[Svekax]

You buy a box of old documents on Ebay. It contains an original manuscript of The Fellowship of the Ring with J. R. R. Tolkien's edits and notes in the margins. Tolkien's estate demands the copy back so they can burn it. You should mail it to them because they own it, right? It's just a book, right?

No, you shouldn't. They owners shouldn't be able to destroy it for the same reason we have laws protecting monuments and historical sites. When something has historical or cultural value, the public has a right to preserve it even against the wishes of the owner.

[enraged_camel]

>>They owners shouldn't be able to destroy it for the same reason we have laws protecting monuments and historical sites.

Monuments and historical sites require Acts of Congress or Executive Orders to establish. If you care so much about this game's source code, maybe you should write to your congress critter.

[Svekax]

No new laws needed. The Library of Congress just needs to take software and video games more seriously.

[tripzilch]

please stop dragging US politics into much broader topics.

[Tactic]

Do they own it? If so, yes. Give it back. What they do with it is on them. Crucify them, not the person doing the right thing.

If you don't like Blizzard's stance, deal with them, not criticize someone for not achieving the end you prefer.

[wtetzner]

> Do they own it? If so, yes. Give it back.

The boundaries of legal ownership and those of what some consider morally acceptable might be different, so I don't think it's so black and white.

On the other hand, I agree that people shouldn't be criticizing someone for not doing something illegal, especially because they are the one who would have to face the consequences of taking illegal action.

[throwaway18917]

Lol but watch everyone flip their shit when Apple tells people that they can't modify their software or hardware because "Apple owns it".