Are cracks illegal? (not to pirate, just bypass CD check)
- Thread starter iamme
- Start date
If you already have a bottle of juice and you go into a gas station and steal another bottle of juice, it's still illegal. Just because you own a game it doesn't make it all right to bypass anti-piracy measures in order to make your life more convenient.
I disagree.
I used to play UT a LOT, it was wearing out my CD putting it in and out all the time. Eventually THEY (the makers) released a NO CD crack (Patch)
I think many makers do this after the game has been around awhile.
If I went and bought a bottle of juice that required I use a specific funnel in order to get the juice out of the bottle and I made it so that I no longer needed the funnel, how is that a bad thing?
How does theft enter into this when we are talking about people who already own the game? Where does this second bottle of juice enter the picture? What, exactly, are you stealing?
The poster isn't asking if it's ok to steal more juice. He's asking if it's ok to drink it the certain way. I have no answer, btw.
Legally speaking, I don't think the issue has been fully decided. The DMCA says that it would be illegal but there is a possibility that a court would rule that the DMCA violates Fair Use rulings previously decided.
Usually there's something about it in the EULA. Just a quick search on my system shows this up in the EULA for Freelancer:
But would a NO CD crack fall under that rule?
It's not copying, or by passing a copy protecting technology.
It's not copying, or by passing a copy protecting technology.
The copy protection is in the EXE required to run the game, so 'technically', you would be "bypassing" the copy protection.
Yes, it would.
The DMCA specifically outlaws ANY circumventing of anti-piracy features. For ANY reason.
It DOES violate existing fair use laws, and there are still a few software vendors who advise customers to make backups of the discs for protection. After all, some companies don't want to be bothered with replacement CDs. heh
Now, do I backup my discs or employ NoCD cracks? Absolutely. Am I concerned about the DMCA? Absolutely. That law was obviously the successful child of the software industry lobbyists mating with money hungry politicians. I expect things will change soon however, once a few lawsuits are brought to the Supreme Court. Problem is that it takes a few years to get there.
ViRGE
Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
- Oct 9, 1999
- 31,516
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Technically it's not copy protection technology, since you're not doing anything that will allow you to make a copy of the game itself(bypassing say, Safedisc with Alcohol would, however), but it's close enough that it probably counts. And I can already get where you're going with this: it's probably in violation of that wonderful DMCA.:|
I believe (as others do) that this would violate the DMCA.
However, the DMCA has not really been tested in the courts, and there's lots of speculation whether the DMCA would survive a judicial review.
However, the DMCA has not really been tested in the courts, and there's lots of speculation whether the DMCA would survive a judicial review.
..and makes illegal any devices or software used in such circumvention. The law is so draconian and broad that its apparent to a twelve-year old that record companies and not constitutional scholars were at work here. The irony is that running software necessarily requires one to "bypass" the protection since it is often in the EXE file as someone posted. Therefore, taking the DMCA to its logical conclusion, the computer, program,and CD itself are all illegal.
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