That's forever when you just spent $50 US dollars on a new game.

But I have to say, I really like the way this company handles its community and its games (except for Diplomacy, which may not be their fault). Most companies don't take criticism well, but Paradox is stronger because they really listen to the fans.

 

[Mr.G 24]

I don't mind a serial at all, it'll be good for Paradox, probably make more money this way. But it's technically illegal for me to play on my laptop and have a game installed on my desktop, I find that bullshit and I think most people do.

 

[Belissarius]

I don't mind a serial at all, it'll be good for Paradox, probably make more money this way. But it's technically illegal for me to play on my laptop and have a game installed on my desktop, I find that bullshit and I think most people do.

It depends on what your local copy right laws are. In canada its not illegal. In your country it could be. Morally using the Laptop OR the computer to play the game isnt, I would think. Using the laptop and the computer at the same time ie letting a friend play who doesnt own the game would likely be morally ambigious at best.

 

[Belissarius]

I'd doubt it. People with a modem would be screwed.

Ok then how do they stop piracy? Whats to stop someone else from using the same key? I dont get how it stops piracy. game keys get posted on the net all the time. A key that you register to get patches seems even easier.

 

[ComradeOm]

The major problem with serial keys is that they can simply be copied. Unless Paradox puts in place a system whereby only the first person to register a serial key can use it, the system simply will not work.

Its also to be noted that all these systems will invariably take a few days to get up and running following the game's release. So look forward to half a dozen complaint threads in a few months time

When discussing these; think about that different countries has different laws.

Indeed. That has been shown by Belissarius. Incidentally I had no idea Canada's copyright laws were so liberal.

At the same time I question whether there is any nation in which downloading copyrighted material is illegal but downloading a "replacement" copy is legal. Feel free of course to correct me.

 

[jordarkelf]

Tie it to your Paradox account. Like with Diplomacy. A key can only be tied to one account, so unless you are going to share a single account with multiple people, it works.

And shared accounts will get blocked before long. I bet if Paradox suddenly notices a user connection from hundreds of different IPs to get a patch they'll get suspicious...

 

[Ganso]

I've given some thought about it and for me it seems the best option is the one that only allows registered-key owners to access Bug/Technical forums and the Patches: it effectively makes a difference not to be able to download a patch or ask why the game is not running.
Then again, most people who get games illegally couldn't care less about patches, or so I think: they get it, they play it and if they can't get a patch, well, at least they didn't pay for the thing.
Another factor is that it's pretty easy for someone who has an official patch to post it on a torrent site and... well, there goes the so-called "protection".

 

[Sekenr]

On a related note, how will the game be released in Russia, Belarus etc ? Can you arrange it so we would also get Paradox serials to download patches, rather than let Snowball somehow relay them to us? And another question: does Paradox have any say on the matter of whether Snowball will release the "Originals" or not?

 

[Inferis]

Another factor is that it's pretty easy for someone who has an official patch to post it on a torrent site and... well, there goes the so-called "protection".

I don't think it's quite the matter of denying pirates access to patches (Paradox Genuine Advantage, anyone? ). I'm pretty sure everybody knows that's impossible.
However, using a system like this saves Paradox the bandwidth spent on downloading patches, and thus a considerable amount of money on connection fees.

 

[ComradeOm]

On a related note, how will the game be released in Russia, Belarus etc ? Can you arrange it so we would also get Paradox serials to download patches, rather than let Snowball somehow relay them to us? And another question: does Paradox have any say on the matter of whether Snowball will release the "Originals" or not?

Isn't Snowball the CK outfit? How are they involved in the EUIII process?

Either way I'd assume that all language versions will be available from GG.

 

[_Curieus_]

If she paid for it i see no reason why she should not be able to download it if the CD was broken. It's not dissimilar from creating a backup of your game, which is legal (at least it is over here). Certainly i see no moral problem with it.

Personally, i recently rebought CK as i lost track of the original CD. Expensive, but one has to face the consequences of ones own mistakes. Not that extreme in my opinion.

Things would be different when we are talking about some EULA's that claim single install only (like single time install, not like on 1 singe PC) and that require a rebuy when changing the processor.....

 

[Sekenr]

Isn't Snowball the CK outfit? How are they involved in the EUIII process?

Either way I'd assume that all language versions will be available from GG.

They are the distributor of all Paradox games in former USSR.

 

[Kasperus]

I'm fairly sure that downloading a game you already own (have already paid for) is legal here. Certainly it works that way with music.

Nope, and neither is making a backup of any proprietary software, unless licence explicitely allows it. Works entirely different than in case of music, where thuiskopierregeling applies.

 

[Mr. G]

I don't mind a serial at all, it'll be good for Paradox, probably make more money this way. But it's technically illegal for me to play on my laptop and have a game installed on my desktop, I find that bullshit and I think most people do.

As long as you don't play on both your laptop and your desktop at the same time, no.

 

[crazy canuck]

I also have two users for the TV in my room... Should I have two TVs in the same room? I also have two users for my CD player... Am I illegal because we share one?

Both of us like Iron Maiden, should I be forced to buy 2 copies of the newest Maiden's CD so we can "legally" be able to listen to the damn music?

Silly comparison.

In your case each of your users is using a separate computer. Two computers equals two games. Simple as that.

If your brother lived in another house would you still try to justify copying the game for him?

 

[unmerged(6777)]

Silly comparison.

In your case each of your users is using a separate computer. Two computers equals two games. Simple as that.

If your brother lived in another house would you still try to justify copying the game for him?

Pfffft....don't you know that the application of logic is useless in the face of grossly-exagerated hyperbolae?

 

[Featauril]

As long as you don't play on both your laptop and your desktop at the same time, no.

Do you mean "at the same time" as in, having both open in front of you and playing them both silmutaneously (sp? I'm foreigner)?

Or do you mean having it installed on both and playing on one or the other as the mood strikes?

Because if it's the latter, that's B.S. It would be like buying a second CD if you want to listen to something in the car rather then in your stereo.