Is it illegal to torrent a game I've purchased? I wanted to install Oblivion, but my disc was scratched and it won't install past 65% or so.

Actually I've been told that if you can prove that you own the game legally it's not illegal to download a torrent of it.

Illegal? Possibly. Morally wrong? Not in the slightest.

I just don't really understand why it would be illegal to download a game I already own. I've already given the developers their profit from my purchase, and it's not like I'm stealing it.

It's probably illegal. I can sort of see it going like this:

"You were downloading this game illegally. Pay up 10000000000000000000000000$ or go to jail."
"But I owned the game! It got scratched!"
"I see. Well, someone has to be arrested... Hmmm..."
A couple minutes later they drag the site's owner away. He turns to you and says "ASSHOOOOOOOLE!"

xitel:
Actually I've been told that if you can prove that you own the game legally it's not illegal to download a torrent of it.

Actually, that's a common misconception.

xitel:
Actually I've been told that if you can prove that you own the game legally it's not illegal to download a torrent of it.

the law is kinda iffy on that rule... usually it depends on if the developer decides to press charges.(and they almost never do)

No, You can download ROMS of old games you've bought for old consoles like Genesis etc. legally, So I don't see how this is any different.

Its more or less the same question about disc images. But as far as Im concerned, xitel takes the cake. If you can prove that you own it, as far as anyone is concerned, you just made a disc image of it. (but that would fail, as your disc is damaged) Download away.

NewClassic:

xitel:
Actually I've been told that if you can prove that you own the game legally it's not illegal to download a torrent of it.

Actually, that's a common misconception.

That to me says nothing about downloading a game if you can prove ownership by means of a receipt or a credit card bill. This happened to me, when I downloaded a game I owned, but when I faxed a copy of my credit card bill showing the game charged to my card they decided not to press charges, so I don't know if it's illegal or not.

xitel:

NewClassic:

xitel:
Actually I've been told that if you can prove that you own the game legally it's not illegal to download a torrent of it.

Actually, that's a common misconception.

That to me says nothing about downloading a game if you can prove ownership by means of a receipt or a credit card bill. This happened to me, when I downloaded a game I owned, but when I faxed a copy of my credit card bill showing the game charged to my card they decided not to press charges, so I don't know if it's illegal or not.

To quote the article:

The Article:
This backup/archival copy exception is a very narrow limitation relating to a copy being made by the rightful owner of an authentic game to ensure he or she has one in the event of damage or destruction of the authentic game

I'm pretty sure it is

Meh. I do that all the time with SNES games. I own EarthBound, but I only get to play games in between classes so I downloaded the Rom. As far as I see it, it's an obsolete game in which Nintendo has already profited off of me for purchasing.

Go ahead and pirate till your legs fall off with scurvy.

If they can get money for it, they'll say it's illegal.

bkd69:
Illegal? Possibly. Morally wrong? Not in the slightest.

Mor...als?

What are these things you speak of?

I suppose it depends on where you live. If you're somewhere where you won't get monitored, do you care if it's legal?

If its legal to make a copy of an original cd to keep as backup, it's pretty dumb for a torrent to be considered illegal.