gbaz69: Then should we disregard the issue and just let people buy/sell and take risks themselves, instead of babysitting everyone?
I'm not sure what you are trying to say, but what we _should_ do is pretty simple:
- Enjoy swapping duplicates of games here
- Being thankful that GOG lets us do that even though it has a potential of getting them in trouble with publishers they depend on
- NOT trying to force GOG into official rules about this issue (because they will be worse than the status quo)
- Stopping pointless discussions about this
gbaz69: Still, if a blue has the power to punish people for breaking rules that are not even officially listed within the site (not just some random forum post), it needs to be addressed.
Erm ... what? This site is GOG's property, you're a guest in their house.
Of course GOG's staff can "punish" you for anything you do that they deem inacceptable, and
of course there doesn't need to be an exhaustive list of transgressions. Have you read GOG's terms of use (specifically the "termination of access at any time for any reason" part), or those of any comparable business that provides a forum? It's very nice of GOG that they use this "power" very rarely and that they treat their community with respect and care, but
of course they have the right and the power to "punish" you, you've given it to them when you signed up and accepted the terms of use. There is nothing that "needs to be addressed" except perhaps some misconceptions on your part, I'm afraid.
gbaz69: Legally, I'm sure any kind of price fixing, or measures to prevent people from selling owned goods is illegal (except for actual laws, like for drugs/firearms).
What's your legal expertise? Did you take into account that different countries have very different laws about this? Did you take into account that even countries that do have laws against retail price maintenance, often do allow vertical RPM, and/or provide exceptions? Did you take into account that many laws only affect physical products, while the items we are talking about here are mostly not even digital products, but subscriptions (which, by definition, are tied to a user)? Did you take into account that most online stores don't actually "resell" goods because they aren't buying them from the publisher in the first place? You are making a pretty bold legal statement here, what's your exact source?
In any case, what's more important is that laws about RPM aren't terribly relevant here, because if a publisher doesn't like what GOG is doing (or tolerating in their forums), they can very easily stop doing business with them, completely regardless of any RPM laws.
Look, I don't want to get into a "fight" with you and I'm sorry if I sound harsh. I think you're a nice guy, probably nicer than I am. But I have to say that your approach to resales, trade laws, terms of use, and your status as a user of a company's online forum, seems a bit naive. I would recommend to thoroughly read the terms of use of the places you frequent and/or from where you buy, and perhaps read up a bit on the legal situation (though that will be difficult because it currently is, frankly, a mess).