Forums > Social Discussion > Legally downloading software

Posted: 14th Mar 2006
It is my opinion that it is ethical. You did not pay for the disc itself, you paid for the right to use the program. The disc was merely a way of transfering the program. You could have ethically bought RON, stuck the disc on your shelf, and installed RON from bit-torrent, and you would have not stolen anything from the company.

Legally speaking, I don't have a clue since I don't know the laws where you live. Why don't you write or call the company that makes RON, let them know what you are planning to do, and ask them whether they would mind.

Posted: 15th Mar 2006
Personally I wouldn't see a problem with it.. However, just to play devils advocate

You bought and paid for *your* copy of the program, to be installed and used on *your* system. Now if you still have your key, then chances are noone would be able to tell the difference. However if you're using someone elses key, or are using a cracked version then things are changing a bit. If you bought yourself a fancy hat and in turn lost it, would it be right to help yourself to another hat and consider it the same, even if it were identical?

That isn't the ideal argument, since as Patriarch already said you're really paying for the software, not the hardware to get it to you. And I do know of many instances where gaming companies will gladly replace (usually for free, or a fraction of the price) a damaged game disc, this however is usually accompanied by a replacement key as well though, and since you can't really prove that you 'lost' it as opposed to sold it or gave it away, you're probably not going to have much luck getting a cheap simple replacement.

#homeofpoi -- irc.newnet.net Come talk to us we're bored

Warning: Please Do Not Jump On The Seals

Posted: 15th Mar 2006
Not legal, marginallly ethical.

I say go for it.

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]

Posted: 15th Mar 2006
lol.

Here's my two cents on the legality side of it. You pay for a licence to use the software and not the software its self. Most licences are single user so legally you should only install it on one computer (Apple do family licences for its OS which simply consists of one set of CDs but five licences) so once you have a licence surely it won't matter how you got the program in the first place.

Its a bit like the law that you're allowed to make one backup copy of a music CD but if you download the CD before buying it does that make the downloaded copy legal once you own the CD? There are loads of grey areas that they need to clear up.

The mac version of RON doesn't have a CD key with it but you need the disc to play it but it is possible to crack it with a little knowhow so I didn't actually need the CD. I've done this for all of my games and stuff like Logic Pro (that looks for a USB key) and I don't see how they can complain if I simple tell the software to ignore the command that looks for the CD. As I'm a computing science student I think its completely wrong to pirate software but then if a company like Apple gives out the source code for its latest OS to members of the ADC a few days before its released and I compile it and install it then surely thats covered by my ADC membership... but thats off topic.

I have just gone onto a torrent site and started downloading it. I'll remember to make a backup this time.

Have faith in what you can do and respect for what you can't

Posted: 15th Mar 2006
I'll go with one of my old profs: "If you ask whether it's okay to do something or not, you usually know it's not and just want me to tell you you can, even though you know you shouldn't."

"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)

Owner of Dragosani's left half

Posted: 15th Mar 2006
so does that work the other way? It's ok to download music cos I didn't ask?

"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade

I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.

Posted: 15th Mar 2006
But you just asked.

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]

Posted: 15th Mar 2006
see? It works.

"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)

Owner of Dragosani's left half

Posted: 15th Mar 2006
I didn't actually ask, I asked a related but different question.

Plus: I stole nemo from disney already. Long live the internet! I asked the p2p client if it could download nemo for me, and it said YES! so it did. Brill.

"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade

I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.