When you buy a Humble Bundle, you're paying for a license to be used by one person for each game. Humble is awesome, and set up this cool thing where you get to use your license on whatever platform you wish that's available. You can get a Steam license, a Desura license, a DRM-free license, or even Origin license, but its intended to be ONE LICENSE for ONE PERSON. When you pay for one bundle and then let multiple people access the same games, it's piracy.

I see Desura keydrops here all the time, and I know they're duplicate licenses from Humbles. Now we get Origin keydrops everywhere. Witcher/Witcher 2 GOG backup codes on SteamTrades. Don't Starve Chrome keys. It's piracy. You're sharing a one-person license.

Humble is awesome, GOG/CD Projekt is awesome. Let's stop abusing their awesomeness. Encourage people to buy themselves instead of hunting for keydrops. And for the love of GabeN quit trying to profit off of them through trade.

EDIT: HEY, DO WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANT WITH YOUR KEYS. You're not going to get in trouble, you're not going to get arrested. When you share your licenses, it just makes most people who understand software licensing think you're an asshole. We're not going to stop you, we're not going to suspend you. The two suspensions below were because it's pretty damn disrespectful and stupid to do it in this thread. Have a good day, and thanks for the drama.

11 years ago*

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I was just about to drop a Desura key that I got from TremorGames. Would that count as piracy?

11 years ago
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No, read the thread.

11 years ago
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In reality, probably yes. I guess they "buy" bundles and give all the keys to different people.

11 years ago
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Yeah, I'm 99 percent sure that's what they do. I'm honestly shocked that they haven't gotten any cease and desist letters from any bundle guys.

11 years ago
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Yes, they're clearly getting profit from the bundle keys.

11 years ago
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A lot of people buy those bundles only for the purpose of posting them here on this site. So why would anyone want to send a cease and desist for that?

11 years ago
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there's a huge diference between single breaking of TOS and breaking TOS hundreds of times and what's more doing so for personal profit.

11 years ago
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Tremor doesn't make any money off of it. Basically they buy bundles and break them down which I think is a GREAT thing to do for Gala and Royale bundles since sometimes you're forced to pay $6 for only one or two games you really want. In fact, I actually asked the developer of the site and he said he hasn't even made back all the money he's put into the site yet.

11 years ago
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Why would you think Tremor doesn't make money off it?
They get you to watch $2-$3 worth of ads or offers or whatever you do, and in return they "sell" you a key they paid 12 cents for.
Reselling part or all of the bundle is prohibited by the terms you agree to when purchasing.

11 years ago
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If someone catches on on that there might be real issues for the site. This is the kind of thing one shouldn't really do. Just trading them or so is different bussiness...

11 years ago
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@ top, Right.... because thats why they gave you two legimate and seperate keys, instead of opting to give you an option of selecting between the two, you are receiving two liscences of the same game, both of which you have the ability to do what you chose with with the exception of duplicating, stop being a troll or learn to read basically ANY wording of liscencing. Simple thought before you start trying to worry people, maybe ask someone else "hey is this stupid".

11 years ago
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"All keys are for your personal use only."
this should be a fairly clear statement.

11 years ago
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How is he trolling? It says quite clearly on the Humble Bundle page "all keys are for your personal use ONLY." As far as I can see, the one who can't read any licensing wording is you. He isn't saying it's going to land you in prison, but you ARE breaking Humble Bundle's rules by giving away keys. The two keys that you are given are for your own exclusive use to activate on both platforms (Steam and Origin).

11 years ago
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To quote ageofarmageddon:

"There are only two ways to classify "use": Personal or Commercial.

Since "Commercial" would be re-selling the games/keys, Humble and the like are pretty much stating this is not allowed. Giving an item you bought to someone else as a free gift is not a commercial use, therefore it would fall under "personal use"."

11 years ago
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well jatan - I'm pretty sure we were getting response for this during some bundle frew months ago and the response was "NO, you may not give these keys away". They have no means to track usage of these keys, so it is safe to do, but is still breaking their TOS, according to which you may use the keys YOURSELF only. If you own some games already you should not use keys or use them on another of your PERSONAL accounts, as even if boying HIB for half games in a pack you're still getting unbelieveable discount.

11 years ago
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uhhh ok, drop your keys in steam chats then.

11 years ago
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Piracy is bad?
Depends, if the license is given to there friends for free, no its doing them a favor. If they are reselling it... Like i see on eBay for a quick buck, yeah thats piracy.

If its games from EA though, not many care for standards and bylaws xD

11 years ago
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It's doing them a favour? It's still sharing one license with more than one person.

11 years ago
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Yes, those evil, evil people at EA deserve nothing good. At all.

