The pirate bay and such all illegal

[paudashlake]

The piratebay isn't all illegal, right?  And not that I think it is right, but some people think torrent sites like this are good. 

For example:


As I said.  I do NOT promote illegal torrents. 

I just want to know what your thoughts on torrent sites.  Do you think they should stay, or all go away?

[computeruler]

They should stay.  They are fighting a loosing battle.  They will never get rid of them all.  And it really depends on what you download.  They are just search engines almost like google.  I completely agree with the picture though.  But instead pay then download?

[paudashlake]

Well, the problem I have seen with pay then download is that if you need to reinstall the computer, you need to buy the game again.  Not all people are smart enough to put it on a cd/dvd these days.

[Quantos]

Not all people are smart enough to put it on a cd/dvd these days.

GET OUT.  I just don't believe you at all.
On the other hand that would explain a lot of these posts....

[paudashlake]

haha you don't say?

[Quantos]

I'll have you know that a great number of the voices in my head thought that was funny.

[Calum]

Torrent search sites are not illegal, nor should they be.
Just because I can find illegal content on a search engine, does that mean that the engine should be shut down because of its content?
Well, I guess that means no more ... Google, Bing, Yahoo, MSN, AOL, Ask (expand to include every single search engine).
I use Mininova and other torrent sites a lot, for Linux distributions and other large free software packages ... much easier than going to each individual website to find the torrent.

I don't understand how reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows means you need to buy a game again though ...

[Rob Pomeroy]

The opening post hardly presents a fair comparision since there are plenty of applications that can be purchased and downloaded legitimately.  It's not EITHER illegal torrents OR full packaged products.

[Dead Reckon]

I believe one should be able to try a product in its fullest, if this means illegally obtaining it, sobeit, just so long as you buy it if you actually decide to use it.

[Quantos]

I believe one should be able to try a product in its fullest

That's exactly why there are DEMO versions.  There is no excuse for pirating, ever.

[paudashlake]

I agree with all of you!  Torrent sites are fine, just some torrents are illegal.

Now, Calum.  I thought that when you reinstalled, you lost the game and had to buy a new licence for it.  Can you download it more than once?  Well probably, but not on all games.  Right??

[2x3i5x]

Nothing's wrong with the idea of torrents, just people put onto torrent illegal things. You lost a game and had to buy a new license.... couldn't you contact customer service with your proof of purchase if you still had it?

[Calum]

Now, Calum.  I thought that when you reinstalled, you lost the game and had to buy a new licence for it.  Can you download it more than once?  Well probably, but not on all games.  Right??

That's what I'm asking you ... I don't often download games, I tend to buy them on a CD or DVD so I don't accidentally delete it or something.
I did legally download three games a few weeks back but I don't know how the licensing works ... I believe one of them (Crysis Warhead) lets you install it five times before you lose the license, but there is a tool to deactivate a license (so when you uninstall it, run the tool and it gives you back the license you used in installing it, if that makes sense).
I haven't really looked into this or tested it by madly installing and uninstalling it to see if I lose my license, I'd like to play it at some point heh.

[BC_Programmer]

for me, I have a few apps I bought online- all you need is the key. download the installer from the developer, install it- enter your key, it authenticates the key and your entered username, and installs and authenticates. Absolutely no hassle at all.

[harry 48]

where i bought games you can reinstall up to 7 times on your own or other pc's , or you can choose to buy the cd