I once used a crack for Morrowind, but I think it intefered with a mod or something, or maybe it was caused by transferring everything to a new computer (which messed up some other minor things as well). I'm now using MagicDisc an an .UIF image to fool the game to think the disk is in the drive rather than ten feet away in its case.

I was unaware of that. I'd be quite interested in knowing about any DMCA exemptions for cracking software for personal use.

Morality is not objective. I like cracks so there is a huge incentive for me to adopt a world view that justifies my behavior. :)

Yes. Once a pirate, always a pirate, arrrrr. Then again, as we know from reliable sources (Ubisoft), 90% of PC gamers are pirates anyway, so it doesn't really matter. :P

The DMCA has a clause saying that its language is not intended to interfere with normal, fair use.

As a lawyer, my advice is "don't seek legal advice from forums on the internets". Use google, that's what I do.

:)

Tom's Hardware has a page describing the DMCA revision. The language used in the revision is that one can crack software for "investigative" purposes, so long as no copyright breach is intended (as fair use). In this sense, it's no more harmful than modding, in the sense that the recipient/developer of the crack must own a copy of the game to use it. Cracking does not promote the illegal distribution of games any more than the manufacturer not including DRM does.

The norm is quickly becoming a CD-key/registration model, particularly where online play is concerned, rendering discs virtually useless once the key is redeemed. While this has done a lot for the legitimacy of no-CD cracks, it really sucks for the used game market, PC games in particular. I once tried my hand at breaking into a car, though the car was mine and I'd locked my keys in it. While my success doesn't make me a car thief, I wouldn't be surprised if a passing cop assumed as much. Thankfully, it's easier to prove ownership of a vehicle than of a treasure chest. The cars I broke into before that, well...

I'll bite.

This happened to me with the original release of Dungeon Keeper II by BullFrog (EA was the publisher) back in June/July of 1999.

The game was protected with SafeDisc copy protection which uses an intentional bad-sector somewhere on the original CD as part of its check. The IDE cd-rom drives of the time would simply report an error code back to the machine if they hit a bad sector, and retry or carry-on depending on what the computer or program told them to do.

Most people wouldn't have the problem I ran into... I didn't have an el-cheapo IDE CD-Rom drive, I had the Cadillac of drives, a Plextor SCSI CD-Rom drive. Plextor adhered to the CD-Rom standards completely, never taking shortcuts. The proper way (according to the standards) to deal with a bad sector is:
- Spin down to 0 RPM
- Spin up to normal RPM
- Re-seek the sector
- Re-read

Can you imagine what this does to gameplay and multimedia movies when SafeDisc is jacking around with bad sector legitimacy checks?

The game was absolutely unplayable for me.

I called up support (I think it may have been EA support I needed to call) wasted 35 minutes of long distance, only to finally make them admit that they knew of the problem with Plextor drives, and couldn't offer me a solution themselves, and they suggested I go buy an IDE CD-Rom drive to fix this problem.

I asked them for a non-copy-protected executable to replace mine, and was willing to send them an original receipt and box to prove my good standing as a paying customer of their product. They didn't agree.

Then I informed them that I was quite incensed that they knew about this defect, would not provide a proper solution to a paying customer, and I informed them that there was a crack on a German Gaming site that I had already downloaded AND tested to 100% satisfaction, but I felt it was absolutely ridiculous that a legitimate paying customer needed to go to these extremes, just to get a piece of purchased software to work.

The support lady I was talking to was flabbergasted that I would admit this. I told her not only was I admitting it, but I wanted her to carry my tale, including how pissed off at them I was, further up their chain of management. I also told her to let them know that I wouldn't consider touching another of their company's products so long as they chose to use copy protection that renders their product unfit for the purpose for which it was sold.

Companies need to hear that sort of thing from their customers, and they need to hear it loud and clear.

Here it is, 12 years after the release of that game, and I'm _still_ hot under the collar re-telling that story.

Should you use the crack for your game? I say yes. You paid for your copy to enjoy it. Do so.

EVERY TIME I get a new GAME! On CD or DVD. I install and then search for a NO CD update , patch, And OR HAK. The reason being is to protect the disk from any regular use wear and tear. I honestly believe the DRM only affects the honest software owner user. Pirates find it an inconvenience, Wile we find it down right devastating.