Just a few questions
- Thread starter Vagabond
- Start date
First, I am not an EA representative. Second, Copyrights run out over time, That is why you see old books that have been copyrighted multiple times,and as I said, I believe I heard about a law that was mentioned below. Third, WC1-2 do NOT work fine when ones machine is fast. WC3 also does not work on my machine. Fourth, if EA is not making money off of the games kris, I don;t see how that is wrong as long as someone is not attempting to make money off of it
Napolean:
I believe that the multiple copyrights you see on books is there because it was updated or re-released on that particular date and therefore the copyright was updated. I feel your pain Napolean - EA will not rerelease a game that is basically a rerelease of other games (Kilrathi Saga) so they could give it out for free. If they aren't going to sell it then they could offer it to the small population of the gaming community that wants a 5 year old game. Sierra did the same thing; Johnny Castaway, that Darkness at Sethanon game, etc. Unfortunately, it's EA's choice to make and given the way they handled the WCP SO missions (which WAS free for a time), I doubt it's going to happen.
I believe that the multiple copyrights you see on books is there because it was updated or re-released on that particular date and therefore the copyright was updated. I feel your pain Napolean - EA will not rerelease a game that is basically a rerelease of other games (Kilrathi Saga) so they could give it out for free. If they aren't going to sell it then they could offer it to the small population of the gaming community that wants a 5 year old game. Sierra did the same thing; Johnny Castaway, that Darkness at Sethanon game, etc. Unfortunately, it's EA's choice to make and given the way they handled the WCP SO missions (which WAS free for a time), I doubt it's going to happen.
Copyright does run out after some time and becames public domain, but I dont know the time limit of software(if there is one), and Copyright law is im many cases quite confusing, just see the Laws about songs and you so many diferent rules so you dont know even were to start.
Your best hope is that EA/Origin let us download the old games for free (or for a small amount of moeny), with out giving us techical suport, like sierra (you can found the old Betrayal at Krondor for free in their site) does.
Of course that the chances of that happen are as big as a kilrathi invasion right now...........
Your best hope is that EA/Origin let us download the old games for free (or for a small amount of moeny), with out giving us techical suport, like sierra (you can found the old Betrayal at Krondor for free in their site) does.
Of course that the chances of that happen are as big as a kilrathi invasion right now...........
LividLiquid
Rear Admiral
Well, does anybody know anything about Abdandonware laws?
And BTW they sell CD burners for several reasons:
1. To allow people to back up their filed incase the HD was damnaged or the CD was scratched.
2. To allow people to record their files so that they can transfer them from 1 computer to another.
3. To give people the option of archiving items that are not currently used but might be used at a later time, but they dont have the disk space for them.
Saying Why do they sell CD burners is like asking "why do cassette tapes have recording options or why do VCRS allow you to tape tv shows" just becuase there is the potential for abuse in something does not make it bad.
1. To allow people to back up their filed incase the HD was damnaged or the CD was scratched.
2. To allow people to record their files so that they can transfer them from 1 computer to another.
3. To give people the option of archiving items that are not currently used but might be used at a later time, but they dont have the disk space for them.
Saying Why do they sell CD burners is like asking "why do cassette tapes have recording options or why do VCRS allow you to tape tv shows" just becuase there is the potential for abuse in something does not make it bad.
No but people who think the laws should work according to them abuse them all the time. Ever wonder why most games sold today have copy protection built into the cd?? So people who think it should be their property and that they can take money away from people who worked thier asses off never see a penny. You are full of it on this issue. Copyrights last about 50 years first of all and if you are so sure, then say that you won't mind if I sent all of your info in an email to EA with copies of all this here.
OriginalPhoenix
Professor Emeritus
Erm, no, you see multiple copyrights on books because of follow-on revisions and re-releases.
Because it's a violation of copyright and redistribution law, plain and simple. Period, no two ways about that.
They maintain the copyright because of the mere possibility, however unlikely, that they could issue a re-release themselves.
Abandonware laws...only that none of the WC games come remotely close to falling into this category.
Zor Prime
That guy.
I must agree, Pirating WC is not something to be done. (or to any piece of software) If you really want a copy of something, go to ebay, or a used software store like Electronic Discount Sales in D/FW, Or, you could just call Origin, and see if you can special order something, OR ask them if it's ok to burn it, OR just buy the rights to the whole franchise! simple enough.
So I am supposed to jump on a plane and fly to Dalas/Fort Worth now, great. And for the post Voondoom go right ahead since i never said that I would/will/have burn any game ever, I was just defending the possiblility that no wrong doing would be commitied in doing so according to what I have heard about that new law that I have made mention of earlier in the thread!
That was kind of weak Vondoom - this is a discussion about copyright issues dealing with a game that over 5 years old - there was no need to make a threatening statement like that (even if you didn't mean it). I think that software piracy hurts everyone (even the pirate in the long run) but I feel for those that want an old game but don't want to get squeezed by eBay. Anyway, I doubt if EA would really care to be honest. How many sites STILL have the WCP SO Missions? Do a quick search using any of the search engines. I doubt if EA really gives a damn anymore - but God help you if you try to post Need for Speed or Ultima Online!
That is not the problem.
WC 1 and WC 2 (or even P 1) are not likely to put on the market by EA since they are old games so they dont care and people are still looking for then.
Is downloading a copy of those games for free ilegal?, well it is, it a violation of copyright law, but I can understand the frustation about that, Ebay those games are not only rare in showing up but also goes for a price that is too high for a game that old.
Abadonware is a place were you can find those games but it ilegal to download anything in there since those games are still protected by copyright law, so you are comiting a ilegal action.
That is why posting links in here about that is not alowed, since that could brought charges against CIC and even you, for piracy and violation of copyright law.
Will I download a WC game for free?, well I would if the game show up on either here or in a site that is related to WC universe and EA would alowed that but EA are a buch of people that since dont give a damn about people like us, they are not going to let that happen even if the game is over 40 years, that is the way they think.
WC 1 and WC 2 (or even P 1) are not likely to put on the market by EA since they are old games so they dont care and people are still looking for then.
Is downloading a copy of those games for free ilegal?, well it is, it a violation of copyright law, but I can understand the frustation about that, Ebay those games are not only rare in showing up but also goes for a price that is too high for a game that old.
Abadonware is a place were you can find those games but it ilegal to download anything in there since those games are still protected by copyright law, so you are comiting a ilegal action.
That is why posting links in here about that is not alowed, since that could brought charges against CIC and even you, for piracy and violation of copyright law.
Will I download a WC game for free?, well I would if the game show up on either here or in a site that is related to WC universe and EA would alowed that but EA are a buch of people that since dont give a damn about people like us, they are not going to let that happen even if the game is over 40 years, that is the way they think.
Dark Tower
Rear Admiral
Just to mention I think abandonware is programs that have stoped being sold hecne abandoned by the company and that the is a period of time after that before it is true abandonware. Anyway there currently is no laws about abondonware except that it is still piracy and there won't be. Their is a group going for compaines to relase some of there old stuff as abandonware on there sites. If the company says no than it is against the law if they say yes it isn't.
PS the limit on copyright is 10% I recall.
PS the limit on copyright is 10% I recall.
Somewhat over dramatic as you are talking about a game that was a free download distributed over the internet by EA/Origin.
Does anyone know why the SM1/2 and SO1/2 were and still are free for Kilrathi Saga while SO was free for a limited time? That boggles my mind - "Now it is free" "Now it's not!" Also, while SO was free, was there any notice given to the downloaders that told them that it was not permissable to re-distribute the SO missions?