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General discussionKey sellers, legal or not?(68 posts)(68 posts)
(68 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted July 10, 2015
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Grargar: I think there are more kinds of codes.
I recall 8 digit being the standard for bonus codes back in the 16 character gift code days. Haven't really followed the mechanics lately, so I'll have to take your word for it.
Posted July 10, 2015
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Maxvorstadt: Since Witcher 3 came out there is much confusion about if key sellers are legal or not. Some keys have even been banned, because the sellers had no rights to sell them.
So i guess that it would be good if GOG makes a sticky where they provide a list with legal key sellers, so people can check if the online shop where they want to buy is legal and thrustworthy or not.
Many countries have no laws against unauthorized distribution. These people sell to countries WITH laws against them though. So there is a difficult problem to fix there since the trade commissions have no online power over them and it's difficult to sue (which jurisdiction? your local one has to ban them from here. theirs won't do anything)

Most people don't care as long as it's cheap. But for all that they've "saved" they've spent way more than me for much less. And I don't have "unauthorized reseller supporter" hanging over my head to boot. :>
Posted July 10, 2015
Indeed, 'Legal or not' is not the right term. Endorsed or not would be better. If what GMG was doing was 'Illegal' then no doubt they would've been taken off sale after CDP called them on it (like they took off the sale price), but they didn't.
Posted July 10, 2015
In this modern multi-national, internet world, with digital goods of no physical manifestation, you will find that there are many things where "Is it legal or not?" is not yet decided.

Essentially courts decide whether things are allowed or not and by what rules when lawsuits come to them. (Okay complete disclosure, that's just ONE model of law systems, but it's a common element of many European and American legal systems anyway).


As a result of this, it's difficult to answer the question with authority. The most relevant answer is likely something along these lines.

Is it legal to buy keys from GOG-designated resellers? Very probably.

Is it legal to buy keys from resellers who have never been mentioned? Probably not.

If you are unsure if a seller of game keys is employing legitimate behavior, it might be interesting to request information on the specific methods by which they acquire keys in general and how they will acquire the key that they plan to sell to you. In my opinion, a legitimate seller should be able to provide that information, and you should be able to corroborate it with a third party such as the game publisher.

A seller of game keys who is not forthcoming about the specific manner in which they acquire keys is likely black or grey market.

Now, your opinion on "used game keys" may color some of what you choose to do.
I personally strongly believe in transferrable goods (and despite the legal dances of annoying lawyers, they are goods), so I believe that I have the legal right to transfer digitally purchased games. However, I do not believe that the way to fight for this right of mine to be widely recognized is to buy and/or sell keys via grey markets.
Posted July 10, 2015
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nightcraw1er.488: Just buy it here, download, and play away whenever you want, no strings attached. No need for keys, clients, or anything else, happy days :o)
The rest of the pay for rental stores can all go up in smoke (virtually).
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Maxvorstadt: Well, it`s not for me, my PC is not good enuff for Witcher 3, but for all those people who are not sure I made this thread. Yesterday a serious german website, Heise Online, did -with a partner- sell GOG Witcher 3 keys for 29.99 €, which is half the normal price. Since Heise is not a gangster website it looks like this was legal, so many bought from it and thought they didn`t do something forbidden. If CD Projekt gives keys to other dealers, then they should make a sticky on GOG to tell the people which dealers are legal and which are not. At the moment it`s really confusing for many people.
Yep, and as I mentioned, I buy direct from here, download, and play offline. No problems. If whomever wants to go off chasing deals to possible buy software, then more fool them. I wouldn't touch a company selling keys for any shop, any more than I would buy a key for car online, and then go looking for the car.
Posted July 10, 2015
How do companies like this one get hold of so many keys, if they don't get them from CDPR or GOG?

http://www.cdkeys.com/pc/games/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-pc-cd-key?mw_aref=74dth566
Post edited July 10, 2015 by Asbeau
Posted July 10, 2015
I guess there is such a thing as a a legal key seller but not all might be legal. Maybe the keys offered there were meant for a different use and are sold without permission of CDP and GOG.

cdkeys says:

"With an extensive, reliable supply chain and purchasing power, cdkeys.com can aggregate sales volume - we then pass these bulk reductions on to you, which ensures our pricing is the most competitive around!"

So it may simply be their superior purchasing power skills. The department where GOG sometimes fails (for example with regard to regional prices).
Posted July 10, 2015
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Asbeau: How do companies like this one get hold of so many keys, if they don't get them from CDPR or GOG?

http://www.cdkeys.com/pc/games/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-pc-cd-key?mw_aref=74dth566
Probably from Namco-Bandai.
Posted July 10, 2015
I wonder if cdkeys has some kind of regional pricing too. If not it would be against all the philosophies of Namco Bandai or CDP or GOG.
Posted July 10, 2015
There are legit keysellers. The developer Rebellion listed some after a lot of illegal Sniper Elite 3 keys got busted on Steam
http://steamcommunity.com/app/238090/discussions/0/540744936577983546/
They get their keys from the publishers

Most of the other buy games in countries where they are cheap, like Russia and other poor countries and resell them, making quite a profit in the process.
And there are some illegal ones who might go so far as to using Keygens
Posted July 10, 2015
What about www.G2a.com Legit or not?

Here

https://www.g2a.com/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-cd-key-gog-global.html

They are all DIGITAL KEYS

some as low as $39.98 AUD
Post edited July 10, 2015 by fr33kSh0w2012
Posted July 10, 2015
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fr33kSh0w2012: What about www.G2a.com Legit or not?

Here

https://www.g2a.com/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-cd-key-gog-global.html

They are all DIGITAL KEYS

some as low as $39.98 AUD
the w3 keys that were bought in the past from g2a, were fradulently obtained and revoked more than once. so i wouldn't risk to get them from there.
Posted July 10, 2015
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fr33kSh0w2012: What about www.G2a.com Legit or not?

Here

https://www.g2a.com/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-cd-key-gog-global.html

They are all DIGITAL KEYS

some as low as $39.98 AUD
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apehater: the w3 keys that were bought in the past from g2a, were fradulently obtained and revoked more than once. so i wouldn't risk to get them from there.
I thought so Thank You
Posted July 10, 2015
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JMich: All of said keys though were bonus codes, not gift codes. Gift codes should not be available for sale anywhere.
That isn't a very clear difference for new users.
GOG should just maintain a list of the trusted third party resellers.
Post edited July 10, 2015 by phaolo
Posted July 10, 2015
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phaolo: That isn't a clear difference for new users.
GOG should just maintain a list of the trusted third party resellers.
Except that GOG has said before that they don't have any official resellers.
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Community
General discussionKey sellers, legal or not?(68 posts)(68 posts)
(68 posts)