Unable to register

Well, I sold my copy on eBay, but I sent a mail to Support asking them to remove my name so the next person could use the copy I had purchased.

I also, asked for conformation but I received no response. I have no way of checking to see if they did so or not since I no longer have the game, and since I deleted it off the HD to be honest and not play the game any longer.

Stardock has repeatedly taken the position that they will NOT unregister other customers' games in favor of a new owner. It's not their business, and its not up to them to decide who should own the game. However, it is up to you to take matters in your own hands. You should notify EBgames of the issue surrounding Galactic Civilizations and second-hand ownership. If you did not purchase through EBgames, but EBay, Amazon, etc., you should follow the same course of action. Not that it will do much good. It is very unfortunate that the fact that GalCiv doesn't require a CD to play, leads to it being abused in such a manner. Personally, before I ever buy a game, I do as much research as I can on it - to find out if there are problems such as this. Best thing I can suggest is to return the game if nothing else works or to just purchase a crisp, new copy of GalCiv.

Wake up to the real world fanboy. Selling games once you're done with them is a valid and legal thing to do. Its also become a generally accepted practice.

If stardock doesn't support this practice (which, by the way, is accepted by most other game and software publishers), then they are deviating from the industry standard.

As is good practice in all industries - IF YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE RULES, YOU HAVE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW. In my opinion, if they do not have a no-resell clause in the license agreement, they are leaving themselves open to legal action.

Frankly, if I could afford it, I would sue them.

THIS IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF STARDOCK

I'm sorry if you think it is people, but if you decide to sell GalCiv to a used game retailer (which IMHO you'd have to be insane to do, because GC is a great freakin' game), it is YOUR and only YOUR responsibility to relinquish your account to whomever next owns it. All you need to do is include your email and password with the game as well as directions for going to wincustomize.com and changing that information. If you don't want to do this or can't, then too bad for you.

Conversely, if you buy GalCiv used, and the seller did not give you this information, you got screwed. That's all there is to it and it is not Stardock's responsibility to fix things for you--they have no way of telling that you haven't just pirated a copy from someone and are trying to get someone's account deleted so you can have their serial number as your own. Your best hope is to return it or take advantage of any grievance policy the retailer may have and tell them the original owner screwed you.

This may all sound harsh, but that's just the way it is. Stardock is only responsible to original customers--other game companies are the same way, they just have systems that are easier to resell under (but you can still get screwed, such as if you buy a used Blizzard game but the seller continues to use the CDkey on battle.net so you cannot).

Bottom line: used game problems are strictly the province of the buyer and seller--not Stardock. Don't call SD mean or whatever; that's just the way business works.

It's disappointing when one gets flamed for trying to help. I thought this community grew out of being abusive toward each other. I guess I was wrong.
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Another option id for the previous owner of the game to email stardock with the new owner's e-mail asking Stardock to change or update the e-mail, I got a new e-mail address and I sent an e-mail to SD and in less than a day they replaced my old e-mail address with the new one, no questions asked. So it is up to the person selling the game to help the new buyer, it is your business anyway and as a good businessman the customer is always right.

Or, as I said above, just log in wincustomize and do it yourself. The only things you would need SD's help to do is change the name and alias on the account... but changing those isn't as vital to using the game as gaining access to the account in general.

From the EULA:


3. Prohibited Uses. The following uses of the Software are prohibited. If you wish to use the Software in a manner prohibited below, please contact the Company at the address, phone, or fax numbers listed above for information regarding a "Special Use License. "Otherwise, you may NOT :
(a) Make or distribute copies of the Software or documentation, or any portion thereof, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
(b) Use any backup or archival copy of the Software (or allow someone else to use such copy) for any purpose other than to replace the original copy in the event it is destroyed or becomes defective;
(c) Alter, decompile, modify reverse engineer or disassemble the Software, create derivative works based upon the Software, or make any attempt to bypass, unlock or disable any protective or initialization system on the Software;
(d) Rent, lease, sub-license, time-share, or transfer the Software or documentation, or your rights under this Agreement.
(e) Remove or obscure any copyright or trademark notice(s) on the Software or documentation;
(f) Upload or transmit the Software, or any portion thereof, to any electronic bulletin board, network, or other type of multi-use computer system regardless of purpose;
(g) Include the Software in any commercial products intended for manufacture, distribution, or sale; or
(h) Include the Software in any product containing immoral, scandalous, controversial, derogatory, obscene, or offensive works.

The highlighted entry makes it clear that the license CANNOT be transferred. Now, the license was transferred, but I'm quite sure Stardock is willing to overlook this transgression on the part of the original **LICENSEE**. However, this does not mean that they will, or are obligated in any way, to aid someone who obtained a LICENSE for the game through unauthorized means.

If you want to complain to someone, complain to EBGames.

Also, don't come onto these forums and flame people here that try to explain the way things are.

Stardock is an exceptional software company, the likes of which are very rare. If you take the game back and get a new copy, you will see just how great their support for the game and the community are.

Edited for typos and proper HTML formatting.
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