Even if they're giving away their games for charity and have thus far raised 5.5 million dollars. No, man. Fuck those assholes.

11 years ago
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What EA want from this bundle is new Origin users. If I don't plan on ever using Origin, and just redeem the Steam keys, then those evil people at EA get nothing good. At all. (Well, apart from the tax write-off and more copies/dollars to write smug press releases about). However, if I was to give my Origin keys away to some poor sap who would rather put up with Origin than spend $1 on getting their own Steam keys, then I have given EA what they want - an Origin user (albeit not one who is likely to provide much short-term revenue). Don't worry, since I'm not an EA fan, I don't plan on doing this.

11 years ago
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Stop acting like they ever paid anything. It's a bunch of keys, their value depends on the situation, it is inherently ZERO. This is a PR gig, nothing more. They didn't turn saints anytime, it's still money from people buying it, not from EA.

11 years ago
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well - i prefer such a PR gig than any other, as it is helping charities. Ofc EA have a bad PR. Ofc they want to buy some good PR back. But in the meantime it's generating milions of dollars towards charities - if you ask me it's the best way someone can buy his PR back in my eyes.

11 years ago
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+1 but stop with that EA sh*t

11 years ago
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Giving it away or sharing it with a friend is the same exact thing, just that you don't get any profit from it. This has been debated for years and will never get a solid answer, but the biggest argument is that you're stealing by costing them a sale. Your friend now will not buy the bundle and they won't see a dollar from him where they might have if you didn't give him the key.

11 years ago
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you're stealing by costing them a sale

What if they weren't going to buy it in the first place? What if playing their free copy of the game convinces them to actually buy a copy, or buy other games from the same publisher?

11 years ago
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That's not up to you to decide. If the company thought that was what happened, they'd give away free or near free copies. Video games often have demos and free weekends and things like that. Musicians often give out singles or albums for free. Why do you get to decide to give it away for free when the person who made the game clearly doesn't want it given away for free?

11 years ago
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Okay but like, let's say I have a friend who has parents who refuse to ever spend money on video games ever. He will never ever end up buying Medal of Honor himself, and certainly won't end up buying the Humble Origin Bundle. I have an extra Medal of Honor key that I have absolutely no use for, as I was given two keys and I have only one Origin account. Yes, of course I am still violating the ToS, but in practical terms, how does me giving my friend my extra key in any way hurt EA or Humble Bundle?

11 years ago
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It may not necessarily hurt them, but they clearly don't want their games distributed that way, so you're disrespecting them and breaking the rules and the law. What you're getting into now is a moral and philosophical argument over 'when, if ever, is it okay to break the law?' and I'm only partially equipped to deal with such an argument.

11 years ago
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"Law"
Depends on your country. And honestly even in the US ... Anti-Piracy campaigns are run by idiots

11 years ago
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Exactly. Suppose I bought Skyrim for Xbox when it came out--do I now, two years later, still have to buy a version if I want to play it on the PC? I don't think I should have to, yet I doubt Bethesda's lawyers would see it that way.

11 years ago
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So if I steal your PC/TV/whatever and sell it on ebay I'm a thief, but if I break into your house, steal your PC/TV/whatever and give it to my friend for free I'm no longer a criminal, I'm just doing my friend a favor?

11 years ago
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Thank you, Bobofat, for standing up for what is right.

11 years ago
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pffft, tell that to ppl who giveaway origin and desura keys in reddit then

11 years ago
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That's the thing about telling the truth. There's no guarantee that anyone is going to believe it, much less act on it.

11 years ago
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Yup. But you're right to support him in being truthful and right, regardless of the actions of others.

11 years ago
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This question has been brought up a looooooong time ago. Just don't go over that again, you just paid for your keys, you do what you want with them;

11 years ago
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If I redeem the Crysis 2 key on Steam for myself and then give the Origin key to a friend (or anyone), I have effectively received two copies for the price of one. I paid for one copy, not two, and the TOS is pretty clear.

11 years ago
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Not entirely as you knew going in you were buying a steam key AND an origin key

11 years ago
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You still bought one license nonetheless. They only gave you 2 different ways to access said licence.

11 years ago
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I completely disagree. If they wanted you to only redeem the game on one platform, they would somehow make sure you only redeem the game on one platform. By receiving a key for multiple platforms you are given the right to use both in any way you personally want to. This isn't an ethical "you're only supposed to use one of the keys" thing; this is strictly a "here's two keys for you to use" thing.

11 years ago
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'If they wanted you to only redeem the game on one platform, they would somehow make sure you only redeem the game on one platform.'

And that, ladies and gentlemen, how the worst forms of punitive DRM were born. Just keep on going 'creative' on the written form of agreements, and you'll get a personal lawyer with each game to read it out for you through a megaphone whilst you're playing.

