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.

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. :>

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.

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.

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

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).

Probably from Namco-Bandai.

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.

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

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.

I thought so Thank You

That isn't a very 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.