Trading games

[duff88]

Is it legal to trade the license number (the code they give you to activate it) of a game you digitally downloaded and bought in exchange for the license number of another game from somebody else?

I'm asking cause if it's legal I'd open a thread asking if someone was interested in a small exchange but I don't want to start trouble so I'm thinking it's safer to ask if it's legal first. :D

[albionmoonlight]

Smart to ask first.

In general, the answer is no. If you look at your license, it will (I'm sure) say something about not being able to trade, sell, exchange, etc. it.

Also, this board is pretty defensive of the rights of small developers, so you may see some HELL NO answers on here. Try not to take them personally.

Finally, a lot of people like the flexibility that having two licenses gives them (desktop and laptop; work and home, etc.). If too many people engage in license trading, then developers will stop allowing two installs with one license, and that will be too bad.

[duff88]

Smart to ask first.

In general, the answer is no. If you look at your license, it will (I'm sure) say something about not being able to trade, sell, exchange, etc. it.

Also, this board is pretty defensive of the rights of small developers, so you may see some HELL NO answers on here. Try not to take them personally.

Finally, a lot of people like the flexibility that having two licenses gives them (desktop and laptop; work and home, etc.). If too many people engage in license trading, then developers will stop allowing two installs with one license, and that will be too bad.

That's what I was expecting. I don't see it that way though.

My point of view is that if you are ready to trade the license, there's a reason. You probably are not playing the game anymore, and the other guy either.

By trading it, you get to know wether you like the other game or not (something most Demo-versions don't let you know, at least personally) and it makes you a potential buyer for the next version.

[Eaglesfan27]

You asked it if it was legal, and according to the EULA of most games, it is not legal. It's not really a matter of opinion.

[albionmoonlight]

My point of view is that if you are ready to trade the license, there's a reason. You probably are not playing the game anymore, and the other guy either.

Why? Seems just as likely to me that me and a friend would decide to have him buy game A and me buy game B and then exchange them.

[Raiders Army]

Is it legal to trade the license number (the code they give you to activate it) of a game you digitally downloaded and bought in exchange for the license number of another game from somebody else?

I'm asking cause if it's legal I'd open a thread asking if someone was interested in a small exchange but I don't want to start trouble so I'm thinking it's safer to ask if it's legal first. :D

Homer likey your beer my friend.

[JPhillips]

Eaglesfan: My understanding is that the EULA really hasn't been tested in court yet. It may or may not ultimately turn out to be illegal, but just because you agree to the EULA does not necessarily make it legally binding.

In practice though I think trading licenses will lead to developers only giving one license and further limiting my choices for installation.

[Toddzilla]

I think the point of contention here is the difference between:

(1) Buying a game and installing one license of a game and allowing someone else to install the second license, and the other person buying a different game and allowing you to install the second license...

and

(2) Buying a game, using both licenses, then choosing not to play it anymore and swapping both licenses of your game for both licenses of a different game that someone else has also decided not to play anymore

In both cases, you are "trading the license number" of one game for another, but (1) is clearly a violation of the EULA and a rotten scumbag thing to do, whereas (2) seems to be more in line of a straight trade, which may or may not violate the EULA, and seems to be a perfectly reasonable and legitimate thing to do.