11 years ago
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I don't agree with your second paragraph at all. By granting you two separate keys on separate platforms, Humble Bundle have given you two distinct licenses for the games. If they gave you a choice of whether to get a Steam or Origin key, how is that a "punitive DRM"?

11 years ago
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I'm only arguing that a punitive DRM would be to enforce the choice of the platform upon me, much like the gentleman above me suggested. I don't want to abuse the convenience of choice to have the next HIB ask me 'Do you want your games on Steam or Origin? Make your choice now!' upon purchase.

'By granting you two separate keys on separate platforms, Humble Bundle have given you two distinct licenses for the games.'

This is where I disagree with you philosophically, Jatan (sorry). I just don't think that the fact that two separate people can get two copies of the same game from one purchase automatically means that they may do so. I don't mean to sound snarky or anything, I actually find your interpretation quite valid; but only as far as interpretations go.

I know I'm not convincing anyone, but the way I see it, I'm buying a game, not a medium. Thus, a licence to using a game, rather than the medium it comes on. Like with those old games that gave you both a CD and a bunch of floppy diskettes in case you didn't have a CD-ROM. Or those even older games that gave you two identical floppy diskettes - one of them being a backup copy on the off chance the first one didn't work. I cannot imagine how far you have to stretch the definition of personal use for it to mean that it's okay to give that backup diskette to your friend just because the game devs were kind enough to make it for you. (I guess it depends on how okay one is with making 'backup copies' for their friends in general. Which, in its turn, will inevitably segway into the game reselling argument.) It's a convenience thing: I appreciate the choice, and I personally don't want to discourage this convenience by treating everything I can do as an explicit right.

My interpretation has its benefits, too, as it has the potential of making things medium-agnostic. When you purchase something, you purchase the licence to use it - and this just sounds elegant to me. When you decide to go from Origin to Steam, you should be able to carry over your stuff. Like when I e-mailed Cakewalk about my installation disc no longer being readable - they just gave me a digital copy, no questions asked. They shouldn't have to double-check whether I'll use that digital copy to save my friend a couple hundred quid at their expense. I can transfer my licence, sure. But split it? I wouldn't go that far.

11 years ago
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I didn't pay for one copy. I paid for a Steam version and an Origin version.

11 years ago
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For yourself, not for you and a second person.

11 years ago
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The main point of Humble is to raise money for charity, and it is very sad that people are squabbling over nothing. If Humble or the devs/publishers really cared then they would limit the bundles to "DRM-free only" or "steam keys only". Please get down off your high horse and see the bigger picture. Thanks and good night.

11 years ago
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being a gamer who has a bunch of dd services installed and accounts in several more, i really appreciate it when i get a game for as many of these as possible. i definitely wouldn't want the bundles to be limited drm-free only or steam-only.

11 years ago
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They did that, on some of the very first bundles you had to pick between getting Steam or Desura keys. They stopped that pretty much right away though.

11 years ago
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By giving away a key to a friend, you have effectively reduced the charitable contribution by at least $1. Now multiply that by thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people that stupidly think the way you do, and you have contributed to depriving the charity of thousands upon thousands of dollars.

You're a real nice guy!

11 years ago
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You seriously need to get off your high horse. They gave everyone two sets of keys for the games. They made that choice willingly. How many people buy multiple instances of the humble bundles and give the keys to friends? Should they not be able to do that because the license belong to them?

Seriously, you guys bitch about the most retarded shit.

11 years ago
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Buying multiple copies is completely different than buying one copy and splitting up the keys between more than one person. If you want to be unethical, be my guest.

11 years ago
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nope - you paid for your license, that is restricted by specific terms of use. Keys are just a part of the purchase you made.

11 years ago
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Hey kids, its " piracy " time!

Medal of Honor : 7QYQ-ZMX7-C9LK-76RT-TLTX

Crysis 2: CBFP-CZW7-SLCF-ACJ5-93CJ

Burnout Paradise: A5VV-BGDZ-QT2L-MPSR-KYG6

Enjoy them, because I sure as hell am not let the keys rot forever. Enjoy your games that are now yours and now you have a legal license as anyone else who bought it has. The keys are also mine and I do whatever I wish with them.

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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11 years ago
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thats awsome

11 years ago
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Thanks Man! I got MOH!

11 years ago
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This!
Just... EPIC!
Goodol' times.

11 years ago
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I hate how gamers all think they're allowed to have their cake and eat it too. "Oh, I bought it so I can do whatever I want! What's that? Their ToS specifically prohibits me from doing this and they say that if I don't agree to it I shouldn't buy it? Nah, I'll buy it anyway and completely ignore what they say because I deserve it and they're probably assholes anyway!"

