I read somewhere that technically, the law says that it is legal to copy a PC game, as long as it is for personal use and not to be sold commercially or publicly. The article also said that it is also still legal to lend a copied game to a friend, but the game will always belong to the originial copier.

If this IS legal, what is the best way to do it? I read articles saying to use some game copier that strips the DRM and then saves the game on your hard drive, and then you can copy it, but that it is possible the original game disc will be screwed up. Is there a way to copy a game without screwing the original up, to another disc? And when I say copy, I also mean that a copy would also usable to play, not just as storage device. I know developers and distributers really dissaprove of copying, but TECHNICALLY, it is legal, from what I have read. But to make sure, is it really?

Hello AGAIN TrantaLocked.

It is legal to make a copy for Backup purpose only - in case your original is damaged, or lost. Unless specified otherwise in the license - and this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer as well a program to program - the program is legal to install and use on 1 system only.

A famous exception to this is Microsoft Office. Office can be installed on both a desktop & laptop owned by the same individual or company, but only 1 of the 2 systems can be in use at any time. That is to say, the laptop could be using Office Legally ONLY IF the desktop doesn't have any portion of Office in use or even the potential of being in use - powered down is how I take that.

It is never legal to "lend" single licensed software as that presumes that the original purchaser is also still using the software.

Clear as mud?

DCiAdmin got in first...