And with this they are backstabing themself. You can easily make an alternative account for things like this. And yet they will not ban you ;)

Yeah, that's what I was thinking...wasn't this the exact reason why he got banned? Otherwise, I'd be totally up for it.

That's what she said. (That joke never gets old, even twice a day).

If you would make a very basic site. More of a forum with a good thread structute, you might get away with it. I mean, piratebay is running on this argumentation. Memeber get voted on succesffull "deals" and you simply use a simply "question/answer" structure like GOG has.

The user, however, would than be in the hotbed. The point is, we are all cushioned by the law, because we are "end users" or "consumers". After a certain amount of "deals" a member would become a trader of reseller, which could lead to all kind of nasties. Steam and GG could shut down their account (rightfully, btw, you are in a deep violation of the SSA).

A working solution would be that the account on your trade page isn't linked to a GG and Steam account. Each member would need "throwaway" Steam/GG accounts that could be used until it would be noticed. Ideally the "trade site" would also give out email adresses, because you would be burning through those rather fast. But eventually email form that site wouldn't be accepted anymore.

Than you would need an anomynous payment method (paysafecards, eg) to avoid traces through payment options. Because in a last ditch effort Steam/GG could try to get damages (and after a quick breakdown in my head) and they could just maybe make something stick. At least there would be enough of a risk to avoid that.

All in all, that could do it.

If there is a suspicious activity, they can revoke the gift. They have done so for suspicious games/keys before. Don't forget that you are trading games across regions, and it is more regulated then within regions (for obvious reasons). I am not saying you should not do it, I am saying that Steam is highly regulated and monitored, so do not assume it will be risk free.

Steam ban you for payments ...so nothing is Risk free ;)

I can tell you this.

1. I have asked many people, looked myself etc. and NEVER found ANY evidence that trading/gifting games between regions violates EULA/ToS/whatever.
2. Valve treats this as a "grey zone" matter. Them banning that individual from Russia without any explanation was my decision to move from Steam to somewhere with more opportunities to actually use what you purchase despite something someone might suspect somewhere (GOG). I have gathered lots of interesting evidence of stories how and why people were banned in Steam somewhere, if there is interst I can adduce it here.
3. As far as I am aware, Steam it might not be possible to activate Steam codes from another region (even though for me it worked perfectly e.g. with Duke Nukem Forever), Steam gifts on the contrary normally have no activation problems whatsoever.
4. Demand definitely is there - because people sell/trade games between regions actively but there is also a lot of hesitation. But the fear is also there (is it just me or people really are afraid of too many things recently?). I do not think anyone in this community would question my credibility, but I have never been asked to assist in cross-region purchases (I did give some small "hints" to people, by the way - just to see what will happen). I also noticed many people are much more interested in trading with a cheaper non-Russian region - Valve did manage to bully many users it seems (or perhaps those are some anti-Russian stereotypes at work).

Thus I can make the following conclusions
1. So far there is no "real" threat to such a service. There could be, but I just do not see it atm. After all, it would be insanely hard to prove people actually make purchases and not trade via that system. (Especailly if you wrap such service into the "right" package with "right" words).
2. When one of the users, who uses such system violates ToS/EULA - the punishment might be ultra-severe (to bully others). Valve would go all-out and always choose the harshest prosecution. That is my feeling from the evidence I gathered.
3. There should be certain rules for "how" to use the service (trade). And those should be accordingly updated with the changes of the policy.
4. I do think such service would be popular - at least in the beginning. It might though require a lot of your attention and support. Also it might be a good idea, indeed to test it with GOG community. The easiest possible way would be to make a certain social survey of "who wants" here and than try to organize people a bit - possibly even to start exchanging without a separate web-site first. I have to think about this a bit, though.

Another "starter" idea I did throw around on steamgifts (never got picked up) is having a "giveaway pot" for gathering money and buying games for giveaways in the cheapest region (e.g. Russia). That technically in no way can be considered "unlawful" but people are hesitant. Afraid, I guess. As I have seen someone write here "all Steam stuff from Russia is illegall!!!!!" :)

The point is, if you do this to often (being the given part) you lose the "end user" part of th EULA. Therefore you don't have any license or right to trade the game.

yes, well - I have yet to see a complaint with payments which is not been resolved. There is risk involved with all actions you do, but you can also do actions with involves a higher risk (if it makes any sense...) It is just that "As long as you use Steam Trade system... there is no problem with it ;) ", which is not quite true, it is heavily monitored and regulated. There can be problems with it. Do this if you want, but do so knowing there may be some risk involved.
Haven't we been here before? did not steam explain exactly why he was banned? did he not go in dialogue with steam and got his games back, but with a limited account?

I have not seen any explanation, if you have - please, share it with me.

I know at least 3 ppl got banned on Christmas sale for issues with PayPal. One of them got 8 weeks ban for trading for buying games for his friends(yes not everybody has a PayPal/Webmoney account).

Valve (Steam) do whatever they want and they highly abuse the ToS/EULA agreements.

Highly monitored my ass... I can tell you at least 50 guys atm on steam forums/steamtrade that are selling russian/ukranian gifts and Valve don't do a shit about it.

he got banned because he 'gifted' many games to many 'friends' who in turn 'gifted' him back money. He openly acknowledge this is a post in the steam forums. We did this same thing in a thread a few months back, when you (I think it was you) tried to link several pieces of "evidence" where Steam supposedly banned people for no reason. Non of them held water...

The only time it becomes a serious issue (as in it's a violation of the Steam ToS which can lead to a ban) is if you gift someone a code in a way that they need a VPN to activate it.

If you're using the trade system, no worries. Go right on ahead. I just wouldn't brand it in such a way that it looks like the main point is to circumvent publisher agreements.

There is a risk, the risk may not be high, but it is still there. As I have said many times, feel free to go ahead, but do not try to make an impression that it is risk free. Low risk, maybe, risk free no.

I do not know whether it was me or not . And I repeat again. I have not seen any official notice from Steam. Until I see one the rest is only speculations. Sorry to be so blunt. That was initially my, rockpapershotgun's and everyone else's question. We all wanted an "offical, signed" statement from Valve. Why he got banned? Trading/gifting/selling? Ok, no problem, so be it. There was _none_. I said it so many times to so many people that I am sorry, if I repeat myself to you.