11 years ago
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ToS are worth jack shit legally, so, yep.

11 years ago
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So what? If my friend says 'Please don't sleep with my girlfriend,' that means jack shit legally, too, but I'd be a total asshole if I didn't listen to him.

11 years ago
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Basically this. Just because you can do something and get away with it doesn't mean you're not a massive cunt for doing it.

11 years ago
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lol +1

11 years ago
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If we're talking solely on a moral level here, I have bought plenty of Humble Bundles and don't feel bad giving a few extra copies of a game to someone who probably wouldn't have bought the bundle even if I didn't give them my extras.

11 years ago
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That's exactly why piracy is so rampant while things like shoplifting are comparatively low. First off, it's easy, but more importantly, most people see it as a victimless crime.

Also, trading away extra copies (as in, you already own dead space so you give it away, not keeping the steam version and trading away the desura version) is more of a gray area that the bundle guys have yet to weigh in on. It's things like this where Person A buys bundle and gets Steam copy and then gives away Origin or Desura codes to Person B and C so 3 people play in exchange for only 1 purchase that are definitely piracy.

11 years ago
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you know that you can buy a bundle as a gift, right?

11 years ago
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Bravo, sir :)

11 years ago
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+1. Priceless analogy!

11 years ago
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Except your friend doesn't try to get you to accept a bullshit "legal" contract. He asks you to do it because it's the right thing to do, not because there's gonna be punishment if you do it. Now if game companies tried that approach, it might actually work.

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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I don't understand your reply.

11 years ago
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Social contract essentially states that by living in a civilization, you're agreeing to adhere to a set of rules. For example, when you were born, did you ever sign anything saying you agreed with the laws of your country? No, you didn't. It's simply understood that by living somewhere, you agree to that society's rules or face their consequences. By being friends with someone, you're nonverbally agreeing to a contract not to be an asshole to them. The only difference between this and that is that Humble Bundle actually wants to formalize the agreement, but most people just spit in their face anyway.

11 years ago
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It's the formalizing that's the problem. First, does it need to be formalized? I think not. Only reason to formalize it is to use it in legal cases. Second, even if formalized, does it need to be pointlessly convoluted? The Humble ToS use the typical legal mumbo jumbo speak that the vast majority of humans simply cannot read. If they want me to follow the terms of a contract that's designed to be so unreadable that I just skip it, I'm going to respond by not following them whenever it suits me and I can get away with it.

11 years ago
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I can read the ToS and I'm not even that smart. In the ToS the company wants to cover their ass, so they need to be specific and use legal terms that have a precise definition so it protects them and informs the user what exactly is going on. You can not follow the terms all you want, but don't get angry when people call you out on it.

11 years ago
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one of the best comments I've seen on SG ever. BRAVO!

11 years ago
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Exactly this, especially since Humble Bundle doesn't force you to accept their ToS. Unless you happen to scroll to the bottom of their website and click the link, you will never even be aware that Humble Bundle has a ToS. And that's exactly how this would be seen if it were taken to court.

11 years ago
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Again, so what? If you only do things because they're technically legal, your friends all probably think you're an asshole. Are you gonna go around flipping random people off telling kids to fuck off because it's legal?

11 years ago
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I don't think giving someone a 20 character code is on the same level as flipping random people off and whatnot.

11 years ago
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So you just admitted that even though some things are legal, it's not okay to do them despite that. Some people think that this is one of those things that you shouldn't do even if it's legal. You clearly don't, and nothing I say will change that. It's as simple as that.

11 years ago
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That's fair. I at least draw the line at profiteering, and only give away my extra keys for free (as opposed to selling the bundle at higher prices like those jerks that bobo found), with the hope that they will only be taken by people who don't have the means to buy the bundles themselves.

I can totally understand why people would be morally opposed to giving away these spare keys. I personally just feel that it's also wrong for me to sit here with extra game licenses that I'll never use, while someone else sits there wishing they had the means to buy games for themselves.

11 years ago
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If you feel that strongly about it, you could always just buy a whole bundle for them >.> That way everyone's as happy as possible!

11 years ago
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But then I'm still sitting here with unused licenses that someone else somewhere could be making better use of.

11 years ago
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Even if it's true that Humble Bundle's ToS is worth jack shit in a legal sense, would it kill you to oblige them and do as they ask?

11 years ago
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i agree with bernardo, he bought them and they are all paid for, so he can do what he wants with them

11 years ago
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It's too bad this is a thread about what one should do, and not what one can do.

11 years ago
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+1

11 years ago
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Suspended for Freedom of speech! Yay America, the land of the free to do what we tell you and nothing more... :D

11 years ago
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Suspended for promoting piracy in a thread about exactly that and showing utter disregard for staff? Absolutely.

