this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2026
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Their tagline is literally 'you buy it, you own it'. But does it really grants ownership?

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[–] Jaegeras@piefed.social 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

What people need to get used to, is that you own copies of what you buy. You're not entitled to own the source codes, unless the developer distributes that freely on their own like ID Software did for Doom (technically the Linux version).

So, what GOG is probably saying is, you're entitled to the ownership of the copy by buying the copy. It is not restrained by DRM as it would if a game was on Steam or Epic Library (but there can be workarounds, you look that up yourself). You're allowed to have the copy work offline, download its separate installer to archive for your personal use.

Now, what you aren't allowed still, is to distribute the copy to other people.

[–] fartsparkles@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

This isn’t quite right. You do not own the game, you are purchasing a non-transferable license, bound to you:

2.1 We give you and other GOG users the personal right (known legally as a 'license') to use GOG services and to download, access and/or stream (depending on the content) and use GOG content. This license is for your personal use.

3.3 Your GOG account and GOG content are personal to you and cannot be shared with, sold, gifted or transferred to anyone else.

It’s simply a boon that they entitle you to download DRM-free binaries but technically, if that license is revoked by GOG, you are not legally entitled to use or store that binary anymore. Practically, however, is a different story.

Source

[–] grue@lemmy.world -3 points 1 day ago

THAT IS A LIE. YOU ARE PARROTING THE LIES OF PEOPLE MOTIVATED TO SWINDLE YOU. STOP IT.

I do not give the slightest fuck what any bullshit "EULA" says, and neither should you, because EULAs are not legally valid in the first place, and never have been. They fail to meet several of the basic requirements of a contract, and the legal theory they rely on (that you have to copy software in order to install and/or run it) has a specific exception carved out for it in black-letter copyright law.

[–] Jaegeras@piefed.social -3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You didn't read the part where I said "you own a copy" hence the word "copy". Do you even read?

[–] fartsparkles@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I did. That’s the bit that’s wrong. You don’t own a copy. Read the terms and conditions. I handily copied and pasted the relevant parts.

The fact you have a copy does not mean you own it. Ownership would mean you could transfer that property. You cannot transfer it (legally).

You own nothing on GOG. It’s a license like everywhere else plus the benefit of having access to DRM-free binaries. Your license permits you to download and use those binaries personally. But you do not own them.

That benefit of the rights to download and use those DRM-free binaries, however, is not to be sniffed at. It’s a fantastic benefit!

But you don’t own them.