Securom Investigation

FLYBYU · Oct 6th 2008

Girard Gibbs LLP is currently investigating complaints that certain Electronic Arts computer games, including Spore, Sims 2 expansion packs, Need for Speed, Medal of Honor, Madden NFL, Mass Effect, and Command and Conquer, automatically install an undisclosed Digital Rights Management program (DRM) called SecuROM on users computers. DRM is a form of technology that is used to protect copyrighted material by restricting the consumers ability to copy or distribute it.

Consumers complain that SecuROM, which they are unable to uninstall, disrupts the operation of their computers by interfering with other software, such as anti-virus programs, and normal operation.

If you have purchased Electronic Arts' computer games, or would like to learn more about the SecuROM investigation, please go to Securom Investigation

Please Copy this and spread it on as many forums as possible.

magnet · Oct 6th 2008

yeah securom is a bitch but it still is better than starforce (SF is way more evil. at least for me it was)

FLYBYU · Oct 6th 2008

This may turn into a class action suit so if you have any EA games go check it out and tell them what you have and if it has Securom Make EA pay for this crap. StarForce is not used much anymore I dont think.

magnet · Oct 7th 2008

X-series (x2: the threat, x3: reunion) used to have starforce. It ruined my pc (seriously)!!

lemme see, I have spore, sims2, shitload of sims2 expansions, nfs most wanted and c&c tiberium wars + kane's wrath.

how much do you think I'll get if I got them from my local game supplier - the pirate bay ?

FLYBYU · Oct 7th 2008

Quote

Originally posted by magnet
X-series (x2: the threat, x3: reunion) used to have starforce. It ruined my pc (seriously)!!

lemme see, I have spore, sims2, shitload of sims2 expansions, nfs most wanted and c&c tiberium wars + kane's wrath.

how much do you think I'll get if I got them from my local game supplier - the pirate bay ?

Thats one way around it. I have always bought my games, but this DRM is making me look at your style of game supplier as they dont have DRM in them I am told. Don't know how that works but I guess they remove the DRM some how right?

magnet · Oct 7th 2008

yep - they modify the main .exe file (or other files if there's some uber-DRM) to bypass the disk check, online activation etc etc.

the only minus is that you can't play MP in some games (like SPORE, from what i've heard. never tried tho)

Arvedui · Oct 7th 2008

my two cents:

as a fan of space-strategy games i was very interested in "galactic civilizations", by stardock. however, as they released the game 'protected' by starforce i didnt purchase it
when they released "galactic civilizations 2" they sold the game 'unprotected' and i purchased it
(the guys in starforce were so angry that they linked in their home page some torrent and p2p sites where the game was available to download :D)

if stardock releases in any time a "galactic civilizations 3" ill buy it if its unprotected, but if they use securom, starforce or any other shit they wont get my money

if everybody were acting the same way those DRM virus would be history by now...

magnet · Oct 7th 2008

totally.

actually game pirates can get the game running much faster and easier than the buyers (w/ DRM included)

FLYBYU · Oct 8th 2008

Quote

Originally posted by magnet
totally.

actually game pirates can get the game running much faster and easier than the buyers (w/ DRM included)

That is why DRM is a waste of time and money for game companies as there product is still cracked. Mass Effect is awful and they say that EA was going to make it worse then ME for PC gamers with all newer releases. Mass Effect you have to be connected to the internet to play a SP game so it can check your disc several times while you play. Then it has disc checks on system, and you can only install it 3x and have to go buy a new game. In fact, many people are not able to play it yet then you have to ask how many just through it away in anger or put it on the shelf for only god knows when. I had a game called Company of Heroes it was fine until they release a new patch and in that patch they put DRM. The game became unplayable so THQ, and EA [1]

magnet · Oct 8th 2008

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and you can only install it 3x and have to go buy a new game

actually no. you have to call EA (on a toll number ofc) and ask [read=beg]them to give you a new code/key/smth - it's the same with SPORE.

btw, I've read that EA's research shows that only 1.9smth % of ppl use more than 3 installs (but seriously - you usually don't play a game long enough to change 3+ computers...

altho, if you bought it, it SHOULD be yours - and what you do with it doesn't matter (as long as it's nothing illegal like re-selling the copies of game for money...

FLYBYU · Oct 8th 2008

Quote

Originally posted by magnet

actually no. you have to call EA (on a toll number ofc) and ask [read=beg]them to give you a new code/key/smth - it's the same with SPORE.

btw, I've read that EA's research shows that only 1.9smth % of ppl use more than 3 installs (but seriously - you usually don't play a game long enough to change 3+ computers...

altho, if you bought it, it SHOULD be yours - and what you do with it doesn't matter (as long as it's nothing illegal like re-selling the copies of game for money...

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I read about that and they are not giving new installs I seen that on the forum and at Amazon.com so it was as I thought you install it 3 times and your done.

I agree if you buy it, it's yours as long as you dont make copies and sale it do as you please.

**SWAT_OP-R8R** · Oct 9th 2008

actually when you buy a game you dont buy the software meaning that it is your property
you buy a licence to use this software and companies have the right to decide how this licence does look like and what restrictions it does contain

from a legal point the companies are allowed to say that the licence does only work on 3 different systems before it needs to get reactivated
and i dont really have a problem with that (i buy my software and so far everything except one game did work correctly -> the exception was due to my slow connection making it impossible to get steam to work correctly)

in case of the secret installations of software that affects other software it would be an illegal act of those companies. That software seems to be similar to trojans or other kinds of viruses. But since windows does call back home submitting data this seems to be daily business. The chances to do something against such kind of manipulation are pretty small as when you start installing a game or other software you have to agree to a licence and very likely (the companies would be very stupid if not) the licences contain a few lines dealing with the installation of a copy protection software.
Most... if not all users dont even read those agreements... and thats the prob.

No matter if these measurements are damaging or ineffective... they are legal.
All you can do is to boycot these companies... but honestly if i want to get a game then i will buy it and so will many others (and so far i didnt experience any weird shit on my pc)

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Securom Investigation

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