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General discussion (archive)Is it legal to sell a GOG account?(118 posts)(118 posts)
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Posted June 06, 2010
On several occasions I've noticed people trying to sell their GOG accounts and I started to wonder how does GOG look at this. I quickly read through the terms of use, but found nothing about this particular issue.
Since games distributed by GOG are DRM free, there is a high probability [if not a certainty] that the person selling his / her account would keep the installs for themselves and continue to use them, while allowing someone else to access their account.
I know Valve doesn't approve of this when it comes to Steam accounts, even though in Steam's case, only one person can actually use the account.
So is selling a GOG account to someone, giving them access to purchased games, legal? Can there be a transfer of ownership or is this against GOG rules?
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Posted June 10, 2010
rawr
Posted June 10, 2010
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cogadh: this is not an ideal world and the moment you agreed to GOG's TOS, the reality of what you can and cannot do with your GOG account changed.

Well, not exactly. The reality is that I could quite easily give someone the username and password to my GOG account in exchange for them giving me some amount of money. The reality is also that GOG could revoke access to my account if I did this, although the reality is also that this would be highly unlikely to happen unless I basically advertised to the GOG team that I was selling my account. With respect to this reality, clicking that I agreed to GOG's ToS makes very little difference. Whether I feel that clicking "I agree" compels me to act in a certain way is only part of reality if I choose to make it so. That is the reality of the situation.
That said, the reality of my own situation happens to be that when signing up with GOG it was my implicit understanding that the resale of my account and the games I bought was not something GOG facilitated or approved of. And since during my time as a customer of GOG I feel they've treated me fairly I feel that I should treat them fairly as well and act in accordance with that initial understanding of what I was signing up for and buying.
Posted June 10, 2010
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cogadh: this is not an ideal world and the moment you agreed to GOG's TOS, the reality of what you can and cannot do with your GOG account changed.
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DarrkPhoenix: Well, not exactly. The reality is that I could quite easily give someone the username and password to my GOG account in exchange for them giving me some amount of money. The reality is also that GOG could revoke access to my account if I did this, although the reality is also that this would be highly unlikely to happen unless I basically advertised to the GOG team that I was selling my account. With respect to this reality, clicking that I agreed to GOG's ToS makes very little difference. Whether I feel that clicking "I agree" compels me to act in a certain way is only part of reality if I choose to make it so. That is the reality of the situation.
That said, the reality of my own situation happens to be that when signing up with GOG it was my implicit understanding that the resale of my account and the games I bought was not something GOG facilitated or approved of. And since during my time as a customer of GOG I feel they've treated me fairly I feel that I should treat them fairly as well and act in accordance with that initial understanding of what I was signing up for and buying.

Okay, so maybe a better way to put it would be the reality of what you are and are not allowed to do changed...
Posted June 10, 2010
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cogadh: Okay, so maybe a better way to put it would be the reality of what you are and are not allowed to do changed...

As far as reality is concerned, the only things that affect what one is and is not allowed to do are the physical laws of the universe. Anything beyond this is basically just the perceptions of individuals on what one should and shouldn't do within the context of various idealized constructs (e.g. the legal system, various ethical systems, etc), and it was my impression that you were trying to get away from ideal worlds and constructs.
Posted June 11, 2010
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DarrkPhoenix: As far as reality is concerned, the only things that affect what one is and is not allowed to do are the physical laws of the universe. Anything beyond this is basically just the perceptions of individuals on what one should and shouldn't do within the context of various idealized constructs (e.g. the legal system, various ethical systems, etc), and it was my impression that you were trying to get away from ideal worlds and constructs.

Hmm Perhaps, but laws do tend to become physical realities if you break them enough and piss off the wrong people.
Posted June 11, 2010
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EndlessKnight: Hmm Perhaps, but laws do tend to become physical realities if you break them enough and piss off the wrong people.

That some individuals hold the belief that laws should be upheld (with force if necessary) is reality, and that some of these individuals will take various actions due to this belief is also reality. However, one should be careful not to come under the illusion that because of these things that the ideals expressed in the law or the belief that those laws should be upheld are reality. Reality is reality, beliefs are beliefs. My only point in all of this is that aforementioned should not be confused with one another.
Posted June 11, 2010
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DarrkPhoenix: Reality is reality, beliefs are beliefs. My only point in all of this is that aforementioned should not be confused with one another.

