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Does opening up a PC game box and copying down the cd key constitute theft?

L

LivinLaVivaPollo

Senior member
Just thought I'm throw a gray area question at you guys. Back when Starcraft was the big thing, a friend of mine went to Target, opened up a Starcraft box and copied down the cd key so that he could play his brother, whom did not live with him anymore. Does that constitute theft? Because physically, you aren't stealing the game, but you are taking a part of it correct? I dunno...
 


<< ...Because physically, you aren't stealing the game, but you are taking a part of it correct? I dunno... >>



What the hell?!? You have to come to a messageboard to have this question answered for you?! :|
 
Intellectual property is a myth.

The law makes no mention of intellectual property, and the kinds of things usually referred to as intellectual property are not protected by property law.

Intellectual works are protected by copyright law, trademark law or patent law. They are not protected by property law, they are not property, they cannot be stolen, and those who use intellectual works in a way that violates applicable laws are not thieves.

Your friend might be potentially liable for copyright infringement, but this is actually an interesting question. That is because strings of numbers are considered uncopyrightable, in turn because they are naturally occuring things and anybody could have come up with them.

That would be a good question to ask of a lawyer. It is by no means clear cut.

Certainly, your friend removed no physical property from the store, so he is most certainly not guilty of anything under property law. Therefore he is most certainly not a thief.
 


<< WTF DO YOU THINK? *Lord's name in vain* some of the questions on AT. >>



You're going to hell when you die.
 
Aww c'mon guys, give me a break. You have threads that say, "I am a girl and I play counterstrike" that gets 100+ posts. I ask this question because not a lot of people know. When StarCraft came out, I was in 8th grade maybe? I wasn't too sure. I just went with my friend because he was in high school and had a car. Same case scenario, what if a serial number or cd key was out in the open? What if I was to copy my friend's legit cd key? Would I be stealing from him? What about those Microsoft OS stickers on the side of OEM computers with the cd key for the installation of software?
 


<< Intellectual property is a myth.

The law makes no mention of intellectual property, and the kinds of things usually referred to as intellectual property are not protected by property law.

Intellectual works are protected by copyright law, trademark law or patent law. They are not protected by property law, they are not property, they cannot be stolen, and those who use intellectual works in a way that violates applicable laws are not thieves.

Your friend might be potentially liable for copyright infringement, but this is actually an interesting question. That is because strings of numbers are considered uncopyrightable, in turn because they are naturally occuring things and anybody could have come up with them.

That would be a good question to ask of a lawyer. It is by no means clear cut.

Certainly, your friend removed no physical property from the store, so he is most certainly not guilty of anything under property law. Therefore he is most certainly not a thief. >>



Was it right for him to write the serial number down!?? Was it his serial number to write down. NO. So quit with the Oj Simpson loophole lawyter bullsh!t speech.
 
Even if your friend wasn't guilty of theft (which I think he was) he was still guilty of destruction of property. The store can't sell a game in an opened box.
 


<< Was it right for him to write the serial number down!?? Was it his serial number to write down. NO. So quit with the Oj Simpson lawyter bullsh!t speech. >>



When you get into rhetoric like "was it right or wrong" you are talking within the domain of morality, and not the domain of law.

Morality is like assholes. Everyone has his own, and nobody wants to see anybody else's.

So please keep your morals to yourself.

I gave what I believe is correct legal information. (IANAL, etc) If you challenge the correctness of any of the information, please explain why. Otherwise keep your thoughts to yourself.
 


<<

<< WTF DO YOU THINK? *Lord's name in vain* some of the questions on AT. >>



You're going to hell when you die. >>

Edited for you 🙂


<< Certainly, your friend removed no physical property from the store, so he is most certainly not guilty of anything under property law. Therefore he is most certainly not a thief. >>

Do you really believe that the law is the only thing that one should base morals by? Anybody with a clue knows this is stealing. If you buy a book and then photocopy it and return it what have you done? Stolen information. This is what his friend did - steal information.
 
My smart ass-answer:
NO

Now when you go home and use that cd key, that's another story...

hoho, aren't I clever?
 


<< My smart ass-answer:
NO

Now when you go home and use that cd key, that's another story...

hoho, aren't I clever? >>

hehe point well taken!
 


<< If you buy a book and then photocopy it and return it what have you done? Stolen information. This is what his friend did - steal information. >>



I am sorry, you are ignorant and you are wrong. What you have done under this hypothetical situation is you have infringed on copyright. Copyright infringement is different from theft. In this hypothetical situation, there is no theft.

Since you do not understand the difference between the two, you are not qualified to give advice on this matter. I suggest that you educate yourself first.
 
what was done was that you 'stole' the ability to play on bnet from the real owner(victim).

😀 this is worse than pirating software which is a victimless crime. 😀


 
This thread is beyond useless, since most people on this board have pirated software in some version or another (ie Windows!!)

So before anyone goes accusing this poor lad of committing grand larceny, just remember, that deep inside every geek, is a thief in waiting.
 
It would probably help if you clarified what kind of answer you are looking for.

Most people have given religious (moral) answers. I have given a legal answer.

If you are looking for a religious (moral) answer, you should probably tell us which religion your friend believes in, so that the answers can be more accurate.
 


<< It would probably help if you clarified what kind of answer you are looking for.

Most people have given religious (moral) answers. I have given a legal answer.

If you are looking for a religious (moral) answer, you should probably tell us which religion your friend believes in, so that the answers can be more accurate. >>


voodoo, I have to disagree with you on this post. I am not a religous person, yet I still have morals.

Even though most of us are guilty of having "borrowed" software, I do still consider this to be theft.
 
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