Ubisoft EULA Demands You Destroy Your Copy

[Shadow1980]

Haven't bought a Ubisoft game in over a decade. I plan on keeping that streak going.

I don't care what Ubisoft or anyone else says, we do own our copies, at least the physical ones. I've had that argument more times than I care to. U.S. federal law, specifically Title 17 of U.S. Code § 109, states, and I quote:

"Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106(3), the owner of a particular copy or phonorecord lawfully made under this title, or any person authorized by such owner, is entitled, without the authority of the copyright owner, to sell or otherwise dispose of the possession of that copy or phonorecord."

The law is clear. It calls the buyer "the owner of a particular copy." The key word there is "Owner." This is also what establishes the first-sale doctrine, which is what in turn makes the second-hand market and person-to-person lending & trading possible. While Title 17 § 109 did create an exemption to the first-sale doctrine for computer programs (like a physical copy of Windows Office, for example), that exemption does not apply to "a computer program embodied in or used in conjunction with a limited purpose computer that is designed for playing video games and may be designed for other purposes." That's legalese for "a video game console." So, console games are, just like print books and physical copies of movies and music, treated as "sold, not licensed." It's your property to do with as you see fit, with the sole exception of being able to create and distribute new copies. Hence the term "copy right," i.e., "the right to make copies."

TL;DR: Ubisoft can go pound sand.