NO-CD Cracks - Illegal?

On a similar note, if you buy a game from somewhere and the disc is broken or something doesn't install properly etc.... is it illegal to download the game illegally then use your previous serial key on it?
 
As I wrote in a Bioshock thread...

"EULAs are worthless. Utterly worthless. They're not even a proper contract; you only get the option to accept/reject after the contract is concluded and the game is bought.

I see nothing that suggests that using a crack is other than perfectly legal."

There are a lot of myths/urban legends surrounding cracks, but the only problem I can see is that they are illegal to distribute (copyright owned by the creator). They are not illegal to create, to use, and certainly not to discuss. And if you own the game initially it's teneous to say it's illegal to download also (however this is the only thing I am not convinced about).

A look on the law:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9954665&postcount=280
 
Lost my Company of Heroes CD, I still have the case and key, so I download it and use a crack.

Illegal? pfft, I bought it and nobody loses anything.
 
the whole point to pc gaming i see is doing away with cds and dvds so not having to stick them in everytime you want to play a game. if i have to stick the cd in the drive everytime i want to play a game then im better off with a console.
 
ChrisJSY said:
Lost my Company of Heroes CD, I still have the case and key, so I download it and use a crack.
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Sorry but LMAO, why on earth, CoH doesnt have cd checks when up-to-date.

Agree with mav, Cd's amd DVD's are pointless when you have hdd's of 500 gb.
Waste of money to even press the c/dv d's.
Cd's are the biggest plague imo in pc gaming, even changing images in programs with virtual dvd drives imo is annoying enough.
 
Tute said:
Keep the thread clean please!

Just wondered this in general. I hate having to get the disc every time I want to play a game, also i've found a couple of my games have damaged discs - they'll install, but crash ingame. I consider cracking games perfectly fine if you own it anyway, it's hardly stealing! :p

Thoughts? :)
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Illegal Yes, anyone been proscuted for using no-cd cracks on their own cds no (to my knowledge)
 
Making mp3s from CDs you own is illegal as well. As is moving sheep across the london bridge (or something to that effect). There is illegal, and there is common sense. Sometimes both dont always agree.
 
illegal-sheallegal.

i work at a gaming cafe, with about 70-80 games installed like BFME2 and C&C3. were it not for no-cd cracks, every time someone wanted to play a different game, we'd have to hunt down the disk and put it in the machine. there are 15 computers with the full complement of games. thats 1125 different games to keep track of, which just isn't happening.

my stance on it is thus: you own the game? feel free not to use the CD.
 
Aod said:
illegal-sheallegal.

i work at a gaming cafe, with about 70-80 games installed like BFME2 and C&C3. were it not for no-cd cracks, every time someone wanted to play a different game, we'd have to hunt down the disk and put it in the machine. there are 15 computers with the full complement of games. thats 1125 different games to keep track of, which just isn't happening.

my stance on it is thus: you own the game? feel free not to use the CD.
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What would be the official stance on something like that? I mean surely the game developers/publishers understand that for something like a LAN cafe, doing away with the CDs is pretty much essential?
 
snowdog said:
Sorry but LMAO, why on earth, CoH doesnt have cd checks when up-to-date.

Agree with mav, Cd's amd DVD's are pointless when you have hdd's of 500 gb.
Waste of money to even press the c/dv d's.
Cd's are the biggest plague imo in pc gaming, even changing images in programs with virtual dvd drives imo is annoying enough.
Click to expand...



IIRC I think I needed it for something, all I know is I needed it, yes, I do remember it can be played without cracks.

And I do need to dl it to install it.. ;p
 
I use nocd cracks for most of my games, makes life a lot easier.

One thing I would say though is make sure you virus check them as I've had a number that i've downloaded have infections.

It's the risk you take if you use something which is reverse engineered code.

Taff
 
If you have bought the game i dont see any harm in using a no cd crack.

Surley it is up to you whether you want to have the bother of changing the cd all the time.
 
I must admit I do get sick of changing CD/DVD's all the time because I buy too many games and frequently swap them over these days. I find that it's hard to stay interested in one game through to completion and not just because I have so much choice :)

Some games I get them for, some I don't bother.
 
dbmzk1 said:
No, they are not illegal. No where in the law does it say you can't do it. EULAs are not law.
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Yes it does, actually.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032498.htm

It's in this act that it prohibits the use of copyright circumvention technologies, which includes no-cd cracks.

It is worth noting that, generally, breach of the above is only relevant from a criminal viewpoint if using them for profit, otherwise it would be a civil matter.
 
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