Question about player keys.

[bdf1992]

Is it taboo around here to Share keys?

Lets say I have a few friends with keys that don't want to play but I some without keys that do, can they just install with my other friends keys or would that get someone in trouble?

Thanks for reading, just trying to play, I have a full and one player but we need 3 more keys :(

[Invictys]

Yes, software piracy is generally a taboo subject on the message board for that software.

Software doesn't work like other hard goods. Just because you bought it doesn't mean you own it and can then sell or give away your copy. You don't own the software you have a license to use it, which isn't the same thing legally.

U.S. copyright law dictates that to do what you are talking about you need the explicit permission of the developer, which is atypical for a licensed product. I don't know exactly what the FG2 Terms of Service (TOS) or actually their End User Licensing Agreement (EULA) say about this but my guess is they don't allow it.

As with any other type of piracy it's often hard to detect and enforce but that doesn't mean its legal.

In other words, no you aren't allowed to do it...and technically yes you could be in violation of U.S. copyright law and hence subject to fines up to $150,000 for each incident of copyright infringement.

Source: The Software & Information Industry Association (https://www.siia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=171&Itemid=129)

[bdf1992]

Sorry if I offended you with my question, I wouldn't go as far as saying it's piracy.

Checking if we have permission is my intent.

[damned]

nice to check - answer is the same - it is frowned upon.

[Invictys]

You didn't offend me, I was just clarifying what we are talking about here. You can call it what you want but legally speaking it's software piracy unless explicit permission is given.

Your reference to it being taboo or not indicates that you suspected this was the case. Otherwise why would the question be taboo?

At any rate, like I said I don't know what the actual EULA states for FG2 but I'm fairly certain it doesn't allow license transfers. I can say with near certainty that it doesn't allow license sharing.

[Griogre]

The Fantasy Grounds EULA doesn't allow license transfers. bdf1992, there are people around here who would probably want to play in your game so don't be discouraged. There are always more players than GM's. It can sometimes take a few weeks to get a group together but if you are persistent and can run at a regular time you can normally find enough players to run a game. Those of your friends that can't afford to get a license now can join later once you get a game and a group going.

I am going to mention another kind of taboo topic that is related. Sadly, you will probably find out some of your real life friends will *never* play with you online. For whatever reason, even if you buy the ultimate license or give them lite licenses, they will still never play online or maybe play just once. They will have plenty of excuses: if only I had a lite license, if only you ran D&D 4E, if only you ran Pathfinder, if only your ran Savage Worlds, if only you ran on Tuesday, if only you ran Sunday, if only you ran 3 hours, if only you ran 5 hours, if only you started at 4 PM, if only you started at 10 PM; if only..., if only...

What these friends are telling you is: Playing with you in your game is not as high a priority as something else they are doing. I don't know if this is part of your license problem or not. I do know that if you do start running a game, those of your friends who want to play will find a way to play, if not in the beginning then later on.

[JohnD]

I am going to mention another kind of taboo topic that is related. Sadly, you will probably find out some of your real life friends will *never* play with you online. For whatever reason, even if you buy the ultimate license or give them lite licenses, they will still never play online or maybe play just once. They will have plenty of excuses: if only I had a lite license, if only you ran D&D 4E, if only you ran Pathfinder, if only your ran Savage Worlds, if only you ran on Tuesday, if only you ran Sunday, if only you ran 3 hours, if only you ran 5 hours, if only you started at 4 PM, if only you started at 10 PM; if only..., if only...

What these friends are telling you is: Playing with you in your game is not as high a priority as something else they are doing. I don't know if this is part of your license problem or not. I do know that if you do start running a game, those of your friends who want to play will find a way to play, if not in the beginning then later on.
This is all 100% accurate and needs to be re-stated for emphasis.

Don't worry about those who don't play. Worry about your new players that will.

[bennis1980]

bdf1992,

You did the right thing by checking before sharing. Asking for clarification should not be taboo.

Piracy harms the developer, and in this case with such a specialist software (let's be honest, not everyone is into roleplay), Smiteworks deserves as much support from your players as possible.

Another reason you'll find strong feelings on the subject here is that there are a lot of community developers doing major hard work to add extentions for all systems that goes way beyond your usual modding. So there is vested interest in the success of the software.

I hope that convinces you and your players to respect the licence.

Happy gaming!