11 years ago
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The issue is there's no line in the rules on here to prevent it. It's an assumption that it's piracy and that's all. Therefore you are abusing your power and control, just like the american government does... Either update your actual rules or unban him?

11 years ago
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Firstly, it's not an assumption; it's an obvious fact that you can't figure out because you're too goddamn stupid. Refer to my reply to you above, and maybe the version for kindergarteners will hit home. Secondly, no, fuck you, we can suspend anyone any time we like for any reason or no reason at all. Your use of this private website is a privilege and not a right, and we don't have to spell out everything in the rules like, "If you come into a thread where the staff are discouraging an activity and engage in that activity, you might get suspended for being a fucking prick and demonstrating contempt for them."

11 years ago
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That was refreshing, thank you. Seriously, fuck morons who believe they can act like total jerks just because it's not against the written rules.

11 years ago
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well - I've seen wbarton going into rage-mode - now I may die in peace o.O

11 years ago
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The suspending mod is not American, the majority of the staff is not American, the admin isn't even in America. Good effort though.

11 years ago
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In addition, the person suspended is not American either.

11 years ago
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but the person commenting have american flag in his avatar - coincidence? I don't think so! ;p

11 years ago
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And if I already had a copy of the game?

11 years ago
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TOS states that it's for personal use only so theoretically you should just let the key rot there forever. But, if you're giving away the game to someone, you should be giving that person both keys as they come from the same purchase. (Or give one and never use the other)

11 years ago
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When humble gave away desura keys I just let them rot. I'll probably do the same with my origin keys that go unused.

11 years ago
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I asked this question in Humble Bundle Support, because some games in bundles I own was same. They answered: "Our Steam keys do not generate giftable copies on Steam or through Humble Bundle. Please consider your bundle a “unit” and not to share copies of the games or Steam keys from it."

11 years ago
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Yet they stopped using one key for the entire bundle...

11 years ago
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it's up to the company providing threm with keys to their games, not up to them.

while they can act as a "manager" to few indie studios and request steam in their name to create additional sub for the pack i believe that companies like EA would rather manage such a things themselves rather than letting smaller company selling indie games for charity manage their business stuff.

11 years ago
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Agreed, bobo. Thank you.

I never saw a big problem giving away individual bundle keys (I could be convinced otherwise, perhaps), but yeah. If someone is already using one key for the game, then good grief, don't abuse that.

Anyway...thanks for being good peoples and setting a good example.

11 years ago
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It's too big an issue. The community has always been split on this and it's not going to change anytime soon.

11 years ago
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I'm assuming you mean the individual keys and not the dual use of keys in separate DRM UIs. If so, then I understand.

11 years ago
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The community is split because its free games. Free games will always win out over morals or ethics. For that matter, free anything will win out. Human nature being what it is will always make this true, whether it was 3000 years ago, today or 3000 years from now (I have my doubts that humans will still be around then though).

That being said, all HB has to do is just give one code, one key. All ToS problems solved, all moral and ethical and piracy issues solved. I don't understand what keeps them from doing this. Maybe someone can enlighten and/or correct me.

11 years ago
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Right. Okay. So the community is split between those with a moral compass and those without.

Free games do NOT always win out over morals and ethics. Those that choose to adhere to a code will choose not to compromise it.

But I understand your point, regardless.

11 years ago
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The keys they give are to 2 separate game licenses. It's not like GOG where your key for is used again for a drm free copy, or like the Origin keys you get from your Steam copies. That means you have 2 sets of Origin keys (for some of the games) and one of them is licensed to you through Steam. Edit: I'm talking about the ones you redeem on Steam that can also be used on Origin, and the ones you can use just on Origin. These are separate.

It's silly that piracy is being cried about this now and not during every previous bundle that everyone greedily accepted, and performed, key drops for. Significant point being that it's not sharing a dual license, and crying the humble bundle TOS blues does not give any of the sheeple a high ground. Otherwise bundle keys would be re-banned here. So with the HIB TOS out of the way, it comes down to the invalid dual license argument. That pretty much ends it.

11 years ago
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What makes you say they are two separate licenses? My interpretation was as bobo's. That is that it is the same license available to play on two different DRM UIs.

So ^this is the argument. Not the HB TOS. That's a separate issue entirely.

As much as it might behoove you to invalidate the OPs license argument by divine decree, I don't really think that's a logical argument.

That being said, I'm all ears on whether you can actually prove that these are dual licenses and not two keys for the same license. My assumption was the latter. I may be wrong, but I see no proof in your argument above.

11 years ago
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When you use some of the games on Steam, you can use that very same cd-key on Origin either by inputting it, running the game or contacting EA support. We can call this the Steam License, or License 1. Trading this kind of key is the argument that Mr. bobo is trying to speak against. However, he extends it over to License 2 - the Origin only keys. These are not the same activation licenses as the Steam keys.

