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I've recently discovered an oversight in a popular games config file system that allows you to use an item even if you haven't yet unlocked it, this is a multiplayer game where players are expected to reach a level where they will then be able to use said item. The 'exploit' works by adding an entry to a ini file with the ID of the restricted item, it appears that the item is only restricted when trying to add the item rather than when loading it from the file.

My plan is to develop and sell a tool that will give players the ability to unlock the item, I would like to know if this is legal to do providing I include a disclaimer that it could be patched at any point?

I am not modifying any code of the game itself I am just making use of an oversight by the developer.

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    Disclaimers rarely make illegal things legal. It does happen from time to time, especially when there's a legal duty to inform. But that's not the case here. – MSalters Oct 14 '19 at 22:24
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    IANAL, but I've spent over 30 years in the software industry and I think it's safe to say that if your tool shows up on their radar and they feel it could affect their profits, you should expect formal contact from their legal team. Modifying their config files outside of the tools they provide is no different from modifying their code. – Carey Gregory Oct 15 '19 at 0:35
  • @CareyGregory: Their code is protected by copyright. Their config files are produced by an automated process, and may not be protected. In particular, the factual parts (player has/has not reached a certain level) are not protected. – MSalters Oct 15 '19 at 11:25
  • @MSalters You've read their license? I'm not familiar with this game but with most of the products I've worked on the licenses tended to be very broad and restricted modifications to all files the product depended on, not just code. – Carey Gregory Oct 15 '19 at 14:04
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    Possible duplicate of Is creating and selling "cheats" or "hacks" for games illegal? – BlueDogRanch Oct 15 '19 at 16:35

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