Copying my own xbox 360 games

TangoJuliet

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2006
5,595
1
76
Not sure if this topic is kosher here or what but I just wanted to reiterate that I am making a copy of my own personal games.

I purchased a banned 360 from craigslist the other day so that I can use the xbox at work. A couple of guys all chipped in for it with plans on playing it during our breaks. We have no intention on going on XBL with it.

I really do not want to bring in my original games to work because things tend to go missing there and I don't want to scratch up my $60 games.

I have no idea how the console is modded so if anyone can give me tips it would be appreciated. I am also using a mac so the software used to burn has to be OSX friendly.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,071
5,955
126
it is not easy to rip your own copies, it is a process that is not as simple as putting the game in your drive and running an app (at least when I checked out which honestly was a few years ago).

check out www.xbox-scene.com for tutorials on how to do it.
 

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
The DVD drive's firmware was likely flashed. Don't bother ripping games on your own. Just download.

----
Advocating piracy is a great way to get banned.
AnandTech Moderator Evadman
 
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dguy6789

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2002
8,558
3
76
If he owns the games, it's not piracy to torrent copies of them from the internet, nor is it against the rules to suggest it. It's only against the rules to suggest downloading instead of buying the game, which is what piracy is.
 
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DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
It's piracy if you leave the copies out where others can play them. If you keep the discs in a locked desk drawer at work then at least ethically it's fair use.

(In my opinion of course.)
 

acheron

Diamond Member
May 27, 2008
3,171
2
81
If he owns the games, it's not piracy to torrent copies of them from the internet, nor is it against the rules to suggest it. It's only against the rules to suggest downloading instead of buying the game, which is what piracy is.

Legally this is not true. In point of fact, a copy of the game is the same sequence of bits whether you made it yourself or downloaded it, but lawyers don't see it that way. See what happened to MP3.com back in 2000 for example.

And yes there's a legal difference between downloading vs distributing, but if you use Bittorrent you're doing both anyway.
 

novasatori

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
3,851
1
0
If he owns the games, it's not piracy to torrent copies of them from the internet, nor is it against the rules to suggest it. It's only against the rules to suggest downloading instead of buying the game, which is what piracy is.

Each batch of 360 games has unique security info and timestamps.

Downloading one does not give you a 1:1 of yours like you would get via a LEGAL backup.
 

zeruty

Platinum Member
Jan 17, 2000
2,276
2
81
It's piracy if you leave the copies out where others can play them. If you keep the discs in a locked desk drawer at work then at least ethically it's fair use.

(In my opinion of course.)

In my opinion, If no one at the workplace operates the software except when the OP is at work, and no one at his home operates the software except when the OP is at home, you are not pirating.

Is it piracy that I leave my xbox games in the living room where anyone in my apartment can play them?
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
I wish I could back up my Xbox 360 games. My Gears Of War 2 disc is scratched and conked out at the same place in the game over and over. I had to rent a disc from Blockbuster, install it to the hard drive and return the game in order to finish it.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
In my opinion, If no one at the workplace operates the software except when the OP is at work, and no one at his home operates the software except when the OP is at home, you are not pirating.

Is it piracy that I leave my xbox games in the living room where anyone in my apartment can play them?
Do a bunch of coworkers hang out there while you're gone?

My point was about just leaving the games on a shelf next to the xbox at work, where anyone can play them anytime, like when the OP is at home on the weekends or during vacations.
 

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
17,133
38
91
So the OP wants to copy his games and share it with friends? Yeah, it's piracy.
What is he going to do if they want to copy his copy? Give them a stern warning and suddenly be the legal enforcer?
 

MStele

Senior member
Sep 14, 2009
410
0
0
If he owns the games, it's not piracy to torrent copies of them from the internet, nor is it against the rules to suggest it. It's only against the rules to suggest downloading instead of buying the game, which is what piracy is.

Fair use only applies to media that is used to supply the software. The disc and the software are two seperate components. Fair use protects the user from media failure by allowing one backup of the original media to use in the event of primary media failure. Since the software he licensed originated from a disc, he is only allowed a copy of that disc or one identical to it. Downloads do not count. This is why software purchased from services like Steam are not protected by First Sale Doctrine. The software is considered independent of the media it is supplied on. Torrents are not considered a legal backup because regardless of if it was ripped from a disc or not, relative to the end user it originates on a server and thus is piracy. Remember, you own the disc but not the software on it...in other words, you only have control over the tangible goods, which means the dvd. You can duplicate the pits on a dvd, which is what your backing up. The actual software is merely a translation of those pits, and thus is considered intangible..and that is the part that constitutes piracy if you acquire it in a fashion that violates the license, which means any method that isn't officially provided by the owner of said copyright.

