Would like advice. RE: Games Piracy

[Saikred]

Who do I report this to?
As a gamer I am disgusted by people selling counterfeit 360 games (or any games to be honest) right beneath my nose at work, yet when I contact FACT they do nothing about it.

Is there anyone more direct I can contact (short of the police) to actually get something done?

It sickens me that I go out and pay my money for games, putting the money back into the industry, when cheap assholes buy knock-off games for a fiver and ruin the future titles we look forward to.

[jtmoniz]

If they were pirating two worlds, I wouldn't care - just kidding.

1-888-no-piracy. That's the only one I know of. Yes, I have used it before.

[grayed]

Who do I report this to?
As a gamer I am disgusted by people selling counterfeit 360 games (or any games to be honest) right beneath my nose at work, yet when I contact FACT they do nothing about it.

Is there anyone more direct I can contact (short of the police) to actually get something done?

It sickens me that I go out and pay my money for games, putting the money back into the industry, when cheap assholes buy knock-off games for a fiver and ruin the future titles we look forward to.

Honestly, I would let it go.

1) If he's prosecuted (which isn't impossible), he faces federal charges that will stay on his record permanently and could possibly result in massive fines and/or jail time - either way it would negatively affect his employment, relationships, and habits for the rest of his life. You want to be responsible for that? And for a "victimless" crime?

2) You (and everyone else) are typically overcharged for games anyways. I'm not condoning or justifying piracy, but there is another side to the coin - the industry has many faults.

3) No matter what you've heard some exec say, nothing that kid is doing is "ruining" any future titles. Even if you take all kids that are doing what he's doing the case is still hard to make. The "indy" game market might be another story, but I highly doubt he's selling stuff like that, and some indy devs would probably be happy if he was!

Anyways, my 2¢, take it or leave it.

[Wildcat47]

Honestly, I would let it go.

Not me. I'd report it. I understand where you say that piracy affecting game prices and such being overrated, which it is, but still the dude is a scumbag doing this. I knew a guy at a place I was once employed who sold movies (DVD) way before they were for sale. Usually these movies had been in theaters only a week or two. He was a scumbag too, and made more money off selling the dvds than his weekly check. Made me sick. I always thought about reporting it, but never did. Looking back, I wish I would have. Go for it.

[Saikred]

I have reported it, both to FACT and directly to Microsoft, who do nothing but this guy is selling in the region of 50+ games and DvDs a week.

[jtmoniz]

I have reported it, both to FACT and directly to Microsoft, who do nothing but this guy is selling in the region of 50+ games and DvDs a week.That's a nice side income, I am surprised that M$ didn't do anything. FACT not doing anything really stuns me.

[BlackMagik]

I am sorry but I could never let that go. Simply because if I did it, I would get caught and face the massive fines and other fallouts. I know the system is flawed as far as the gaming industry...but that guy is making money doing something illegal. It is not victimless in my mind when he can make more money than me doing something that is against the law.

[Saikred]

I'm still looking for options. No response still from FACT or Microsoft on either case.

He actually has a bag full of DvDs and Games he's made for people today, so I might just go across the road to the police station and report it in person
Other than that I don't see what I can do.

[WonderCaliban]

I'm still looking for options. No response still from FACT or Microsoft on either case.


You'd have thought FACT would take you seriously to recoup the cost of their advertising.

Everytime I go to the cinema or rent a DvD I have to sit through the same FACT advert time and time again. It really annoys me. If I've rented a movie then why do I have to watch an advert telling me its wrong to download movies.

The sad truth is you have to be a complete idiot to buy off that guy at all. If you want to watch copied movies or play copied games it is much easier to just download them yourself rather than pay for them.

Just rest in the knowledge that anyone who buys games from him will end up with a banned XBOX.

[grayed]

It is not victimless in my mind when he can make more money than me doing something that is against the law.

I get what you're saying, the argument can be made all sorts of ways, I was using "Victimless Crime" as the actual classification that it is: "any activity which does not physically harm a person or property, or to which was in fact consented, and is currently illegal if based on statutory laws." The more you know!

*Rainbow star flies across the screen*

so I might just go across the road to the police station and report it in person

Not their jurisdiction - most cops would probably just humor you until you left then not do a thing. You could try calling the nearest FBI Field Office, but those aren't exactly advertised :P.

You've done your part though - this isn't your jurisdiction either. You've done what you can and notified the right authorities, so if you're doing this out of a sense of decency, moral uprightness, and/or respect for the law then mission accomplished - your conscience can rest easy.

To pursue it any further is kinda just vindictive on your part.

[BlackMagik]

I get what you're saying, the argument can be made all sorts of ways, I was using "Victimless Crime" as the actual classification that it is: "any activity which does not physically harm a person or property, or to which was in fact consented, and is currently illegal if based on statutory laws." The more you know!

*Rainbow star flies across the screen*

I got what you meant by victimless. In the scheme of things, it is certainly that type of crime. I'm also just playing when I say this...but I'm starting to think you are into some not so moral activities. Or you just want to say screw the man in a way. ;) Which is fine with me.

Being who I am, my conscience would not be cleared yet. Even if it meant just telling the dude to stop what he was doing in front of me because I disagree with it.

[grayed]

but I'm starting to think you are into some not so moral activities.

Aren't we all?

Or you just want to say screw the man in a way. ;)

This. There are two sides to the coin, and neither one is perfect. In some cases it's hard to even tell which side is more "broken" than the other.

[Wolf X]

I wouldn't be able to keep a clear conscience if I ratted on the dude for trying to make an extra buck at the expense of an industry, it's not like he's selling drugs to kids or anything.... something I was witness to numerous times growing up which is probably one of the reasons video game piracy just seems so trivial to me.

[tozir]

i dont really care what he is doing, but i would only report him if i just didnt like the guy.

[ZRXT]

Not to be a ****, but you should just not let it bother you. I can't believe people like you are being bothered by **** like this. It's his choice to do that, and he will be busted in due time if it's habitual. I just don't see how people are bothered so much by someone's choices.

[BlackMagik]

It is the OP's feelings about what is right and wrong. It feels wrong to him, hence why it bothers him. It does not bother you, because I guess it doesn't feel wrong? It would bother me the same way, so I'm not sure why you had to worry about someone else being worried and complain that they shouldn't worry. Then again, I wouldn't get peanut butter out of a jar with a sharp knife then lick said knife either...but to each his own.

[jtmoniz]

I was looking around on craig's list the other day and a guy was selling 'back-up copies' of games. These are pirated aren't they? "100% stealth packed and ready for xbox live."

[jackx289]

I was looking around on craig's list the other day and a guy was selling 'back-up copies' of games. These are pirated aren't they? "100% stealth packed and ready for xbox live."

Yeah they are copies.

[johnsharpe]

i've had guys try to sell me copied games, if fact dont nab him then let the fuzz know.
one guy actually gave me a card with his name, number and the fact that he was selling copied discs printed upon it, planker.

[jtmoniz]

Don't get me wrong, I am against pirating, but, it is REALLY tempting to grab a copy of a new game (BORDERLANDS!!!!!) for $10.00. I just couldn't deal with the whole 'banned' issue. Gamertag + console - OUCH!!!! Oh, but soooo tempting!

[jackx289]

Don't get me wrong, I am against pirating, but, it is REALLY tempting to grab a copy of a new game (BORDERLANDS!!!!!) for $10.00. I just couldn't deal with the whole 'banned' issue. Gamertag + console - OUCH!!!! Oh, but soooo tempting!

Not gamertag just console. Well it depends actually but I think it is just the console.