Is copying games for your own personal use legal

[Wolfe Tone]

This is why I hate copy protection on CDs, we have the right to make a backup copy. But the publishers are making it a hassle. Luckily there are ways around it.

CD cracks are another thing, I crack all the games I buy because I hate having to change CDs all the time. It's just far more convienent rather than having to search through my game collection for the CD I want

 

[Yaype]

Steph is correct. You're allowed to have it installed on as many computers as you want, but you're not allowed to play it at the same time on any two (or more) computers. So you can install it on your brother's computer, but you can't both play it at the same time.

Not sure about multiplayer though...

I am pretty sure that, at least for some games, that multiplayer is not an issue. Take Starcraft, for example: not only do you not need the CD for multiplayer games, it actually explicitly asks you when installing if you are doing the full install or the multiplayer (sans CD when playing) install.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Starcraft has a limit on how many such "spawn" installs you may have, however.

 

[zjl56]

My brother has copied civ3 alot since he doesn't want it to break.

 

[col]

Thread closed. It is most definitely illegal to make a backup copy in the UK. The question has been asked and answered and the thread is veering towards encouraging piracy.