Hi. Maybe it's been discussed already, but I think it's a very relevant topic for everyone buying and selling pre-release builds / "prototypes". I've left out a lot of details to make the example story shorter. This topic's example has been squared up, so don't grab your pitchforks. About two weeks ago a user named Seven had a situation with a user over at CollectorsEdition.org named Doronf1. Seven told me he had previously bought some unreleased prototype discs off Doronf1 that had suddenly been released without him knowing. I had also bought discs off Doronf1 myself, so I contacted him, and luckily he hadn't planned to sell any of those builds. But he confirmed he had made backups of Seven's discs and had been selling the builds to other people without informing him. He said this was standard procedure and that people he usually dealt with didn't mind him selling builds after they had bought the discs. Seven wanted a full refund in return for sending the discs back, but Doronf1 didn't think that was fair and offered a partial refund. I talked to Doronf1, and apparently there's been two different understandings that haven't been communicated. Now Doronf1 and Seven has made a deal and come to a mutual agreement. Anyway, I know there are different perspectives to this specific situation and the basic rules of buying/selling in general, so I'd love to discuss this and hear what you guys think. Maybe this will be fruitful and help prototype dealing be more seemless in the future. My personal opinion is it's wrong to keep selling the backup of a prototype after you've sold the physical disc/cart/etc. I believe most 'prototype collectors' buy prototypes expecting them to be as unique as they are (in lack of better words), and should expect it. Most prototypes are not one-of-a-kind, so the data from another copy could theoretically be released, but when a seller actively sells the backup data for more profit without stating this intention when selling the disc is unfair towards the unknowing buyer. You don't start renting out a car or a house you just sold to someone... I believe when you sell prototypes it's common sense thinking the buyer is after the uniqueness of the build on the disc, and that if the build is released it loses value - in the eyes of the market or the buyer all the same. I also make backups to secure data, but I usually offer it to go with a sale, and then I delete the backup. If I want to keep a backup for personal use, I mention that when discussing the sale, and if I were to plan on selling the data over again to other people I absolutely would make sure to clarify that. Some people don't mind spending lots of money on unreleased builds only to release them, and that's fine, but I don't think it's right to draw that conclusion first when selling prototypes.
I agree, if I'm buying a prototype off someone, I would be angry to find they kept the data and had been selling it off to others. It's up to me to release/give/sell it to whomever I please, since as far as I'm concerned, I purchased it, it's mine. If there is a clear indication before the sale that data is kept and/or resold then that's fine, we can make our own judgement calls in that case. To do it behind the buyers back is definitely not cool though, and a scumbag move.
hmm there is many issue because .... 1. don't know it how many copy prototype / alpha ... 2. no way ask how to get it from or it first hand or 2hand or many hand 3. egg or hen ? data leak after sell, is seller or buyer or other owner? 4. once prototype get first market price, may be some one remember have it too , so ..... 5. there is always happen , buyer ask many info and picture, but final did not buy it, and some day hammer it the build is heavy price....
For me selling backups of prototypes is a no go. This can always happen when you bought a legit copy. A physical copy of a proto lost his worth when its released or copyed for making money. I think we all agree they are not cheap to get most time. And asking to release it is most time you payed alot of money for it, and "he you want to loose money?" I think most collectors think so. I would release more if i get a refund of what i payed before. And than its ok to get money for a copy, because its for anyone. I can understand the gift thinking behind releasing anything, and i released many stuff before. But at all you as collector lost money.
