Actually I'm not sure it's illegal.
This is what Frogwares' The Hood wrote on this forum on Testament of SH (sorry, don't know how to link to it):

It means that you can uninstall from one comp and install on another, it gives a better range for lending the game away, or resell it, because activations will continue to work through time.

Well forgive my French and I am sorry if I get emotional, but I must say something!

You can't have your cake and eat it too boys and girls!

Ana is right! We should stop whining and stop trying to beat the system. If you want a game, reach into your pockets and stop complaining. My god, games are only $5-$40 USD and distributors are always running special! You can pay that or more going out to dinner and it will all be down the drain the next day! In the old days, games were $40 to $50 USD, no sales and it was $10 USD extra for a walkthrough guide!

And Yes it is sad and pathetic to see so many developers go out of business. Not because they didn't make games people loved, but because they didn't get paid enough to pay the rent!

I was stultified and actually ASHAMED that such Super Stars of Adventure Gaming, like Jane Jensen and Ragnar Tornquist would have to resort to "Kickstarters" to fund the production of their works!

What is a "Kickstarter"? Basically Begging! Sad but true!

For a new developer working out of his basement is one thing, but for such heavy hitters to have to do it is a very sad state of affairs!

If we don't start curbing pirate distributors (like Lace Mamba) and trying to cheat the system ourselves, there Won't BE ANY Adventure games 10 years from now!!!

And then we will be reduced to trying to get our old discs (if computers even accept discs then) to work on Windows Version 23 or whatever!

Won't that be fun!

No disrespect to you, Darleen, but if "times are a-changing" in the way you want, there will be no more games to play whether you can afford them or not. In my opinion, cheating the game developer in that way is no better than those who pirate games. I am a total stickler when it comes to being legal with ALL my software. But I really go out of my way to support game developers. Like Ana, I have even supported some Kickstarters which are games I will probably never play.

I can relate to not being able to afford all the games I want, but all I have to do is put away $1 every week and it doesn't take long before that $15 or $20 or $60 is saved up. One thing I won't do is cheat game developers. I love my games too much!

Sorry if you all are taking what I said on the topic as "Cheating"

No way I would ever cheat any of the developers or writers of games...

All I am saying is that if you pay for a digital download, and you get a specific key to open , and play the game you should be able to trade or sell that key...

Just like with DVDs on a game ...Some games you get a key to play the disc on your computer...

Well I, for one, never took it that way Darleen

However, I believe the way things are set up at the moment with regards to digital downloads means that in some circumstances you could legally trade a key as long as it hasn't been used. For example, steam allow you to buy a download 'as a gift' and pass the key to whomever you like. All legal and above board. Whether that includes selling it on to a stranger, I don't know, I've never tried. Whatever, you can't use it yourself first.

Personally, I don't see why an individual shouldn't legally be able to trade an unused key whereas an online company like Amazon or whoever can. That's just stacking the odds in favour of the rich middle men and as a 'European socialist' I really hate that

An unused key, yes. One that has already been used, no. That is what is cheating the game developer out of a sale. As Greyfuss said earlier, 20 downloads, but only one sale to the developer as the key gets resold from one person to the next is cheating the developer out of hard earned revenue. A bit of an exaggeration perhaps, but a good illustration of what reselling already used keys means to a game developer.

But how is reselling a used key different from reselling a used disk? Selling disks is generally accepted and supported on this site. And how I understand Frogwares (see 6 posts above this) they don't have a problem with it either.

A disk, particularly one that is required to be in the drive to run, has limited potential to spread. A key code that is allowed on multiple computers unlimited has the potential to cease further sales. A download keycode that has limited 6 activations, can potentially be sold with no more activations because you never really know how many times it has been used.

Regardless of if it is legal or whether or not the developer approves, the trading or selling keycodes, or of a game that requires a keycode is not permitted here. This is a private website and the rules are decided by the administration and that is what we abide by. If other websites permit it, that is their prerogative.

thehood, I thank you for your explanation. I always appreciate your input.

Ana