Mama Robotnik
Member
I'm wondering if there is concensus on what should and should not be considered piracy. How far does the right to make a backup go? Under what circumstances, if any, are backups sound? I find it ambiguous and unclear and would like to hear perspectives.
I've listed a couple of scenarios here. Are some of them/any of them/all of them piracy? I don't know, so I'm asking where people draw a line. You can approach this however you like, for example taking each scenario and labelling it as PIRACY / NOT PIRACY. Alternatively, you can post your view on where making a backup becomes an act of piracy.
ADVISORY NOTE - This thread is to talk about how we define piracy as a concept. I'd strongly advise not discussing any personal experiences pirating software however you define it, its not a route worth going down.
Scenarios - Feel free to use or disregard. I've included a NEW and USED variable in case anyone feels this makes a difference.
[1] Purchasing a game NEW, then using a No CD crack because DRM/driver/compatability issues are causing you difficulties running from the disk?
[2] Purchasing a game NEW, then using a NO CD crack because you don't want to keep inserting and removing the disk?
[3] Purchasing a game NEW, then making a backup and playing from this to preserve your original purchase.
[4] Purchasing a game NEW, then letting a friend borrow this original?
[4a] Purchasing a game USED, then letting a friend borrow this original?
[4b] Purchasing a game NEW, making a backup, and letting your friend borrow your backup? (the original is still preserved and never used)
[4c] Purchasing a game USED, making a backup, and letting your friend borrow your backup? (the used original is still preserved and never used)
[5] Purchasing a game NEW, your original is destroyed in an accident and playing from your backup?
[6] Purchasing a game NEW, your original is destroyed in an accident and you make a copy of a friend's disk to continue playing?
[7] Purchasing a game NEW, your original is destroyed in an accident, and you download an ISO from a torrent site to continue playing?
[7a] Purchasing a game USED, your original is destroyed in an accident, and you download an ISO from a torrent site to replace it?
[8] Dumping a ROM from a cartridge you purchased a decade ago, then using various emulators and hardware to play this ROM?
[8a] Downloading a ROM dump from a torrent site of a game cartridge you purchased a decade ago?
[8b] Downloading a ROM dump from a torrent site of a game cartridge you purchased a decade ago, but have since lost?
[9] Downloading multiple ROM hacks of a retro game, when you have purchased the original game itself as part of a recent retro compilation disk.
Some of these I feel clear on, whereas others stump me, so I'm looking forward to reading opinions.
I've listed a couple of scenarios here. Are some of them/any of them/all of them piracy? I don't know, so I'm asking where people draw a line. You can approach this however you like, for example taking each scenario and labelling it as PIRACY / NOT PIRACY. Alternatively, you can post your view on where making a backup becomes an act of piracy.
ADVISORY NOTE - This thread is to talk about how we define piracy as a concept. I'd strongly advise not discussing any personal experiences pirating software however you define it, its not a route worth going down.
Scenarios - Feel free to use or disregard. I've included a NEW and USED variable in case anyone feels this makes a difference.
[1] Purchasing a game NEW, then using a No CD crack because DRM/driver/compatability issues are causing you difficulties running from the disk?
[2] Purchasing a game NEW, then using a NO CD crack because you don't want to keep inserting and removing the disk?
[3] Purchasing a game NEW, then making a backup and playing from this to preserve your original purchase.
[4] Purchasing a game NEW, then letting a friend borrow this original?
[4a] Purchasing a game USED, then letting a friend borrow this original?
[4b] Purchasing a game NEW, making a backup, and letting your friend borrow your backup? (the original is still preserved and never used)
[4c] Purchasing a game USED, making a backup, and letting your friend borrow your backup? (the used original is still preserved and never used)
[5] Purchasing a game NEW, your original is destroyed in an accident and playing from your backup?
[6] Purchasing a game NEW, your original is destroyed in an accident and you make a copy of a friend's disk to continue playing?
[7] Purchasing a game NEW, your original is destroyed in an accident, and you download an ISO from a torrent site to continue playing?
[7a] Purchasing a game USED, your original is destroyed in an accident, and you download an ISO from a torrent site to replace it?
[8] Dumping a ROM from a cartridge you purchased a decade ago, then using various emulators and hardware to play this ROM?
[8a] Downloading a ROM dump from a torrent site of a game cartridge you purchased a decade ago?
[8b] Downloading a ROM dump from a torrent site of a game cartridge you purchased a decade ago, but have since lost?
[9] Downloading multiple ROM hacks of a retro game, when you have purchased the original game itself as part of a recent retro compilation disk.
Some of these I feel clear on, whereas others stump me, so I'm looking forward to reading opinions.