Game Rentals

[dynamix1]

I was wondering if anyone could elaborate on this issue. Years ago I was able to go down to my local computer store and rent computer games. After such time I was told they couldnty rent them anymore because of copying. How does that make it any different than going to blockbuster and renting a ps2 or xbox game and copying that.

Thanx All.

[butler1]

I might be wrong, but I belive that when you rent a movie from a movie store, the store has bought the rights to rent the movie, ie. they pay a certain amount of money per year so that they can rent out the movie.

Where I live there is a store that will rent computer games, but I don't think many people do. I think it is just that people don't like installing and uninstalling somthing they rented.

[ripit]

It probably has something to do with purchase agreements just like butler1 said. I know netflix can legaly make new copies of most disks if they become damaged (most but not all depending on the company that owns it and their agreement). I would think that video rental stores have similar agreements (the big ones at least). They pay for the right to rent so many copies of the dvd and can replace them if damaged, so long as they are only renting the specified number of copies.
Have you ever had a store refuse to return software because it was opened. They usally give you some story about copyright laws which is a complete lie. There used to be a store in the malls (cannot remember the name) that would let you return software when no one else would. Some software even says that if you are not satisfied with the software or if you do not accept the licience agreement you should return it but the stores will not take it back in many cases. It is store policy (often based on agreements with their suppliers), not law that says you cannot return it. There are no laws that say you cannot rent it either. If there were, you could simply sell a used copy and then buy it back at the same price minus a fee equivalent to a rental fee. There is no law that I am aware of that would prevent you from renting music compact disks either (they already do sell and buy back them).
I am guessing that they consider console games hard enough to copy (requires modification to your console) that the risk is acceptable so they allow it in their purchase agreements. Computer software is too easy to copy so they probably do not allow it.

[waheed]

There is no law that I am aware of that would prevent you from renting music compact disks either

My local library allows the borrowing (or more to the term of renting as there is a charge for this service) of music cds. :P

[Faustus]

There is a place in Ft. Worth texas I'm told that rents computer software, so anything is possible.

As far as renting CDs, there is a company starting soon trying to be the Netflix of Audio CDs. Dont know how legit they are but the claim anyone who preorders a year of service gets a free ipod mini. Seems kinda scammy to me but who knows...

Update: the offer changed, now they just offer one for $99 if you signup for a year.

Update to the update: also they claim they do not rent music CDs. Now it sounds very very scammy.

[ripit]

I'm in Irving. Just out of curosity, do you know the name of the place in Fortworth or how long the rental is?

[Faustus]

I'm in Irving. Just out of curosity, do you know the name of the place in Fortworth or how long the rental is?

Not off hann but I can find out. A co worker whos not here today knows it.

[vioxx]

My local library also allows the FREE borrowing ALL DVDs, CDs and PC games/software.

Still waiting for the free X-Box & PS2 games from my friendly local library....

[Faustus]

My local library also allows the FREE borrowing ALL DVDs, CDs and PC games/software.

Still waiting for the free X-Box & PS2 games from my friendly local library....

In the meantime there is always gamefly.com

[ripit]

I'm in Irving. Just out of curosity, do you know the name of the place in Fortworth or how long the rental is?

Not off hann but I can find out. A co worker whos not here today knows it.

Thanks. I was kind of thinking they might have some clean up utilities (beyond the stuff I normally use). I have several files from old backups/reinstalls and some recovered from a hard drive that got the partitions messed up. I hate to spend a lot of money on utilities that will probably only be used once (search for duplicate files, organise and del etc.).

[Faustus]

I'm in Irving. Just out of curosity, do you know the name of the place in Fortworth or how long the rental is?

Not off hann but I can find out. A co worker whos not here today knows it.

Thanks. I was kind of thinking they might have some clean up utilities (beyond the stuff I normally use). I have several files from old backups/reinstalls and some recovered from a hard drive that got the partitions messed up. I hate to spend a lot of money on utilities that will probably only be used once (search for duplicate files, organise and del etc.).

Heh google found it for me. WHen I saw the name I knew it was it.

Lookup Wedgwood Rental in Ft. Worth.

[aero]

I know netflix can legaly make new copies of most disks if they become damaged (most but not all depending on the company that owns it and their agreement). I would think that video rental stores have similar agreements (the big ones at least). They pay for the right to rent so many copies of the dvd and can replace them if damaged, so long as they are only renting the specified number of copies.

This is not true. Netflix makes no copies.

[Faustus]

I know netflix can legaly make new copies of most disks if they become damaged (most but not all depending on the company that owns it and their agreement). I would think that video rental stores have similar agreements (the big ones at least). They pay for the right to rent so many copies of the dvd and can replace them if damaged, so long as they are only renting the specified number of copies.

This is not true. Netflix makes no copies.

They do sometimes license some movies. They looklike normal DVDs but have a Netflix logo printed on the front of the disk from the presser.

[aero]

I know netflix can legaly make new copies of most disks if they become damaged (most but not all depending on the company that owns it and their agreement). I would think that video rental stores have similar agreements (the big ones at least). They pay for the right to rent so many copies of the dvd and can replace them if damaged, so long as they are only renting the specified number of copies.

This is not true. Netflix makes no copies.

They do sometimes license some movies. They looklike normal DVDs but have a Netflix logo printed on the front of the disk from the presser.

I do think that is different than making disks if the disks are damaged. I think the logo might be from the seller.

I have read a bit about netflix various deals with licencne holders, different fees and structures and never seen a reference to netflix actually making copies themselves. blockbuster remains a much larger vendor and they don't do it.

[ripit]

I didn't mean to imply that they made them themselves. I think they are specialy pressed for them though (and have the netflix logo printed as part of the original label). The article I read it in was discussing their buisness model. Aparently it cost them about 1$ to replace a disk but they can only do it with media from certain companies (ones that have licienced them to do it I would guess). They even say on their site that it is very important for you to return broken disks, even if in pieces as they can replace some of them. I am not certain on the exact details of how it works though.
Edit
It could be the same company that presses normal production disks for the media company, that makes special batches (perhaps off the same assembly line but with a special printed label) for net flix. Just guessing though.