Legal Question

**Prussian to the Iron** · 08-29-2009, 17:57

Hey everybody,

1st off: No, I have not had a run-in with the law. I simply have a question about the legality of something before I do it.

So here's what's up:

Empire Earth 1, which I bought several years ago (I think maybe 2002-2003) has unfortunately been lost, and I have been wanting to play it for a while now. So, I was wondering if, since I already bought it at full price before, it is legal in the U.S. to download it for free.

My reasoning is that I have already paid for it; why should I have to pay an extra $19.99 USD to play a game I already bought? It seems that a simple matter of not knowing where the disk is should not forbid me from playing the game. That is simply not the era we live in.

I have already found a good website and easy format to download and install it, so that is not an issue. I simply need to know if it is legal.

Thanks!

**Beskar** · 08-29-2009, 18:01

Don't tell, won't ask.

You are allowed to make back-ups for personal use, I believe. However, for legality reasons, I believe you have to have proof that you purchased it.

EULA's/etc are a different matter, however.

**Iskander 3.1** · 08-29-2009, 18:16

If you had the box, manual, etc. it might hold up in a court of law, if worse comes to worse...but aren't threads like these against .org policy?

**Prussian to the Iron** · 08-29-2009, 18:19

well I was just asking what is and isn't legal before commiting what might be a crime, and I don't think theres anything wrong with that.

But if it were up to you guys and you knew I had previously bought the game, would you let me off?

**Tratorix** · 08-29-2009, 19:09

Unfortunately, it doesn't matter. It's too bad that you lost your game, but downloading it is illegal and discussing it here is against org rules. Also, this should probably be in the Arena.

**Sigurd** · 08-29-2009, 22:03

This thread does not belong here. Away to the ETW section.

**pevergreen** · 08-30-2009, 03:39

I dont see how it belongs here either.

Check your state law. It will vary.

However, chances are: no.

Can you prove it? Do you have a receipt of your purchase.

Even if you have the box and manual, may not mean much. Could be your friends.

Regardless, this is an iffy topic, it may be closed.

For example, in Australia we are allowed to make one copy of any form of media. So if we buy an album, we are legally allowed to burn it to our iPods etc, whereas in other countries, you may not be.
This includes print media

**Prussian to the Iron** · 08-30-2009, 21:31

that sucks. thanks for telling me anyway before I did something illegal :)

@Sigurd: E:TW section? wtf? I'm talking about Empire Earth, not Empire: Total War. You cannot tell me you've never heard of Empire Earth?

**pevergreen** · 08-30-2009, 23:22

Empire Earth is not a groundbreaking title. AoE is much more known.

Also, not a good idea to be disrespectful to moderators. Especially beserker moderators.

**Prussian to the Iron** · 08-31-2009, 14:37

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be disrespectful, I just think he misunderstood and thought I met E:TW.

Yes, AoE is much more well known, but no new ones came out from 1999 until 2007, so Empire Earth was very popular up until the 3rd one. I personally like the 1st ones graphics better anyway; simple, but nice.