Copyright Law of the United States : Title 17 : Chapter 2

§ 202. Ownership of copyright as distinct from ownership of material object
Ownership of a copyright, or of any of the exclusive rights under a copyright, is distinct from ownership of any material object in which the work is embodied. Transfer of ownership of any material object, including the copy or phonorecord in which the work is first fixed, does not of itself convey any rights in the copyrighted work embodied in the object; nor, in the absence of an agreement, does transfer of ownership of a copyright or of any exclusive rights under a copyright convey property rights in any material object.

Copyright Law of the United States : Section 117

§ 117. Limitations on exclusive rights: Computer programs
(a) Making of Additional Copy or Adaptation by Owner of Copy. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or authorize the making of another copy or adaptation of that computer program provided:

(d) Definitions. For purposes of this section

(1) the maintenance of a machine is the servicing of the machine in order to make it work in accordance with its original specifications and any changes to those specifications authorized for that machine; and

(2) the repair of a machine is the restoring of the machine to the state of working in accordance with its original specifications and any changes to those specifications authorized for that machine.
 

lord_emperor

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2009
1,380
1
0
Fair use protects the user from media failure by allowing one backup of the original media to use in the event of primary media failure.

So manufacturers of copy-protected media violate our rights every time they stamp out an uncopyable disc? D:D:D:
 

MStele

Senior member
Sep 14, 2009
410
0
0
So manufacturers of copy-protected media violate our rights every time they stamp out an uncopyable disc? D:D:D:

No. The law only protects your "right" to copy the disc. It does not protect your "ability" to copy the disc. If they happen to burn the disc in such a way that your burner can't do a sector read, then that's not their problem. The important distinction is that your not copying software, only the media in which its encoded on. That's why they can put obstacles in your path and be completely within their legal rights. They can legally do anything they want to the disc to prevent you from copying it as long as you can still use the software as advertised in a way that is within your rights as a licensed user.
 

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,699
29
91
it is not easy to rip your own copies, it is a process that is not as simple as putting the game in your drive and running an app (at least when I checked out which honestly was a few years ago).

check out www.xbox-scene.com for tutorials on how to do it.

wrong, basically, at least on a pc, it is that easy w/ certain easily obtainable optical drives for the pc. the fact that the 360 is so hackable is the only reason it has sold as many units as it has.
 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
24
81
wrong, basically, at least on a pc, it is that easy w/ certain easily obtainable optical drives for the pc. the fact that the 360 is so hackable is the only reason it has sold as many units as it has.

lulz...
 

TangoJuliet

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2006
5,595
1
76
wow, sorry I haven't had a chance to check back into my own thread.

the 360 and the games will not just be laying around. i will lock them up in my locker once the day is over.

I wasn't planning on torrenting any of the games so what is a good program to rip the games so I can burn em on DLs? I have a mac so its gotta be OSX friendly.
 

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,699
29
91
wow, sorry I haven't had a chance to check back into my own thread.

the 360 and the games will not just be laying around. i will lock them up in my locker once the day is over.

I wasn't planning on torrenting any of the games so what is a good program to rip the games so I can burn em on DLs? I have a mac so its gotta be OSX friendly.

any chance you have a pc that you can install hardware in? don't know how to do it on osx but pc is real easy...

if you want to stay osx, i would search xbox-scene.com for you answers
 

TangoJuliet

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2006
5,595
1
76
any chance you have a pc that you can install hardware in? don't know how to do it on osx but pc is real easy...

if you want to stay osx, i would search xbox-scene.com for you answers

my wife has a windows notebook. i can install something on there if necessary
 

Fayd

Diamond Member
Jun 28, 2001
7,970
2
76
www.manwhoring.com
If he owns the games, it's not piracy to torrent copies of them from the internet, nor is it against the rules to suggest it. It's only against the rules to suggest downloading instead of buying the game, which is what piracy is.

yeah, that's protected under fair use.

though try explaining that to your ISP when they forward you the cease and desist letters.
 

IEC

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Jun 10, 2004
14,447
5,455
136
yeah, that's protected under fair use.

though try explaining that to your ISP when they forward you the cease and desist letters.

That is NOT fair use. BitTorrented images are not 1:1 copies, not to mention you upload (distribute) as well...

MStele already explained it well - you have limited right to copy the physical media.