Are NO-CD cracks for games illegal?

[Az]

[Urban Ranger]

Actually, I don't think it violates the EULA, which has dubious legality at any rate. Though in the US the DMCA does not allow you to circumvent copy-protection devices. Or something like that.

[Ming]

Originally posted by VetLegion


Technically, you have to actually make a copy of the game to make the "free car". Just modifying the game so it runs without the CD is not copying.

To demonstrate how perverse it is, I've thought of an analogy. Programs are sets (or lists) of instructions.

Consider for a moment that you have bought dancing instructions. They are ten pages long, but mostly repetetive, so you think of a way to rearange the instructions a bit so they fit on one page and you can hold them in your hand while you dance.

Now, software companies don't allow you to modify those instructions.

Does that make sense to you?

You are just concentrating on one use of the hack.
I don't think anybody here would argue that it's not wrong to use a hack so that you can play a game you have purchased without the CD in the drive... The problem is that many people use the hack to get around having to buy the game. Just borrow a game CD, or download it off the internet and use the hack to play the game. That is illegal... you are stealing the game

[VetLegion]

I know copying is illegal, I'm OK with that, but how have we allowed certain companies to extend that so that even creating a possibility that something would be copied is considered illegal?

[Snotty]

Its like banning photocopiers

[Last Conformist]

I suppose I'm not the only one here who's bought a game legally only to end up playing a pirated version just to get rid of the damnable CD check. CD checks are basically a punishment for honesty.

[Ming]

Originally posted by VetLegion
I know copying is illegal, I'm OK with that, but how have we allowed certain companies to extend that so that even creating a possibility that something would be copied is considered illegal?

They are just protecting their rights. If it was only being used by "honest" buyers of their product, no one really has a problem with that. But don't play dumb... the reason why they make is it so the CD has to be in the drive is to reduce theft of their product... And a no CD hack makes it possible... and MANY use it for that purpose

[Last Conformist]

When did anyone ever buy a game because they couldn't get it illegally?

[VetLegion]

They are just protecting their rights. If it was only being used by "honest" buyers of their product, no one really has a problem with that. But don't play dumb... the reason why they make is it so the CD has to be in the drive is to reduce theft of their product... And a no CD hack makes it possible... and MANY use it for that purpose

I know why they are doing it, but it doesn't make it right. They want to control my use of the product even after I have payed the sum they asked for it.

Think about buying a car and having Ford put a person on the codrivers seat to be there at all times to make sure you don't drive too fast, because MANY do it. Justified?

[Cyclotron]

I have certainly used no CD cracks for games I haven't copied from others. I don't like always having to plug the CDs in, personally. I don't see why that has to be illegal because of select people that copy games. Like Snotty said, it's like banning photocopiers.

[rah]

That's the silliest comparison I've ever read.

Think about buying a car and having Ford put a person on the codrivers seat to be there at all times to make sure you don't drive too fast, because MANY do it. Justified?

[Ming]

Originally posted by VetLegion
Think about buying a car and having Ford put a person on the codrivers seat to be there at all times to make sure you don't drive too fast, because MANY do it. Justified?

Another bad analogy. Software is not a car. It can be copied... A no CD crack makes it easier to steal the product.

[Jon Miller]

honestly.. sometimes the CD requirements make it harder to play the game

in particular if there is crappy software, or if you have a crappy CD drive (Both have happened to me)

but I prefre to run noncracked software just because I trust it more

JM

[Adagio]

Banning photocopiers

Originally posted by VetLegion
BTW., did you know they are instituting an anti-piracy tax on blank CDs, HDDs and flash memory in Croatia? . It would double the price of CDs if the thing passes.

We have this tax in Denmark, and I do support the basic idea of it, but AFAIK none of the money from this tax goes to the companies it's supposed to, which kinda makes it pointless
So whenever I need some blank cds I go to Germany (it's like 1/3 of the price)

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by VetLegion
Though, that's a communist thing to do. Only those who use it should pay for it. I retract my statement from the post above. You got me for a second there commie, but I bounced back