Sorry, I disagree - I read the EUCD. It refers to PC programs as well and this includes games. This law is valid in UK since December 2003 IIRC - and since Sept. 2003 in Germany. And I did not only read the paragraphs, I read comments, too - from lawyers specialised on PC law. This only in German though, as my English is not good enough for law terms. So, using tools to "crack" cp protection - regardless of the media! - is illegal. Your country had to give in... you're in the EU. There are a lot of countries not very happy about this.

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As the law clearly states gamers have this right, it is also ILLEGAL to copy protect games, as this violates the law granted by the right to backup copy.

Sorry, I disagree - your opinion here is interpretation. The law is not clear about this - a case for the court. Maybe a bit like the large incident about the American judge Kaplan and the DMCA in 2002. This was about films - the film industry won. It will be only a matter of time until one of the large publisher companies will go to court. We'll see.

And I have more bad news for you - about private copies: the EU made another deadline for this. And I only know this from Germany: our ministery is preparing a new law (EU-conform) making it more difficult to create private copies. This will involve paper and digital media. There is a petition going on right now in Germany - as scientists fear for the freedom of research, publishing etc.

Don't shoot the messenger, please. It's not about right/wrong, I don't want to prove anything to you - but I advise reading legislative info - even if the British Parliament may not plan this private copy law at the moment (not only Germany was very hesistant to validate the EUCD) - as your country is in the EU => it will come. If I can find the English equivalent to the novelty, I will post it. I'm concerned, because I do not know, how the impact on libraries will be.