1: private WoW servers are written from the ground up, rather than implementing any code from blizzshart
2: SKG is not concerned about the distribution of abandoned games, so distributing it without permission from the IP rights holder is still not legal (piracy)
Sony/Disney has allowed private servers of their IP to exist (Star Wars Galaxies)... How that works? They contacted the creators of SWGEmu and those private servers had to prevent piracy and do not support piracy.
Since the verification servers are offline and you cant verify your legit copy with SWG Sony servers, petty much the only thing private servers can do is disallow people (that they know are using copies they dont own).
So you just slap a copy of the ISO and run a pirated version (I did test this myself and the game run smooth with zero issues)... So private servers cant redistribute client files but they can distribute patcher for modifying client files... Then again if there's no way to get these files legit, the IP holder loses lot of leverage to complain about it... Benefitting the customer.
TLDR: Private server has to disallow pirated copies of the games, but if no serial key verification server exist, then you cant do anything to verify that except bother people to take pics of their CD or some proof of ownership, but you wouldnt do proof of ownesrhip for accessing the server per se because its retarded.
Not concerned yet.
God Willing, brother, one day we will get there.
Same as above
At least with valve, csgo is available through the beta feature, for now. Not that that makes it ok
In valve's defense
1. CSGO files can be accessed through the beta feature, thats true
2. CSGO Dedicated server files can be accessed through Valve's Dev Wiki (
https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Counter-Strike:_Global_Offensive/Dedicated_Servers) and people made custom versions of such dedicated server tools hosted in their github accounts... The game itself is preserved.
Valve did something scummy yea, but they exported your progress to CS2 and still allow you to download the files. The game itself is preserved and still you could nosteam the games with the usual tools for that like Goldberg.