Buy the disk, download the game A recurring question on message boards is why can’t I install my game to my system like a PC. The answer is usually‘piracy’. But I posit why?
So the Xbox Series runs on Windows 10 The PS4/PS5 run BSD The Switch runs a custom Linux variant. But the switch isn’t part of today’s discussion.
Both PS and XB have the ability to (and do) read the BCA/BCZ on disks. Burst cutting area/zone. This is the barcode on the inner most ring of the disc. This section of the disk can not be burned by any consumer burner. It also can not be burned by most production burners. Making it a safe use area for all but the most talented mass use pirates.
Every current and last generation system game disc already has a unique barcode. Each and every disc has it’s own barcode. So why can’t we install a game?
The easiest way to do this would be to read the barcode, add it to a disc blacklist, and add the game to a logged in users account. In effect making the game disc a coaster that can never be installed/played again.
Sounds good in theory. Right? Well there’s two minor regulatory issues here.
One is in both the EU and US physical media can’t be locked to a licence. Rulings against both Adobe and Microsoft, respectively, have maintained ‘first sale’ laws. Owners of physical media have the right to sell, lend, rent, or dispose of that physical media. Problem one is it is currently unlawful to ban a physical disc regardless of what text you put in the case or on the screen. This stems from dozens of game lawsuits from the early/mid 2000s on blocking installation based on a key being previously used. The side effect of key rulings were the advent of disable and reset licence systems. Wisely and properly; once you sold the game or software, and the new owner used it, the company would deactivate the previous install and activate the new one. Doing so with video games is more problematic. If the buyer were to install the game and recycle, or :gasp: throw out, the disc there is no way to keep a recycling centre employee from pocketing that call of duty disc and bringing it home. Now who is the legal owner? The man with the media disc or the gamer with the installation. Also an issue is uninstalling the game to sell the disc. A major cost for companies to maintain rolling black lists of millions and millions of discs.
Second issue is mandatory take back laws in most top 50 GDP countries. Most commonly discussed is TVs, batteries, and portable devices. But technically Microsoft and Sony are required to accept and recycle their software as well. For free. Blacklisting a disc opens them up to a giant influx of physical media to recycle. Ouch.
How do we solve this? What do you think?
_________________ 42 6F 61 72 64 73 6F 72 74 2E 63 6F 6D
|