Curse

Junato · Jul 16, 2012, 09:06 PM // 21:06

I started thinking about ownership of games and their items in Diablo 3 and it has came to my attention the gear you collect from mobs is not owned by the player, but owned by Blizzard. Instead, Blizzard is renting out the items.

I started thinking are all games like this? I can own a hard copy of a game, but the contents are not mine to manipulate as said on the terms of agreement. In essence, any game I buy for my computer or Xbox I don't own the rights to alter the game that requires third party programs, I own the playable content in which allows me to play the game?

Does this make any sense?

If so, Facebook owns my Facebook account and I only have the right to use it, My online bank owns my account online and I only have the right to use it that falls within the guidelines, and I am paying for services to use the internet from my ISP which I don't own.

thedukesd · Jul 16, 2012, 09:22 PM // 21:22

In case of online games (but not only) they add that part (that they rent the account to you and that you don't own it) so they are covered in case something goes bad (like they ban you for no reason and refuse to unban you, their database is hacked and the hacker manage to destroy any potential database backups, they decide to shut down the service for no reason or cause it cost them to much) so you can't go in court against them. Basicaly their legal department is the one that add this to the license agreement. (If you read the agreement when you install windows you will notice that microsoft say that they are not responsable for any damage caused by their software.)

In case of proprietary software you are not allowed by copyright to change it. In case of opensource you can change that software cause you have the sources available on net(there are some conditions here but well kinda cosmetic).

In case of pure offline games you actually own the game, you can play it when you want, even if the company that produced it no longer exist. You can even alter the files of the game, as long as you will not make it public there will be no way for them to know that the copyright has not be respected. (I do not suggest that someone should do something illegal. But I do say it's posible. The laws deal with the criminals after they did the crimes, but the laws don't stop them to do it. )

Zaph · Jul 16, 2012, 09:36 PM // 21:36

You guys ever bothered reading EULA's of the things you play? You'd be surprised and baffled of all the formal nonsense they have there..

Quote:

6. CONTENT AND MEMBER CONDUCT

(a) Content.
You acknowledge that by using the Software and the Service you will have access to graphics, sound effects, music, animation-style video, content, layout, design, files, data, characters (and items and attributes associated with characters), game objects and text (collectively, "Game Content")....

(c) Member Content.
Members can upload to and create content on our servers in various forms, such as in selections you make and characters and items you create for the Game(s), and in bulletin boards and similar user-to-user areas ("Member Content"). By submitting Member Content to or creating Member Content on any area of the Service, you acknowledge and agree that such Member Content is the sole property of NC Interactive....

**cosyfiep** · Jul 16, 2012, 10:58 PM // 22:58

I own plenty of games...board games, role playing games....and a few computer games like spore and civ/alien crossfire....

as for guildwars...I own a cd, a box and some nice junk they put in said box.