Is This Illegal?

So I have done a tad bit of research and I'm aware that even though it is against TOS, you can still do certain things like selling your own account on like Spotify or Instagram. However, I saw someone selling Spotify, Xbox, YouTube, Disney+, etc personal account upgrades. It wasn't hard to figure out how he was managing to do it: using a vpn and/or turkey payment method, you buy it and profit from the difference. Just how legal is that? I am aware changing your region is against the TOS, but there is a part that confuses me. The customer is the one bounded by TOS because it is not YOUR account, so does how much of that applies to you? Using a VPN, payment from other country, etc all same legal, but when it comes to the selling upgrading as a service, I am not sure how legal that may be. It would be relatively low cost enterprise for me to attempt. This is NOT a promotional thread and I do not currently sell anything at all. I am just thinking of different things to start with low cost and I came across this. If it is, I'll find something else.

legality wise? depending on where you are from can be big problem to no one care.

Its not illegal but you risk account suspensions. WIth current inflation you can get games or subscribtions for 80% cheaper compared to US or UK

Elvlin said:

legality wise? depending on where you are from can be big problem to no one care.

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America?

SEOKrishna said:

Its not illegal but you risk account suspensions. WIth current inflation you can get games or subscribtions for 80% cheaper compared to US or UK

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Yeah the service kinda sells itself at that point. Waiting to see if anyone else has input that disagrees, but this is the conclusion that makes sense to me

Qquuinn said:

America?

Yeah the service kinda sells itself at that point. Waiting to see if anyone else has input that disagrees, but this is the conclusion that makes sense to me

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USA? yes illegal. basicly use fake identity itself is illegal

Elvlin said:

USA? yes illegal. basicly use fake identity itself is illegal

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Not a fake identity. Person has already created the account with their information. In this hypothetical, the seller would be logging into the buyers account and making the purchase for them with a legal VCC from another country under a VPN for discounted regional pricing

Where have you been all these years? This whole forum consists mainly of relentless TOS violators making their living by exploiting various services all day all night.
It's completely legal even if you use fake documents. (Assuming you photoshoped them and not manufactured your own passport)
Just pay the tax and you're as white as snow

Pretty sure it's not legal to handover accounts like that. But you should consult a lawyer if you want to know about the actual law and read terms of services of the websites.

kavo said:

Where have you been all these years? This whole forum consists mainly of relentless TOS violators making their living by exploiting various services all day all night.
It's completely legal even if you use fake documents. (Assuming you photoshoped them and not manufactured your own passport)
Just pay the tax and you're as white as snow

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OH I KNOW LOL! One of my favorite journeys on her is literally just bots.

sam55 said:

Pretty sure it's not legal to handover accounts like that. But you should consult a lawyer if you want to know about the actual law and read terms of services of the websites.

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I may attempt to see if i can get a free consultation from some lawyer. I have the terms bookmarked, but they mainly just say "you are prohibited" or "you agree" or "you will be banned." I haven't seen anything about possible legal implications. I looked on the apple and google forum and they don't really answer the question. They just say it's against TOS which i don't care about

Yes, it's illegal, in pretty much everywhere. It isn't simply against TOS. You can't just sell a product that doesn't belong to you.

TheSplinter said:

Yes, it's illegal, in pretty much everywhere. It isn't simply against TOS. You can't just sell a product that doesn't belong to you.

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Although I understand what you are saying in a way, what are the particular laws you're referencing? Do you believe it is legal to do the regional pricing for yourself only? I believe it's legal to do for yourself, but when it comes to selling the ability to do it as a service, I am not sure. The account belongs to the individual in question and so does the money. Where I would hypothetically be profiting is the completion of the purchase. Do you believe the legality would be different if I handmade the accounts instead because they would be "mine" or would it still be illegal because I cannot 'own' Spotify. However, if i can charge someone money to buy something for them at a slightly higher lower price to profit from the difference, where does this apply? Things that are not owned by people are sold all the time. I'm not a law buff and you're the first dissenting opinion, so I just want to hear you speak more is all.


EDIT: So, not understanding even half of whatever legal jargon I just encountered, I read the Spotify TOS. This is the best I could find.

