What they mean is that technically you still are being granted a license to use it. The same was true for things like DVD movies. They’re technically correct, but missing the point.
How is that different from backing up the game folder on steam? In both cases it’s true that:
You’re not doing anything illegal at the moment you do it
You can use it to play the game on a different computer (as long as the game is DRM free which is not granted on either platform)
The company (Valve/GOG) can’t remotely erase your copy
If the company removes the license from you your backup is now technically illegal but it’s unlikely to be enforced
I fail to see how GOGs approach is any different, they still sell you a license and you’re backing up the installer in case the license gets removed and/or you’re forbidden from redownloading the game.
I totally understand your point, but when people talk about “you own nothing” they don’t really mean you “own” the content on physical media, they mean it doesn’t have DRM. You’re technically correct, but your pedantry is making you miss the forest for the trees, basically.
We give you and other GOG users the personal right (known legally as a ‘license’) to use GOG services and to download, access and/or stream (depending on the content) and use GOG content. This license is for your personal use. We can stop or suspend this license in some situations, which are explained later on.
Which is very similar to Steam. In both cases you can keep the files you’ve downloaded on your machine, and on most cases you can copy those files to a different machine and keep playing it. GOG has better marketing on this regard, but they’re both very similar, neither enforces DRM nor forbids it entirely, although GOG does tend to be a bit stricter (but they still allow it) whereas steam is a bit looser but knowingly implemented a weak DRM and let’s you know in the game page if the game has any stronger form of DRM.
@Nibodhika@Evil_Shrubbery Stop Killing Games opened my eyes to the software "ownership" situation. In USA, apparently, noone ever owns any software. It's always licenced. Even if on physical media. Quite bizarre.
woelkchen@lemmy.world 1 month ago
That’s not how copyright laws work anywhere. You don’t own anything, it’s just a license.
lepinkainen@lemmy.world 1 month ago
GoG Vault would disagree with you on that.
You can download the full installers and keep them, nobody can take them away or disable it remotely
JackbyDev@programming.dev 1 month ago
What they mean is that technically you still are being granted a license to use it. The same was true for things like DVD movies. They’re technically correct, but missing the point.
woelkchen@lemmy.world 1 month ago
They are free to disagree on laws but they are still bound by them.
That’s true but if your license is revoked, you’re illegally in possession of the game assets.
MITM0@lemmy.world 1 month ago
That’s not how it works but hey, you do you
GhiLA@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
and?
Hawke@lemmy.world 1 month ago
It’s less clear than you say.
In principle the First-sale doctrine should apply but it has not caught up with reality yet.
Nibodhika@lemmy.world 1 month ago
How is that different from backing up the game folder on steam? In both cases it’s true that:
I fail to see how GOGs approach is any different, they still sell you a license and you’re backing up the installer in case the license gets removed and/or you’re forbidden from redownloading the game.
lepinkainen@lemmy.world 1 month ago
So you can just pop that folder on any computer and run it, without installing Steam and without a Steam account?
Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 1 month ago
In case of Steam.
With GOG I get an actual license key & terms that state my ownership.
woelkchen@lemmy.world 1 month ago
No, the intellectual property is not transferred to you. You have no clue how copyright works.
Hawke@lemmy.world 1 month ago
For most people that is a distinction without a difference.
JackbyDev@programming.dev 1 month ago
I totally understand your point, but when people talk about “you own nothing” they don’t really mean you “own” the content on physical media, they mean it doesn’t have DRM. You’re technically correct, but your pedantry is making you miss the forest for the trees, basically.
Nibodhika@lemmy.world 1 month ago
No you don’t. You get the same license as you do on Steam, here’s the license btw …gog.com/…/16034990432541-GOG-User-Agreement-effe… :
Which is very similar to Steam. In both cases you can keep the files you’ve downloaded on your machine, and on most cases you can copy those files to a different machine and keep playing it. GOG has better marketing on this regard, but they’re both very similar, neither enforces DRM nor forbids it entirely, although GOG does tend to be a bit stricter (but they still allow it) whereas steam is a bit looser but knowingly implemented a weak DRM and let’s you know in the game page if the game has any stronger form of DRM.
dbat@mastodon.gamedev.place 1 month ago
@Nibodhika @Evil_Shrubbery Stop Killing Games opened my eyes to the software "ownership" situation. In USA, apparently, noone ever owns any software. It's always licenced. Even if on physical media. Quite bizarre.
In rest of world it varies but alao sucks.
Mubelotix@jlai.lu 1 month ago
Who says you have to respect the laws? Just pirate if publishers mess with players
woelkchen@lemmy.world 1 month ago
What’s the point of GOG then?
Mubelotix@jlai.lu 1 month ago
Morals
GhiLA@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Same reason we have Barnes and Nobles in the states. I like to browse before I hit zlibrary.
MITM0@lemmy.world 1 month ago
We have itch.io
winkerjadams@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
Not everything is on GoG