Legal way to play CIV without the DVD?

[warpus]

So, I bought Beyond the Sword.. One of the only games I have bought in the last couple years or so.

I'm very excited about enjoying the game in a legal manner and fully supporting the game developers that have contributed to my addiction.... However, I am very annoyed that I have to keep the DVD in the drive whenever I want to play.

I don't like this, and would like to get around it via legal means..

Since I went out of my way to actually buy this thing, it wouldn't make much sense to then turn around and do something illegal to get around this annoyance, right?

So what I would like to know, is whether I made a mistake in purchasing BTW, or if 2K and/or Firaxis have a solution that will make me happy.

Yes, I realize that I can rip the DVD to an image and then use Alcohol 120% or Daemon Tools to run an emulated drive, but I don't really like that solution either. Besides, ripping your own DVDs is not allowed as per U.S. copyright law, as far as I know.

So, what say you?

 

[Zelig]

Besides, ripping your own DVDs is not allowed as per U.S. copyright law, as far as I know.

US copyright law tends to suck though, Canada recently scrapped plans for a bill similar to the DMCA.

Easiest way for most games to play without the disc is to just download an executable to replace the game's file that doesn't need the disc. Fully legal in most countries.

Would be great if 2K/Firaxis patched Civ4 to not require a disc anymore though, since pirated copies don't require the disc anyway, only legit buyers get annoyed.

 

[Shadylookin]

if you actually bought the game a no-cd crack would probably fall into fair use rights especially in canada.

 

[GarretSidzaka]

if you actually bought the game a no-cd crack would probably fall into fair use rights especially in canada.

He's right. If you actually own the game or license, it is not illegal to do this. In fact, if you look at a website that caters these kinda files, they demand you own the game for legal reasons.


I run them because I mod BtS so much that it difficult to take the disk out every time i need to do something else. And it also saves your disk from wear and tear.

 

[warpus]

So where can I download such a no-cd crack off the official Civilization site?

I mean.. as a paying customer, should I really have to go through potentially dangerous back channels to fully enjoy the game?

 

[Souron]

if you actually bought the game a no-cd crack would probably fall into fair use rights especially in canada.

Wouldn't that be against the EULA? Many EULAs say you can't modify the software in any way.

 

[Zelig]

Wouldn't that be against the EULA? Many EULAs say you can't modify the software in any way.

However, if they contradict fair use laws, then they can be ignored.

Replacing the exe with one that doesn't require a cd doesn't generally go against the EULA in any case, although creating it may.

FWIW, the BTS EULA actually states that the software must be run from the CD-ROM... but hey, too bad, that's an unreasonable condition.

 

[Shadylookin]

Wouldn't that be against the EULA? Many EULAs say you can't modify the software in any way.

I can put that you have to give me your first born child in a EULA but that doesn't mean when you don't you're doing something illegal. Fair use rights and state/federal law would trump a EULA. Granted it's never been tested in a court(that I'm aware of) but it's highly unlikely it will be challenged.

 

[mdwh]

Agreed - the law is defined by the Government/courts, not an EULA. It might break the EULA, but that doesn't mean it breaks the law.

Having said that, I'm not convinced that downloading something you already own is legal? - Copyright laws seems to be pretty restrictive unfortunately. If ripping a CD or DVD you own to your computer isn't allowed, I don't see why downloading another copy from elsewhere would be okay...

 

[Speedo]

So where can I download such a no-cd crack off the official Civilization site?

I mean.. as a paying customer, should I really have to go through potentially dangerous back channels to fully enjoy the game?

Get Alcohol 120 or Daemon Tools and run the game using a CD image. If you're lucky, there will be a mini-image out there for Civ, so you don't even have to waste HDD space.

 

[echinococcus]

In Germany its illegal to circumvent any protection. Though nobody gives a **** about it. PM to me if anyone needs sources. (Lets check the forum rules on that one )

 

[GenMarshall]

Not to mention ripping a CD/DVD into an iso file can also tax your computer's hard drive (That is if you are one of thoes people who are more conserned about hard drive space)

 

[illram]

If you're not in the US, I have no idea.

It's not legal to "crack" it in the US, (thanks DMCA ) and it's a violation of your EULA. The DMCA specifically says fair use is not a defense in these instances, and it wouldn't prevent you from being sued anyway. (Even though the likelihood of that happening is zero, probably.)

If you can, return it and buy it on Steam, no CD necessary. Otherwise just take your chances and I promise I won't tell anyone.

