PC software ROBBERY in progress?

[kasparov]

Is it legal for a person to re-import software meant for other english speaking countries and sell it at below US price?

For instance, Splinter Cell (the PC title) goes for less than 1/2 of US price in other countries; could someone reimport that title to the US, sell it, and make a profit off of it?

The reason I am asking is because I see hundreds of these type of things occurring on ebay. That means that PC software industry is losing a lot of money. The PC software industry (esp. gaming industry) is pretty fragile and beaten-up. I'd like to defend it if at all possible -- so that we can get better kick ass PC games in the future.

 

[yoda291]

I imagine that so long as you pay tariffs and whatnot that might go with this plan and shipping costs, I don't think it's illegal. If you wanted to support the software, you could always send money straight to the developer and write a note to the effect of killing their ad budget. That's where about half the money goes anyways.

 

[brxndxn]

Good.. I'm glad Ebay is helping to even out the market.

Raising prices in the US and not other countries causes artificial inflation and makes our money worth less when used in the US.. So then it strengthens the dollar and causes the US to lose on exporting.

In a free country like this, why the fvck should it be illegal to import a game and sell it? I can buy French water...

 

[jazzhound]

yoda wher do you find those clever quotes? funny as hell.

 

[jaeger66]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
Good.. I'm glad Ebay is helping to even out the market.

Raising prices in the US and not other countries causes artificial inflation and makes our money worth less when used in the US.. So then it strengthens the dollar and causes the US to lose on exporting.

In a free country like this, why the fvck should it be illegal to import a game and sell it? I can buy French water...

This is almost as funny as your ranting about the record industry's "oligopoly".

 

[Scootin159]

It would depend on the particular piece of software, just read the licencing agreement and see what it says.

Remember you don't "own" software, or even "buy" it, you just buy a "licence".

 

[kasparov]

Originally posted by: jaeger66

Originally posted by: brxndxn
Good.. I'm glad Ebay is helping to even out the market.

Raising prices in the US and not other countries causes artificial inflation and makes our money worth less when used in the US.. So then it strengthens the dollar and causes the US to lose on exporting.

In a free country like this, why the fvck should it be illegal to import a game and sell it? I can buy French water...

This is almost as funny as your ranting about the record industry's "oligopoly".

what exactly is funny about the record industry's oliogopoly?
The fact that they have been ripping you off for the past 20 years?

 

[jaeger66]

Originally posted by: kasparov



what exactly is funny about the record industry's oliogopoly?
The fact that they have been ripping you off for the past 20 years?

No, the fact that he offered some long winded explanation based on a shaky foundation of misunderstood economic principles to rationalize one thing-he's just a thief who doesn't feel like paying for a non-essential product.