Can I do this?

[Davey_Pitch]

so what's the difference between "software" and "a game"? This months PC Format discusses the same issues as discussed here and appears to contradict itself in the same way that Davey does (no offence, just an observation) by saying in one bit that it is legal to make a backup of software you have bought but in another that it isn't.

I believe that the law makes a distinction between the two. A game is something you play, software is something you use. That is my own distinction, and it may be the one the law uses as well.

PC Format goes on to say that using a no-CD crack is legal but reverse engineering of software isn't which surely most no-CD cracks are anyway.

PC Format is wrong from the start. CD cracks break the copyright protection (which is all the CD checks are), so they're illegal from the off. The *only* time they're fine is when they're released by the programmers themselves (which has happened in the past).

Also one poster's comment about Media Player is interesting as according to PCF, it is illegal to rip a CD on to your hard drive though they do not discuss why this is such an integral part of Media Player.

PCF is correct here, ripping a CD is illegal, as not only are you not allowed to make a backup of the music, you're not allowed to transfer it to a different medium. As for why it's an integrel part of MP, I don't have an answer for that. There will be CD's you can legally rip I suppose.

I'm confused......

You're not the only one

 

[Davey_Pitch]

The whole thing is almost impossible to grasp. It is easy to understand people's frustrations at doing something which in itself does not appear to be causing anyone any harm (using a no-cd crack when you own the game/making a backup for personal use/making a compilation cd etc, etc.) is subject to legal objections.

I can definitely understand people's frustrations, as I share them. I think the law is a joke. If I've bought something, why can't I make a backup to protect the media? I can see no logical reason why they should stop me. Unfortunately though the law isn't always logical.