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The fact that you get the files does not mean it’s not a license. You can download Windows 10 ISO from microsoft.com and it will boot just fine too. There’s no

by graynk 2y ago

The fact that you get the files does not mean it’s not a license. You can download Windows 10 ISO from microsoft.com and it will boot just fine too. There’s no license _verification_ in the files you’ll download - yes. You’ll be able to always install and play what you’ve downloaded - also yes. But _legally_ you don’t _own_ them.

npteljes 2y ago
Sure, but similarly, while you purchase a CD of a musical album, you don't own that either, right? I mean, you own the piece of media itself, but its contents are subject to copyright and such. Same deal here, I own the files from GOG in the sense that I can do whatever with the files, but I'm not allowed to breach copyright by for example sharing the files with the public. So if this usage is just a license, not ownership, then yes, we don't own the GOG copies, but we don't own any other media either. I don't think that's what's being discussed here. If, then, we "own" the CD with the music on it, we similarly "own" the game we download from GOG.
- mxfh 2y ago
  You can always sell CDs without breaking copyright, you can't sell anything you acquired from GOG according to the TOS. A GOG licence is always personalised. A Book or Record is not. "3.3 Your GOG account and GOG content are personal to you and cannot be shared with, sold, gifted or transferred to anyone else. Your access to and use of them is subject to GOG’s Privacy Policy and Code of Conduct which are updated or amended when necessary." So far the TOS of GOG and Steam forbid resale of licensed items, if that's leagal or enforcable is another story. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine
  - npteljes 2y ago
    That's a good point! I don't actually think there are any file-buying services which enable re-selling the files bought - if these files are not tied to physical media, that is.

by graynk 2y ago

npteljes 2y ago

Sure, but similarly, while you purchase a CD of a musical album, you don't own that either, right? I mean, you own the piece of media itself, but its contents are subject to copyright and such. Same deal here, I own the files from GOG in the sense that I can do whatever with the files, but I'm not allowed to breach copyright by for example sharing the files with the public. So if this usage is just a license, not ownership, then yes, we don't own the GOG copies, but we don't own any other media either. I don't think that's what's being discussed here. If, then, we "own" the CD with the music on it, we similarly "own" the game we download from GOG.

mxfh 2y ago
You can always sell CDs without breaking copyright, you can't sell anything you acquired from GOG according to the TOS. A GOG licence is always personalised. A Book or Record is not. "3.3 Your GOG account and GOG content are personal to you and cannot be shared with, sold, gifted or transferred to anyone else. Your access to and use of them is subject to GOG’s Privacy Policy and Code of Conduct which are updated or amended when necessary." So far the TOS of GOG and Steam forbid resale of licensed items, if that's leagal or enforcable is another story. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine
- npteljes 2y ago
  That's a good point! I don't actually think there are any file-buying services which enable re-selling the files bought - if these files are not tied to physical media, that is.