Damaged Discs

[Legacy_YouGotRocked]

               So, I've owned Neverwinter Nights for longer than I care to remember. I still have my old keys, but my play disc is damaged and wont work. Am I legally allowed to download the game, as long as I use my own keys? Also, am I allowed to create backups in the form of .iso (or equivalent) files?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_WanderingIdler]

               Legally, unlikely (depends on where you live and the local laws - consult a lawyer for a more definitive response). Morally, if you've paid in the past its unlikely that anyone will object - but if you use a filesharing network you will be uploading to others as well as downloading for yourself.

There is another option though - GOG sell a DRM-free download of Neverwinter Nights Diamond Edition for US$9.99 which includes both expansions and 3 premium modules (plus a few other extras like soundtracks and artwork). Even if you have the expansions, it would be a purchase worth considering.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_YouGotRocked]

               Legally, that is kind of lame.
Morally, I really could care more!

Also, do you know the answer to my second question (backup in the form of .iso, etc.)?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Lightfoot8]

               The EULA forbids you from transmitting your owned copy of NWN over the net.  

As far as making a back-up copy.  You are allowed to make as many as you would like. Just as long as you do not distribute them or up load them to the net.  

I myself do not see the reason to want to use the .iso format.  .rar or 7z  would work better in my book.  

The only reaon I see for the .iso format is if you still needed the play disk after you installed the game.  Since the playdisk is no longer needed after running the critical rebuild, 7z will have a better compression for the back up
               
               

               
            

[Baaleos]

               EULA may forbid you from certain activities, however if and when it came down to it, Bioware and all associated parties would determine whether or not it would be worth while prosecuting or pressing charges against people who breech the EULA on a case by case basis.

A single person, who genuinely has owned the game, and only breeched the EULA just to play the game that they legally own, will not likely be prosecuted, even if they went up to the head of Bioware, and recounted the crime in vivid detail.
Morally, they are not in the wrong, and in most cases, it would be more cost to Bioware to press Civil charges, than to just let that individual play the game.

The EULA is probably meant more as a guideline, or safety net, should Bioware or other companies, ever need to prosecute people who are mass distributing the game, in such quantities, that it has harming revenue and stock prices, then they have the EULA, which serves as a 'If you breech it, and we want to, then we can Prosecute you.'  Card.


Breeching the EULA wont necessarily get you in trouble, especially if you are Morally in the right.


Note - if you do plan on 'acquiring' the game iso from sources such as torrents.
Turn on encryption, so your ISP cannot see what the content of your data transfer is.

Its important to know though,
For an ISP to see what your distributing via torrents, they too would have to upload/download the same torrent, making them as guilty of file sharing as you are.