No one at Microsoft, with the possible exception of Finlay, actually cares.

I've used the same windows XP cd on several laptops as none of them had their own discs (all has legal license keys).

I don't think JV was saying that there aren't untouched versions, just that the ones that have been tampered aren't labelled, so unless you really know what you are doing, downloading software from a torrent isn't a good idea.

My mate lost his XP CD but still had the key sticker on the side of his chassis. His copy was pre-SP1 and no other XP installs would accept his key. Thankfully, saspro sent me a CD and the problem was sorted.

I would have resorted to torrents, if I could be certain I was downloading the correct (untainted) copy. I do not agree with downloading copyright material in general, but even I have some trouble seeing the problem with it, if you already own a valid key.

I'm surprised MS doesn't have an download service for people who lost their CD, but still have a valid key. It would save a lot of heartache, and remove the need for the arguably dodgy justification I outlined above.

That is exactly what I meant. The problem is if you downloaded a copy of Windows via torrent how would you know if there was something there that shouldn't be?

Something as simple as a tampered with DLL file could cause you a lot of hassle.

What about downloading music?

I know there are good legit download services, but I like having my music in it's physical form (ie- a cd) as it often comes out cheaper.

So now that i'm at my parents place, without my CDs (which are stored up in Leeds) i've found that I don't have some of my CDs saved onto my external hard drive.

Reckon i'm in my rights to download a "ripped" copy seeing as I own it anyway?

I'd think not, seeing as the original source (probably a CD) will have 'unauthorised copying, lending, public performance prohibited'.
By downloading someone else's copy, you're effectively breaking that agreement, regardless of whether you own the CD or not.
If I was to 'borrow' someone else's car because it's identical to the one that I drive, am I within my rights?

But it's not that simple, only the creator of the software owns the software. Person A owns the physical disk, and licences the software. Person B did own a physical disk, and already licences the software.

It's not really like anything else, other than books, music and films...

Even books, films and music are different to software.
Where the CD is merely the delivery mechanism, and you pay for a license, that isn't the case with books, music or film.
Which is what I was getting at with the car thing.
If I buy a paperback copy of 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being', it doesn't mean I'm entitled to a hardback copy of the same for free, or even a small 'upgrade' fee.

You might not be entitled to a hardback copy for free, but you'd be entitled to the content within, because that is what you are paying for (as you said yourself, the CD is merely the delivery mechanism).

And if I pay for the right to drive (fuel, licence, insurance) then I should be allowed to drive if I have forgotten my car; ask a friend to borrow theirs. Obviously the people uploading CDs are the willing friend in this scenario.

Just playing devils advocate here, I can wait a couple of weeks for my forgotten CDs and i've only got a 5GB download limit!

Uhm, no, you've paid for the paper and glue. The rights to the story are not yours, merely the physical item. The delivery mechanism, away from the curious world of software, must be a factor.



If you've paid the appropriate insurances, and just as importantly, your friend has given consent, then yes. Otherwise, without consent, it's theft.
Just as in the same way a book publisher (possibly with the input of the author) would decide whether you get your free hard back or not.
What you can't do, however, is assume permission that because you own something in one format that you're then entitled to it in another.

Touché sir.

What about if I rip the CD at home, upload it to my rapidshare account and then upon getting here I find that I have forgotten the CD so go and download it from my own account?

It's not the same as what I bought, as what I bought was a physical disk. What it is is a digital version of the thing I bought, which I have made so myself. It could be argued that all these digital versions are identical, even if the CD from which they originated are different...

There are trusted uploaders with lots of credibility but I you won't find them on trackers like TPB.
So maybe your statement should have gone like this: If you are a bit stupid don't go torrenting your OS...
But I guess that goes for everything in life

Against copyright. You have a licence to play the music from that CD. Not a licence to change the format the music is in or on. (remembered that from uni)