So you can make the Steam/Desura key argument and that would be analogous, but not the GOG/shared licenses or the Humble Bundle TOS one. What happens is that everyone gets all of these facts confused and start putting every argument together mindlessly and zealously. I haven't seen anyone punished for activating Desura keys and giving away the Steam copies over the last year+. Only now that it's Origin and AAA games involved are people deciding to get silly with their political views.

11 years ago
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MB,

Again, where is the proof that these are separate licenses. I understand that the are physically separate keys, but at no point have I seen that they are identified as separate licenses.

If/when that point is clarified in your favor (in the argument), then I will most certainly agree with you. Until then, my default assumption is one of caution against abuse, and therefore erring on the side of bobo's perception in the matter.

And yes, I agree. The HB TOS is not analogous. We are in agreement there. I can't speak to the Desura issue as I'm completely ignorant to it. Sounds like you're accurate in saying that there may be some inconsistent enforcement policy in that regard. Or at least previously unformed policy/commentary.

11 years ago
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You're free to continue agreeing with him, though the point is to recognize that the same reason for linking the 2 as 1 license in that argument is the same reasoning for why viewing them separately is valid as well. Just don't be like the others and get your panties in a bunch over it. :)

11 years ago
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Agreed on the point that, much like God, we don't know one way or another with certainty. :)

I just like to err on the side of honesty.

So as an in-kind parting word, just don't be like the others and be a douche about it. :)

11 years ago
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Thank you bobo. I grew tired of explaining this obvious fact to people..

11 years ago
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Anyone want a Dead Space Origin key? 8QZH-XWPU-NWZE-7WZG-NB4H

Oh, right... the thread.

11 years ago
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thanx!

11 years ago
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derp

11 years ago
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Bye

11 years ago
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lol wut o.o
Suspended for dropping an origin key. Should've listened to me then and just drop those keys in steam chats after a mod makes a thread about dropping bundle keys same as piracy

11 years ago
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well mon, you got to see the difference. It's the topic about specific issue with specific afguments pointed, and while some ppl discuss it (towards and agains gives statement) this comment was just "fuck you bitch, you don't run my life" troll attemt.

We have to consider conditions not just facts. It's totally different things to state your opinion about license fraudment or even posting a key anywhere (I personally am divided, on one hand I hate game licences, as they're usually created against consumer, on the other hand exploiting HIB which is a charity bundle is imho morally wrong) it would be ok. But responding to well argumented thread with "fuck you, here's a key" attitude is simply anti-social trolling. I guess he got suspended for this specific attitude not because he gave away a key from HIB.

11 years ago
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How is it piracy if keys grant 1 license only...?
Also yes, what if you already own a game in a bundle? It's like saying giving away gifts that came with a Steam pre-order is piracy.

11 years ago
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No, it's one license but over multiple keys.

11 years ago
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Read your post again. Then read the OP again. And then read your post again.

11 years ago
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Nothing wrong with my post. If the OP referred to the DRM-Free games only (which can be downloaded and copied multiple times without redeeming any keys) then my post would be incorrect.

11 years ago
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Licenses and Keys are two different things. Technically you're only getting 1 license even if they're giving you 3 keys. You would be able to play a less than legal copy if you own a legal license, but you can't play a legal copy if you don't own a license.

For example, if you buy Starcraft you get 1 key and 1 license. Your disc breaks, so you download a cracked copy. This is a copy with no key, but since you have a license, it's still legal. If, however, you download a keygen without buying a copy, that's against the law since you don't have any license for the game.

Edit: Eh, I looked at my post again and didn't think the second example was good. It's more like if your friend has a game that has a 3 machine activation limit and you borrow the game to install it on your computer without buying it yourself so 2 people get to play even though only 1 license was purchased.

11 years ago
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when you buy a game in preorder you usually have stated "own the game already? give it to your friend", while here you have clearly stated that it's one licence and it's for your personal use only.

So yeah - like you stated - it's the same thing...

11 years ago
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amen

11 years ago
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Sharing Desura keys is piracy? I didn't know that. Thanks for the heads up.

11 years ago
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Only if you keep the Steam key for yourself. If you only get a Desura key and you give it away or trade it, I think that's still okay.

11 years ago
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Yeah, true.

11 years ago
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They gave me a set of keys for origin and a set of keys for steam so basically I paid for 2 keys of each game, at that time its up to me if i want to use them myself or give them away. they aren't copies so it is not piracy lol.

11 years ago
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You do realize that by purchasing a bundle you agree to some terms and conditions, one of them being you are not allowed to do just that?

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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But what about people who want it over multiple platforms?

