Philosophical Quandry: Piracy

[Gryphin]

EDIT:
As I was preparing my second post in this thread, (the one just before Geo’s), I realized this is not a matter of law or philosophy. It is a matter of morals
My first post came to the wrong conclusion.

I break rules all the time. I don’t violate persons intent that I have agreed to. Installing the game I agree to abide by the EULA.

-----------
This comes down to following the
Letter of the Law
Or
The intent of the Law

For the most part I have always followed the intent
The most important part I summarize on the Home page of my site:
“In my youth I was taught that first you must learn the rules, (and understand them), before you can break them. Later in life I developed the corollary, Sometimes you must break the rules before you can learn them, (and understand them)”

My understanding is the intent of the law would make Fyron’s concept legitimate.
In saying so I do not forget it is still ileagle.

[ July 11, 2003, 15:28: Message edited by: Gryphin ]

[Loser]

Well, if I did not have a close connection with this 'friend' I would just direct them to the demo.

However if, for example, they lived with me and I could persuade, pester, and encourage them to purchase the game (on an almost daily basis), then I would probably make the loan. It all depends, really, on whether or not I think they will buy the game once they decide they like it.

Of course, this is an early morning interpretation of half-formed thoughts. Possibly more to follow...

[rdouglass]

IMO if the developer (of any software) intends for the user to "try before you buy", they will provide a demo. SEIV has said demo so IMO, the act of "loaning" the game is wrong for both parties; the one asking for the loan and the one doing the loaning. (It would be wrong even if they didn't have a demo.)

Normally EULA state that you don't own the s/w; you just own a license to use it. One solution around the question is you could invite the freind over for a "hot seat" game - then you don't have to worry about breaking the EULA.

[Erax]

Fyron, I have done exactly what you described, twice. In both cases, my friends installed the game and returned the CD, but they haven't played yet. It's been sitting unplayed on their HD's for weeks now.

Why did I do it ? That's just the way our crowd does things. We play all sorts of games - RPGs, boardgames, card games, miniatures games. We trade games with each other, we sell each other our old games, we give them as gifts, we loan them. We don't treat computer games any different.

I didn't think it was, for lack of a better word, 'wrong' when I did it. Reading some of the piracy threads on this forum, I now understand that some people may have a different opinion. All I can say is that I acted within the standards of my RL community, when perhaps I should have questioned some of them.

[minipol]

According to the law it's piracy. Yet, the situation you describe is probably more common than you think. I've gotten some games from friends like this and i must say that most of the time i just don't like it (hey i'm playing SEIV over here, leave me alone) or i buy it.

I read an article here in a magazine this week. If they could reduce software piracy with only a few percent, then it would create around 5000 IT jobs (here in Belgium which is a lot). So it's unbelievable what impact it has. I never realised that before.

If it generates more income for the game makers and producers, i couldn't see the harm in it since then it's kind of promotional stuff. But in real life, it would happen all to often that the receiving party just makes a copy and returns the cd.

[Gryphin]

Fyron,
I note you have not posted your positon on this.

[Gryphin]

Some more thoughts
“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions”
This may seem off topic but:
If you will violate the EULA in an attempt to get a friend to buy a copy what other rules will you break in your life?
Action - Intent (the greater good)
Break the EULA - Sell more copies
Buy a Term Paper - Graduate from Colledge
Cheat on your wife, (instead of ending the marrage)-For the sake of the children
Falsify your expense account – < insert plausible excuse >

You get the picture