There are a few free game demos that are no longer available here on GOG that I downloaded a while back. Is one allowed to share those free game demos? I would think so since they were a demo and were free of charge, but it does have a GOG installer so that is why I ask. An example would be uploading a game demo from GOG to a file share website for anyone to download. Thanks for any constructive info.

I'm thinking not since even though they were free, there was more than likely some kind of distribution agreement in place between GOG and the pubs/devs. Which may be a reason they're no longer offered. I'd suggest contacting GOG Support to see what they say about it though.

Thanks. Just sent an email to GOG support.

If GOG has a problem with that I have a problem with them. Demos make the world go 'round. I buy games after playing demos that people give me.

Surprisingly, some people are prickly about distribution agreements, even on free goods.

Completely agree with you and it is sad I had to ask, BUT it has a GOG front end installer and as some have said companies have become almost absurd with how they want their products distributed even in demo form, widespread promotion of their product be damned. It will be interesting what GOG has to say about it.

I think it depends on what is meant by "distribute". If it means giving it to friends and family, then at worst they simply won't bother and at best they'd be happy you're promoting their game.

However, the author wrote "uploading a game demo from GOG to a file share website for anyone to download" and there they might rightly have objections. They might not want to associate themselves with the website since they have no control of other content that the author puts there (they might not want their demo to be downloaded from a site that also offers warez or porn for example); they might be concerned about the site's security which might cause malware to be downloaded with their demo; they might be concerned about ads, "wait 30 secs for your download" or other crap; they might want to be sure that if a bug is found in the demo and they fix it, the author quickly updates it on his site too... etc

I'll admit, those are all valid points.

sound logic...

Very good points. What I was hoping to do is put a demo in Dropbox for people in a forum to download since it is not available anymore. I was wondering if that is legal.

That would definitely qualify as making copies of the work, so it would only be permitted if the rightsholder granted a license to do so (or the work is clearly in the public domain). As discussed above, some rightsholders are eager to have their work seen and shared, and will readily grant such a license with fairly generous terms (e.g. no requirement that you account how many people get copies, no payment required, etc.). Other rightsholders will, for various reasons, be picky and not grant useful licenses even when such refusal is arguably contrary to their best interest. When in doubt, get a written statement of consent from an officer of the rightsholder. Generally, that means not just some level one Customer Service Representative, but rather someone with a title that suggests they are involved in signing business relationship contracts.

You have not yet said which game or publisher is under discussion. While awaiting an answer from GOG support, you could explore the publisher's site to see if they offer a free download of the demo from their site. If they do, then instead of uploading your GOG-supplied copy of the demo, point your users to the publisher's site.

I'd have the caveat of leading them to the horse's mouth, at the very least.

Yep. As predicted, GOG wants us to ask the publisher or the dev which makes sense.