11 years ago
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You only need one to play the game. Just saying.

11 years ago
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Backup copies, and big ePenis in every platform is important too!

11 years ago
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and what if some of my friends use steam to play a specific game and some use origin and I want to play it with all of them regardless the platform?

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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:(

11 years ago
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why would u need one game on multiple platforms???????

11 years ago
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If you can't figure out why, it is very sad.

11 years ago
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e-peen, backup, ability to play the game with your friends regardless if they have a game on steam or origin.

11 years ago
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how about buying it twice then?

11 years ago
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How about no?

11 years ago
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Oh no, $2 instead of $1.

11 years ago
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And what about BTA? Either way, why should I need to spend money for a backup copy? :|

And if 1$ is nothing to you it doesn't mean everyone can just throw away extra dollar like that.

11 years ago
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well, if you're spending 1$ for multiple AAA games worth well over 100$ usually the least you can do is to respect the goddamn rules. Not to mention the fact that "saving" this 1$ you're not taking it away from big bad company but from the freaking charity.

11 years ago
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I don't see this as so black & white considering
A. It's EA
B. Why give keys for both platforms when you need only 1 key on either platform to play the game?
That's like giving out 2 physical copies to every customer and then saying don't give the other one to anyone else.

Edit: How is this a PSA, it's only your opinion :|

11 years ago
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I'm not getting into A, partly because it's been discussed to death already, but B is because if EA only gave out Origin keys, they'd miss out on tons of sales. If they give out some Steam keys and some Origin keys more people will buy for the Steam keys and then people will install Origin so the other keys don't go to waste.

11 years ago
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Steam keys once activated give you an Origin key as well. That key can be considered for the purpose you're referring to, as backup or enticing people to use Origin. The Origin key on humble however still remains un- accounted for by that logic.

11 years ago
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Your analogy would make perfect sense if the physical copies were different: One on a disc and one on a thumbdrive.

It's about choice and convenience.

11 years ago
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Considering the Steam key eventually gives an Origin key in addition to the original, I would say my analogy is perfect. How would a disc be different from a thumb anyways? They both get installed on your PC. You must mean one on PC, one on Mobile or something.

11 years ago
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It's not so hard to understand. Someone might have a PC without a disc drive.

Are you getting it yet? It's like different distribution platforms, you know...

11 years ago
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It being EA or not doesn't matter.

Humble has always given you the option of letting you play your game on the platform of your choice, whenever possible. It's usually Steam/Desura/DRM-free. This time it's Steam/Origin, and with Origin being a more popular client, and people finding out how to get extra keys, the sharing has been rampant this time around.

The PSA was really because the last thread opened up about getting extra Origin keys and sharing them was titled PSA, so it was really a reference to that. Removed because this isn't actually to be an enforced site policy, even though the moderation team agrees on the issue.

11 years ago
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A: Stealing from Hitler doesn't make you any less of a thief.
B: People would pitch a fit about not getting to have the games on every platform if they weren't made available. Have you really never seen people frothing at the mouth when a game gets Greenlit and they're waiting on their bundle keys to get backfilled?

And it's a fact, not an opinion. Sharing a work that was licensed to you with others without the owner's consent is piracy.

11 years ago
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Empathy should be taught in grade school. In short supply nowadays.

11 years ago
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Unfortunately, that's not the only thing in grade school which is in short supply. Too many parents dump their children off at school and expect the teachers to fill in for all the parenting the kids aren't getting at home.

You can't fish without a license, but the only requirement for parenthood is hormones.

11 years ago
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It's just fascinating to me that math and science are idols, while communication and empathy are absent.

It's why when I go to the doctor, the guy tries to push pharmaceuticals on me and can barely carry on a conversation that sounds human. Bedside manner class is naptime in med school.

But we digress.

11 years ago
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they should have made it so you have to CHOOSE which platform you want the game on instead of giving you both

then after choosing, the other platform gets voided out so you cant unlock the key

11 years ago
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Then most people would probably choose Steam, but EA hopes that by doing the bundle it would get more Origin users by also giving out Origin keys alongside Steam keys.

11 years ago
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Has it occurred to you that EA wants as many Origin keys in circulation as possible?

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Guess almost all of my Origin keys will just go to waste then since I'm not "allowed" to give them to anyone.

11 years ago
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or you may just activate them on Origin like you agreed on in ToS.

11 years ago
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without DRM -> no multiple keys

stop overwhelm people, real pirates are millionaire.

11 years ago
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You can actually get 2 Origin keys for Crysis 2, MoH and Burnout. When you select them in the Steam library, there should be a "CD-key" section to the right. The key from there should also work when activated on Origin. I read Dead Space should also have a CD-key in the Windows registry that should work on Origin, but I couldn't find it. So yeah, they do give you keys to use on Origin and Steam, but at the end of the day, you still have spare keys. What are you supposed to do with them? Make a second Origin account just to use them or never use them?