The Spotify User Guidelines prohibit a myriad of things that are not illegal such as number 6, 7, 8, 10, etc. I believe nine isn't illegal either because circumventing content restrictions isn't exactly a crime. The only parts that seemed legally binding (to me):

You agree to comply with all applicable Trade Control Laws in your use of the Spotify Service. Specifically, you agree not to, directly or indirectly, use, sell, supply, export, reexport, transfer, divert, release, or otherwise dispose of any products, software, or technology (including products derived from or based on such technology) received from Spotify under these Terms to any destination, entity, or person or for any end use prohibited by applicable Trade Controls Laws. Spotify shall not be required to act in any way that is prohibited under applicable Trade Control Laws, and it shall be in the sole discretion of Spotify to refrain from being directly or indirectly involved in the provision of products or services that may be prohibited under applicable Trade Control Laws.

The Spotify Service and the Content are the property of Spotify or Spotify's licensors. All Spotify trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, domain names, and any other features of the Spotify brand ("Spotify Brand Features") are the sole property of Spotify or its licensors. These Terms do not grant you any rights to use any Spotify Brand Features whether for commercial or non-commercial use.

It wouldn't be a use of anything I see listed unless it's clouded in legal speak that I cannot comprehend. Please expand sir.

Qquuinn said:

So I have done a tad bit of research and I'm aware that even though it is against TOS, you can still do certain things like selling your own account on like Spotify or Instagram. However, I saw someone selling Spotify, Xbox, YouTube, Disney+, etc personal account upgrades. It wasn't hard to figure out how he was managing to do it: using a vpn and/or turkey payment method, you buy it and profit from the difference. Just how legal is that? I am aware changing your region is against the TOS, but there is a part that confuses me. The customer is the one bounded by TOS because it is not YOUR account, so does how much of that applies to you? Using a VPN, payment from other country, etc all same legal, but when it comes to the selling upgrading as a service, I am not sure how legal that may be. It would be relatively low cost enterprise for me to attempt. This is NOT a promotional thread and I do not currently sell anything at all. I am just thinking of different things to start with low cost and I came across this. If it is, I'll find something else.

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Fraud, unauthorized access, and copyright infringement. All illegal, mate.

TheSplinter said:

Fraud, unauthorized access, and copyright infringement. All illegal, mate.

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Thank you for the explanation. Did not elaborate whatsoever, but, for what it's worth you replied. Guess it's a pointless, risky endeavor

Qquuinn said:

Not a fake identity. Person has already created the account with their information. In this hypothetical, the seller would be logging into the buyers account and making the purchase for them with a legal VCC from another country under a VPN for discounted regional pricing

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as in you get permission from the real owner, than it should be legal, othern than break TOS of them. but as i know it most that sell account is spamming ac with software using fake identity they generate and VCC+proxy

kavo said:

Where have you been all these years? This whole forum consists mainly of relentless TOS violators making their living by exploiting various services all day all night.
It's completely legal even if you use fake documents. (Assuming you photoshoped them and not manufactured your own passport)
Just pay the tax and you're as white as snow

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you doesn't face repurcusion doesn't mean it's legal in your country. just like download and play pirated game or movie/music in third world country, it's illegal yes, but everyone do it.
but as i said above TOS is not equal your country law. so it all depend on where and how you do it.

Qquuinn said:

Thank you for the explanation. Did not elaborate whatsoever, but, for what it's worth you replied. Guess it's a pointless, risky endeavor

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I think it«s all pretty obvious. Making money with someone else's brand is illegal. Providing access to someone else's product without authorization is illegal. At least in first world countries. But if you're in China and do that to an american company, not much can happen to you. In Russia people even use logos of official American brands to officially promote their products.

Pretty sure it's illegal, the identity itself alone does it.

angecon said:

Pretty sure it's illegal, the identity itself alone does it.

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Came to this conclusion because of Splinter and am pursuing other endeavors. No further replies needed, but thank you for the input

TheSplinter said:

I think it«s all pretty obvious. Making money with someone else's brand is illegal. Providing access to someone else's product without authorization is illegal. At least in first world countries. But if you're in China and do that to an american company, not much can happen to you. In Russia people even use logos of official American brands to officially promote their products.

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wouldn't say its illegal but for sure they could sue for "damages" if they wanted to and probably win.

Qquuinn said:

Came to this conclusion because of Splinter and am pursuing other endeavors. No further replies needed, but thank you for the input

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profit is shit anyways, better off doing a better service/item like u said.

Of course this is bad and wrong.