I did not talk to Sega Customer Service. As I said, I am not a newbie to the industry. I know how it works. I talked to Sega Corporate HQ's licensing group. Thats why I said, "By all means give me the name of the person who granted license, as... knowbody did." and this is true of topware as well which is owned by Zuxxez.
Amazon is a bit of a different deal depending on what your speaking of.
If a vendor is the Rights owner of a digital download title Amazon (last I knew) does screen that. They require paperwork for their own legal liabilities. But, "John Q. Pubic" (yes I said pubic) cant go on Amazon and set up digital downloads for say Topware titles. Amazon will shut it down and take legal action if so warranted.
Amazon vendors are approved by Amazon and last I knew Amazon holds payments for new vendors until such a time as they can see no problems ensuing. Otherwise it'd be like eBay with a gazillion sellers and 2-gazillion problems.
eBay (according to my brother) is attempting to re-invent itself infact to be Amazon-Like hence all the changes in Video Games, DVD's etc. moving towards UPC codes, showing all offers under one SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) etc. I guess the plan is to be like an "Amazon.com" but an auction instead with the private sell a thing or twenty here and there phased out.
With that said... A look back in time via The Wayback Machine shows that the site was about Emulation. Emulation folks are those notorious for lets get free games although we dont have legal rights to do so.
Obviously, they could'nt make money at that so... lets try this. Its not uncommon folks and if you care to look you will find sites all over the world doing the same thing. If you can read Chinese or Crylic etc. etc. they are all over the place. Notably, you dont find very many in the USA, Europe, Asia etc. many just as you dont find many bitTorrent places in the USA. Why? Because here the government/authorities make some efforts to shut em' down. Why? Because in many cases its profitable to said authorities and/or politicians (and associates) to do so.
Over there? Different story. They like to see your American dollars exit your country stage left so those American Dollars boost their economy and diminish yours.
Microsoft as one BIG example has paid OOODLES of money to China, former Soviet and then some governments to PROTECT Microsoft products from NOT PIRACY in the sense you think... But to try and STOP the resale/redistribution of it AND that resale/redistribution is NOT in those nations! Its RIGHT BACK HERE in the USA!
So... here's the picture folks:
Operation in China for example, a building where copies of Windows 8 or MS Office are being produced. They look just as good as the real thing! Even the packaging looks same!
Thousands of copies end up on Freighter #1 and more on #2 and more on #3. The containers have LOTS of other stuff in em' too... Exports of clothes lets say. These are those big rail containers. Container #32, #71, #87 etc are marked subtly.
They go ALLLLL the way across the open sea and arrive in US Ports. Do you think customs checks EVERY box and EVERY shipping container in em? Uh Uh. They are more concerned about NASTY (terror) items in em'. Sure, some go through random inspections.
Then on this side of the world when containers are unloaded and go into the route sorts for warehouse distributions, these sits the 200 cases that appear to be clothing containers but inside are the copies of Windows.
They then get sold, places such as auctions sites etc etc etc. And all that nice money (well the lions share) ends up? Thats right! Going back to China in our example where it can be further used to undermine YOUR economy which equates to YOUR lifestyle, YOUR family, YOUR children and yes, YOUR jobs.
In MANY MANY ways. Microsoft as an example instead of "Here's Windows" instead does, Windows Home, Windows Pro, Windows Enterprise... They raise costs that COVER the expense of paying governments around the world to protect Microsofts rights/interests. Those governments ought be doing so without getting paid. Right?
Well... Here in the USA our competitors in goods get protection under our system, many places (many many) not the case.
Think its different in PC Games? Uh Uh.
Ever wonder why a new release at Walmart is $50 yet on eBay there it is new, 10 copies for $25 or $30? Now you know.
Walmart cannot consign it under NET terms for that $30. More like $42.
Whats Net terms? 30 NET 10 would mean sell it all in 30 days or incur 10% more cost or return to distributor, say BMG Inc. for price protection (aka: a credit of the $42).
Does it happen in PS/3, X-Box 360, Wii etc? Yep Yep. Happens in DVD Videos as well though thats fallen off quite a bit in the USA. After all, you buying a replicated DVD for $10 netting $7 profit to be split between the hosers at hand is not near as nice as $27 per copy is it?
Surprisingly enough, the former Soviet republics have done more to curb illegit exportation than Western Europe or the Asian arena. Why? Because things that were also getting outside the borders were of great concern to them, so, their customs (if you will) authority became considerably more strict.... AND... Breaking exportation laws in the former Soviet republics has dire consequences. So... many of those went "Lets go digital!" and they jump around.... 4 months hosting here, then 2 there, then 3 here...
If you ask our government about it all they will tell you, "Yes Mr. and Mrs., Mz., Miss. etc".... "The theft of digital properties with RESALE to OUR OWN CITIZENS in dollars is organized crime and the amounts are staggering". (Staggering?). I've heard quotes that it rivals the drug trade in dollars. Makes sense. Few games, $50 or $60. Multiply that by tens of thousands per title. Adds up.
Now want even a BIGGER laugh?
Ok!
The manufacture of alot of the DVD's etc. that ARE legit are done where? That is to say the mass replications of LEGIT product.
Crazy world folks.
But... As I said, I love CAG and it serves a great purpose and growing membership!
I hate to see alot of really good folks get snared into their dollars working against them or others taking advantage of such a great community of people and such a wonderful site made so wonderful by those same people.
is this noob?