11 years ago
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We know, bobofatt made this thread in response to other threads (such as mine, which was surprisingly closed down) which advertised this.

11 years ago
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I always kinda' figured this was the case and so didn't offer up any keys for games I actually used from a bundle. Meaning that, if I kept a game, I kept every version the bundle included and didn't give out the unused keys from other platforms.

11 years ago
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Quick question bobo, if I redeemed the Steam key versions and gave out the origin versions of games I didn't activate, would that be okay? IE Battlefield and Sims, which don't have a Steam key equivalent.

11 years ago
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Regardless of what bobo thinks, that's definitely a separate issue from what he addressed. FWIW.

11 years ago
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That's more of an issue of interpreting/violating Humble's ToS. Personally, I'm on the side that says that's okay, that giving one of the games you're not going to play to a friend falls under the realm of "personal use". If only ONE PERSON is using the license for the game, it's fine.

11 years ago
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Yeah, I really wish one of the bigger bundle guys would send out a press release (or something) saying definitively if they condone that kind of thing.

11 years ago
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Overuse of the word Awesome

11 years ago
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Barney Stinson does not agree with you.

11 years ago
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Not trying to defend people who give away certain keys and stuff. (Cause I'm certainly guilty of it.)

But if they want to avoid these keydrop things, why don't they do what they used to do (Or did with deep silver bundle) and make it so it's one key only for all the games?
With the multiple key things, people will have keys just sitting there doing nothing, if they already own the game.

11 years ago
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Yeah. Deep Silver/Humble handled that very well, I thought.

11 years ago
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Yes this. I saw many people nagging about the one key per bundle thing. But i think it's a good idea. So you only have to enter one key. Hurray! Seriously, it's a lot clearer when you just have 1 key instead of 10 keys on one page.

11 years ago
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Agreed. I thought it was a good move on their part, and should be done as a matter of course.

11 years ago
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Personally, I don't buy the "I must find a use for every key I can get my paws on" argument. That's like the person at the shelter who, instead of taking one bottle of juice from the case and leaving the rest to others, seizes the entire thing and runs off to stash it for him or herself. The idea is to use what you need, not compete to see who can use the most. In the case of the Humble Bundle, it's expected that one person will get a copy of each game on the platform of his or her choice. Whether that "one person" should be the same for each and every game is a grey area.

11 years ago
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In this bundle, it would be one key for all games on Steam, and one key for all games on Origin. The problem would remain the same, as you would be able to activate the Steam key on your account, and give the Origin key to someone else.

11 years ago
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Still they wouldn't be spread out to 20 different people lol. So it would be a lot less people doing it. :p

11 years ago
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This unlicensed giving away of keys is only piracy in as much as it's a fictitious arbitrary victimless oh-so-heinous crime.

Oh so SERIOUS BUSINESS! Especially when another license for BTA games can be bought for one dollar! Ready the pitchforks, this kills the game industry!!! facepalm

Imho giving away bundle keys is only like piracy in one way: It doesn't destroy the industry and the best way to deal with it is out-compete it. Or just ignore it. Either way, I disagree that it's evilbad. Or harmful.

Lastly, remember the origins of the Humble Bundle. They were always about no DRM, so you could share your games with select friends (pretty sure they okeyed that in their FAQs). Giving away surplus keys for platforms you don't use is in that spirit, especially here on SteamGifts where people pay it forward. I'm pretty sure Gabe approves of this too.

tl;dr: Calm down, we are just all paying it forward :).

PS.: The three games I gave away sofar were games I didn't want, download nor install from the bundle. So I guess I haven't done what you lament, but I'm pretty sure both equally violate the Humble Bundle TOS.

11 years ago
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I don't think you get concept of software licensing at all. This way I could just share my DRM free GOG games with half of the internet. DRM free doesn't mean freeware, but simply unprotected copy, yet it shares same copy licensing as any DRM protected software.

11 years ago
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More like: software licenses don't get reality and are a codified denial of the real world where people share stuff they enjoy with their close loved ones without giving a fuck about egregiously outdated laws.

Privately sharing a DRM-free game with a small number close friends is not the same as putting it up on a filesharing network or filehoster. And the former is actually legal here in Germany ("Privatkopie", up to 6 people).

:-P

11 years ago
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The lack of personal responsibility and the ability to shift blame for said lack of responsibility assures my faith in humanity is damn near lost.

I guess the fine ironic humor in it is that this is the new generation of CEOs like those that run companies like EA.

11 years ago
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Closed 11 years ago by bobofatt.