fox jumps wrote:Roger L.S. Griffiths wrote:In the case of sharing games with a friend, there is nothing to stop you creating a either a specific account for each game shared or a single account for all the the games and sharing the relevant account details with your friend.
Good luck with that, Roger. Whilst you may agree with Steam, I find it slightly puzzling why you should advise others to pursue activity that may well get their accounts banned.
I have never been in the position where I would buy a game and share it with people and will never be. I adhere to the licensing regulations strictly.
The Ts&Cs are more to do with sharing a game for profit rather than sharing in a limited environment (e.g. a home where everyone may use the same account on the same group of computers - not simultaeniously though). Where Steam is concerned, you can only be logged into the same account on one computer at a time.
From clause 2A of the current Steam License:-
Valve hereby grants, and you accept, a limited, terminable, non-exclusive license and right to use the Software for your personal use in accordance with this Agreement, including the Subscription Terms.
This implies that the license can not be shared via one interpretation but clause 2F explicitly states the non-commercial gain restriction aspects with an exception for registered Cyber Cafes. In addition, Clause 13 has to be considered
You agree to comply with all applicable import/export laws and regulations. You agree not to export the Software or allow use of your Account by individuals of any terrorist supporting countries to which encryption exports are at the time of exportation restricted by the U.S. Bureau of Export Administration. You represent and warrant that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any such prohibited country.
The implication of this is that as an individual, you are permitted to allow friends and family to access/use the account. However, it also means that if you have say a friend who is a national from country X and the US is currently holding an embargo against country X then you are not permitted to allow them to access your account (regardless of their country of residence).
In general, it is safer not to allow anyone to access your own personal account but under limited circumstances it would appear to be permissable although you are held responsible for any breach of license as consequence of their access.
[EDIT]WRT my own opinions on Steam and similar technologies, I do not personally care either way.
As a user I like the fringe benefits that Steam offers, but am neutral on the licensing aspects since I have faith that come what may Valve (
and the developers of whatever software I use through Steam) will play fair with me as a customer/end-user.[/EDIT]