 

[illram]

I can put that you have to give me your first born child in a EULA but that doesn't mean when you don't you're doing something illegal. Fair use rights and state/federal law would trump a EULA. Granted it's never been tested in a court(that I'm aware of) but it's highly unlikely it will be challenged.

Fair use is a defense to copyright infringement. Your EULA is a contract. The Fair use defense is irrelevant to whether or not you are breaking your contract.

You only get out of a contract if it is unconscionable or you were defrauded in some way. Neither of those would apply in this situation.

 

[mdwh]

Your EULA is a contract.

This has yet to be upheld in court. Not all things are a contract - I can't say "If you reply to this thread you agree to pay me £1000".

I never agree to my EULA - given that the only way to install the program I legally bought is to click the button, it seems unreasonable to conclude that a person was clicking the button to agree to the contract, as opposed to installing their software. Similarly, it would be absurd to conclude that you posting on this forum was a sign that you agreed to my contract.

If EULAs are ever ruled valid, I'll simply send the software company my version of a EULA, which will be "If you don't do arbitrary-set-of-things, you agree to let me copy all your software for free".

The Fair use defense is irrelevant to whether or not you are breaking your contract.

You only get out of a contract if it is unconscionable or you were defrauded in some way. Neither of those would apply in this situation.

What contract? It's an EULA, not a contract. And it's really just an EUL, since there is not an agreement. If it was a contract, then I'd be signing it after I've crossed out the bit I don't like. I could do that anyway of course by copying to a separate file and editing, and that would make the EULA irrelevant.

 

[IamJohn]

I never agree to my EULA - given that the only way to install the program I legally bought is to click the button, it seems unreasonable to conclude that a person was clicking the button to agree to the contract, as opposed to installing their software. Similarly, it would be absurd to conclude that you posting on this forum was a sign that you agreed to my contract.

If companies provided an alternate way to install software then there would be no point to the EULA. And just because it's unreasonable, doesn't mean that a company can't file a legal suit.

 

[Quintillus]

I still love all the software and other various consumer goods that say, "By opening this package you agree to the enclosed license agreement." Which, of course, you can't read unless you've opened it.

Most software now does give you a chance to read it first, but I have seen some products that require you to open it to read the agreement to which you are agreeing by opening it. Prime example of a catch-22.

To the original problem, you could just start up Civ, take out the CD, and never close Civ, and then you could play it without the CD. Once it does the initial CD check, the game doesn't need the CD. The downside is you'll need the CD again if you ever exit Civ, and Civ will always be taking up memory.

 

[illram]

This has yet to be upheld in court. Not all things are a contract.

Yes it has, in the U.S. 3rd circuit at least. ProCD case.

I never agree to my EULA - given that the only way to install the program I legally bought is to click the button, it seems unreasonable to conclude that a person was clicking the button to agree to the contract, as opposed to installing their software. Similarly, it would be absurd to conclude that you posting on this forum was a sign that you agreed to my contract.

You do agree to them by clicking yes. That's a contract, they made an offer and you accepted. You can return it or not install it if you don't agree. (Which in practice is difficult considering most store software policies.) I agree it is kind of coercive considering consumers really have very few options when buying most software, because every piece of software other than open-source or GNU licensed stuff has the same EULAs.

I can't say "If you reply to this thread you agree to pay me £1000".

Your example is not analogous. What you're talking about has no value, and you don't possess the right to exclude people from the thread. IOW, you're not offering me a product or a service worth what you're asking, nor do you own what you're offering.

What contract? It's an EULA, not a contract. And it's really just an EUL, since there is not an agreement. If it was a contract, then I'd be signing it after I've crossed out the bit I don't like. I could do that anyway of course by copying to a separate file and editing, and that would make the EULA irrelevant.

A license agreement is a contract. A license is also a contract. If you edit it, it's a new agreement that the other party has to agree with, which I doubt they ever would.

If you dislike these agreements, either consciously break them and take your chances or go open source. In the US they are most likely valid and have been ruled as such, as I linked to above.

 

[croxis]

I have heard that in Germany EULA have no legal power as you did not agree to it at point of purchase.

That being said your best options to change this it to support companies which don't have such copy protection. Namely Stardock and Gas Powered Games (while their publisher insist on disk check, they remove it in a patch within a release of launch date).

 

[kuukkeli]

I have heard that in Germany EULA have no legal power as you did not agree to it at point of purchase.

I have a hunch that they have no legal power inside EU.