I purchased a used computer game on eBay. The game in question is Battlefield 2, created by Electronic Arts. Since the purchase I found out that Electronic Arts has a system in place that prevents the function of used software. The first time the software is run, the CD key is registered with an online server. Each time the software is run thereafter, it checks with the online sever for permission to run. If the CD key was formerly used by another person, the program is denied permission to run.

I contacted Electronic Arts and was informed that their policies do not allow the transfer of registration between the original user and a new. For a fee of $10 (more than a NEW copy of the software -- the game is $8.99 at Target), one can purchase a new CD key to allow a new registration.

I was told that these policies are in place specifically to thwart the resale of used Electronic Arts software. The customer support representative with whom I spoke refused to let me speak with a manager.

My understanding is that US law protects the right of a consumer to transfer ownership or license of intellectual properties, such as books, audio recordings, and software.

3/4/2008 5:43:16 PM

that sounds kind of shiesty, although i also see the loophole where you could pay $10 for the license of a $60 program and just illegally download the $60 program...but you'd have a legal license for only $10

other than that i dunno...i fuck with console games nowadays...i just have my profile on a memory card...hell i can plug my 360's hard drive into another box and play just like i was at home

3/4/2008 5:47:08 PM

^ Except the game costs $9... less than the fee for re-registration.

3/4/2008 5:49:09 PM

how the hell did someone sell it to you and ship it to you for less than 9$? Even then what price would make the hassle of ebay worth it?

Although your original point is correct. EA sucks, DICE sucks, and BF2 isn't a very good game

3/4/2008 5:52:21 PM

yeah i was wondering why not just buy the 9 dollar game too. while EA sux for many reasons, it does make some sense paritcularly for a major online game like that so you dont just buy 1 copy and have every friend of urs use the same cd.

3/4/2008 6:25:21 PM

im pretty sure several pc games manufacturers do this same thing.

3/4/2008 6:37:42 PM

CD keys are used by most PC software makers... if the key system was not in place, someone could easily buy a single copy of the game and widely distribute it for free (or for the profit of the original buyer) through the internet or among friends by burning it to a blank CD.

It's not really meant to stop people who buy a used copy from Ebay, but rather to stop PC games from becoming as easily freely-accessible as music files.

3/4/2008 7:03:44 PM

The seller would have to give you their account used for Battlefield 2 most likely to make it work

besides that game is old as hell and while very very fun and entertaining the people left playing it are gonna be either griefers or damned good players

this is way way at the end of that game's life cycle online

3/4/2008 7:10:26 PM

xbox360 FTW!!!

3/4/2008 7:31:05 PM

Quote :

"how the hell did someone sell it to you and ship it to you for less than 9$? Even then what price would make the hassle of ebay worth it? Although your original point is correct. EA sucks, DICE sucks, and BF2 isn't a very good game"

it was $0.99 + $4 shipping and it came with special forces expansion pack.

3/4/2008 8:09:36 PM

guess he knew something you didnt.

3/4/2008 8:35:27 PM

EA is still a bunch of cock smokers

3/4/2008 8:38:34 PM

I don't understand how they can track "who" is using the key. Suppose the original owner reformatted and reinstalled...would the key work?

3/4/2008 11:35:42 PM

The key is probably linked to a specific handle or profile (1 allowed per cd-key) created at the time of registration.

3/5/2008 4:13:22 AM

I know for some downloadable games at least, that there are 2-3 keys/lisences, in case you do install it on another machine.

3/5/2008 9:12:02 AM

Quote :

"so you dont just buy 1 copy and have every friend of urs use the same cd."

Sure, but this really doesn't speak to the inability to transfer licenses. Microsoft lets you do this. If you format your computer and need to reactivate you can give them a call. I'm sure it would be a simple matter to make sure the same key isn't being used by two accounts at the same time.

3/5/2008 9:44:41 AM

Might not be related, but I got a new computer a few months back and started reinstalling all my od games and when I got to BF2 it said that I can't install it.

I gave up on it.

3/5/2008 10:26:03 AM

just contact the guy you bought it from and have him send you the login/pass from the account.

if he doesn't, then its time to dispute the charges/leave neg feedback.

3/5/2008 10:56:40 AM

^yeah, but EA is still a bunch of cocksuckers.

3/5/2008 4:39:02 PM

looks like they pwnd you in BF2 though. they are a buncha hackers!!!

3/5/2008 5:03:45 PM

its just 10 bucks

3/5/2008 5:04:19 PM

i was just talking to my friend tonight about how much madden changed from 1992 to 2000

and then how little it changed from 2000 to 2008

makes me sad

3/6/2008 4:17:17 AM

yeah he was trying to play it online, though you can create a different profile...

i've installed bf2 on different computers using the same code with no problem (different IP's, different hardware)

3/6/2008 2:53:10 PM