General Question

poisonedantidote's avatar

Is it legal to download software from a 3rd party site if you intend to register and activate it using a legally purchased serial number?

Asked by poisonedantidote (21675points) January 26th, 2012

Recently I lost some software CDs, but I still have the serial numbers. These serial numbers are registered to my name from when I purchased the software legally.

Would it be legal to download the unregistered and deactivated software from a 3rd party site and then proceed to install, register and activate it on my personal computer, with my personal and legal serial numbers, for my personal use?

Why / why not?

Thanks!

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5 Answers

Thammuz's avatar

It would be legal, because you purchase the license not the disk itself.

Downloading the software in itself is not a crime, using it without a legally purchased license is.

Thammuz (9277points)“Great Answer” (3points) Flag as…
jerv's avatar

Correct. The software itself is free; you pay for the right to use it legally.

jerv (31076points)“Great Answer” (2points) Flag as…
Tropical_Willie's avatar

Do you need a CD? Some companiies have a library of software on-line, just use your serial number.

Tropical_Willie (31134points)“Great Answer” (1points) Flag as…
samantha360's avatar

I would download it from the actual site itself. They are really cracking down on this type of stuff and you can have a $500,000 fine and do up to 5 years in jail.

samantha360 (26points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…
Thammuz's avatar

@samantha360 Nope. He owns the license.

Thammuz (9277points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…

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