EU Court: digitally-distributed software, games can be resold as used

[i30817]

that's not how a TCB works. The private key is not on the computer but in a safe somewhere in a bunker. You won't be able to get it by freezing the memory which means you won't be able to sign software. At most, you'll get a decrypted executable that would be suitable for piracy on non 'full-TBC' machines. Still, that won't help you run the pirated game in a full-TCB machine.

Edited July 5, 2012 by i30817

[jay pettitt]

I think EA might not agree.

 

If EA don't think people should be able to sell things they've bought then EA would be in the wrong. And the EU have affirmed that's the case. EA don't make laws and don't have expertise in ethics. The EU courts do.

[lost_soul]

I like the way Frictional Games does things. You buy the games, you have a serial number but it doesn't require activation, so it will still work years from now. Prices are reasonable and no third-party software comes along for the ride. As long as they maintain this system, I will continue to buy from them.

Edited July 5, 2012 by lost_soul

[Professor Paul1290]

If EA don't think people should be able to sell things they've bought then EA would be in the wrong. And the EU have affirmed that's the case. EA don't make laws and don't have expertise in ethics. The EU courts do.

 

EA does get to decide which digital distribution services can carry their games.

 

It took quite a while to before EA allowed GOG to carry their games. GOG has had difficulties convincing publishers to let them carry their games because they insist on staying DRM free.

GamersGate likes to try (unsuccessfully) to stay DRM-free, but in a lot of cases publishers force them to allow a third-party DRM for certain games before they allow it to be sold there.

 

This ruling may make getting more publishers and developers to allow for DRM-free distribution even more difficult than it already is. I really hope it doesn't, but it could happen.

 

 

I like the way Frictional Games does things. You buy the games, you have a serial number but it doesn't require activation, so it will still work years from now. Prices are reasonable and no third-party software comes along for the ride. As long as they maintain this system, I will continue to buy from them.

 

Those are the kinds of systems I'm really really hoping won't be harmed by this change.

Edited July 5, 2012 by Professor Paul1290