Sites that sell PC game CD keys

[admin]

I've come across a few sites that sell PC game CD-keys. These are keys only, apparently legit, but there's no game media/content and of course no box/manuals. The price is very attractive, because it's around half that of the boxed version.

These keys are sourced from places around the world, including Asia where game prices are lower, as well as damaged boxsets where the key is kept while everything else is destroyed.

The problem is that without the actual game content, one will have to source them from less than ethical means, including P2P, borrowing a friend's discs (some games have official downloadable versions to solve this problem). So even though the CD key is legal, the actual game content is obtained illegally.

Has anybody else tried this type of game purchasing, and what do people think of the legal ramifications (is download a game through P2P, but with a legitimate license, legal?).

[Chewy]

How do you verify the legality of these "keys"?

Sounds like a scam

[admin]

Apparently they work online, so they are apparently authentic and unique. I did a brief search, and there are half a dozen such stores online, one of them is also a pretty big gaming forum so it looks legit.

But you're not the first to ask this question, as I think most people think this when they see Red Alert 3 or Fallout 3's CD-Key on sale for $20.

[atifsh]

if u have legal cdkeys, getting the disk via p2p or else would make it legal. same as u do with windows xp. arnt many of u done that.
but its not as simple u dont have COA as off windows thus though ur activated windows is legal and will pass every online test, it still not 100% authentic... got confused me too

[admin]

I think this is a very grey area in terms of licensing. With purchased CD keys, you might even have to resort to cracks and the like to play the game without the CD/DVD (since you don't have it), even though you have a legitimate license.

[Chewy]

Back quite a few years ago, microsoft tried to make copying it's software cd's illegal,
US federal court ruled against them, after that I have seen "backup" copies for sale.

Using this as a yardstick I would assume the same thing would apply, once you own the cd key and liscense what media or file set you use to play would be of no legal significance

Most importantly don't rely on private companies or their representatives for legal opinions. Microsoft or game companies would rather sell you another copy. Too bad the same legal priciple hasn't been applied to dvd movies, maybe it will someday.

[atifsh]

Too bad the same legal priciple hasn't been applied to dvd movies, maybe it will someday.

i dont want to enter cdkey to watch my movie . or i didnt get ur post