Well yes, obviously they are not the same thing. Yet, because laws have certain realities, people should possibly wield their beliefs more carefully when they take action with them. There are ways to avoid certain realities of the law while still effecting a change in them. There exist various legal methods to alter the reality of laws. This sort of change is difficult to accomplish, but very much worthwhile; having an affect on not only yourself, but offering future opportunity for all.
Anyways, as for myself. I feel that since GOG.com has been quite good to us in the past, it seems fitting to be equally decent towards them. Now ignoring any legalities in the matter, selling an account may seem fine to some (as they may hold it to be their property), but it does have the effect of denying GOG the stats of additional sales for their records. These records are held as proof that DRM-free sales can work, and help to convince companies to bring titles here.
Posted June 11, 2010
Philisophical mumbo jumbo.. lol
But anyways, lawful issues aside, there's also the possibility that the person you just sold you account to could easily turn you in to the authorities and/or GOG.
There should be a bounty on these kinda things. Like if you buy someone's account and give the details to GOG, they can press charges against the original owner, delete the account, and give the person who reported it a free game. Or maybe just give them the games on the account and their money back. I'm sure they could sue the offending person for way more than what the games on the account would be worth. That way everyone would win. =D
Better yet, GOG should buy these accounts that people are selling, then they wouldn't have to reward anyone and they would still get to sue.
Posted June 11, 2010
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PaladinHeart: There should be a bounty on these kinda things. Like if you buy someone's account and give the details to GOG, they can press charges against the original owner, delete the account, and give the person who reported it a free game.

Admit it. You just want your free games. Narc. hehe :P
Post edited June 11, 2010 by EndlessKnight
Posted June 11, 2010
Well you can't deny that it would be a very good incentive. xP
I would probably get more satisfaction out of reporting someone though than from getting the free game.
The value of getting several games for free: about $50
The value of getting an extra free game: about $10
The value of helping GOG by ruining a law-breaker's life: Priceless
Posted February 02, 2013
Massive necro post (i know, sorry) but i am curious about the legality of transferring an account to someone else.
Posted February 02, 2013
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gameon: Massive necro post (i know, sorry) but i am curious about the legality of transferring an account to someone else.
You could have saved some time by just reading the posts in here. Unless the TOS has changed you apparently can't do it legally in any form and the account would be closed down.
Posted February 02, 2013
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gameon: Massive necro post (i know, sorry) but i am curious about the legality of transferring an account to someone else.
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QC: You could have saved some time by just reading the posts in here. Unless the TOS has changed you apparently can't do it legally in any form and the account would be closed down.
Some of the posts by a few posters would suggest otherwise:

http://www.gog.com/forum/general/is_it_legal_to_sell_a_gog_account/post12

http://www.gog.com/forum/general/is_it_legal_to_sell_a_gog_account/post18

http://www.gog.com/forum/general/is_it_legal_to_sell_a_gog_account/post29
Post edited February 02, 2013 by gameon
Posted February 02, 2013
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QC: You could have saved some time by just reading the posts in here. Unless the TOS has changed you apparently can't do it legally in any form and the account would be closed down.
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gameon: Some of the posts by a few posters would suggest otherwise.
To be fair, Jimmy's probably not a lawyer. Or FenixP. The TOS forbid giving out secondary access to the forum, even though they discourage (And don't punish) distribution to items you hold in your account. The arguments they have is that used items are viable for re-sale. But, used items are physical, and once you've given it away, you've lost access. The difference with that and here is that you can't promise with all certainty unless the administration itself has access to both email and account passwords, that an account could be given away with only one person's access, or otherwise should an issue or problem arise, you can't ensure problems can be solved. If two people run an account and one is being an ass, you can't punish one without punishing both. One can simply claim the other person is at fault, even if one person really has moved on. That's the way I kinda see it. Plus we've had contests, free games given out, blah blah blah, well who deserves what is earned onto the account then? Same issue, person who gave it away could come back and claim ownership and you get one nasty fight, so on.

MP3's and digital downloads are all similar, you can't promise that you've relinquished access. It's safer and easier just to let someone else make their own account and support them through your own.
Post edited February 02, 2013 by QC
Posted February 02, 2013
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gameon: Some of the posts by a few posters would suggest otherwise.
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QC: To be fair, Jimmy's probably not a lawyer. The TOS forbid giving out secondary access to the forum
But if an account was sold, the account password would be changed, and the person who buys it would be the sole owner of the account. One owner, no sharing.
Post edited February 02, 2013 by gameon
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General discussion (archive)Is it legal to sell a GOG account?(118 posts)(118 posts)
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