Using VPN to bypass IP blockings in Russia

[M36AZ066]

Hello, I'd like to know if I can use VPN to play games that I have legally purchased and which I can't play because Roskomnadzor blocked the servers which are used by said games. For example, I can't login into WH40k Inquisitor Martyr since its release because Amazon's server they are using is banned in Russia in insane attempt to block Telegram. Steam's TOS forbid to use VPN to purchase games, but the rule written rather vaguely, so I think that I can get banned for simply playing with VPN game that I own.

[Phantom]

To circumvent restriction with purchases - no.

Anything else - you're fine.

[Count_Dandyman]

Originally posted by Robin3sk:

To circumvent restriction with purchases - no.

Anything else - you're fine.

:savedisk:

Please don't spread false information you are not fine to use it to bypass any restrictions at all.

[The Giving One]

The search will show many topics on this from the past.

"A VPN clarification"
http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/541906348043811845/#c541906348043951197

[🍁𝑨𝒔𝒉𝑭𝒐𝒙🍁]

The rule is not "written rather vaguely" , it couldn't be more clear, if you can't achieve something by normal means and using a VPN makes you able to achieve that thing, you're breaking the rules. Simple as that.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by 🌴𝓐𝓈𝓱🌴:

The rule is not "written rather vaguely" , it couldn't be more clear, if you can't achieve something by normal means and using a VPN makes you able to achieve that thing, you're breaking the rules. Simple as that.

That's a common misconception, actually. See my link, please. It does say "for any other purpose" in the SSA, but those other purposes are for doing bad things only, like bypassing region restrictions.

If one is simply using one to get a stable connection, for example, that is ok.

[Snapjak]

Valve has been very lenient on VPN usage, as long as you're not bypassing region restrictions or doing purchases.

[🍁𝑨𝒔𝒉𝑭𝒐𝒙🍁]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

That's a common misconception, actually. See my link, please. It does say "for any other purpose" in the SSA, but those other purposes are for doing bad things only, like bypassing region restrictions.

If one is simply using one to get a stable connection, for example, that is ok.

Well those are the "ok"s that came to be based on how valve reacted to them, so basically trial and error. But then again, the rules are still clear. Using a VPN "for whatever purpose" , regardless of the reason, IS technically breaking the rules.
But whatever the case may be ,the only thing that gives these exceptions credibility is Valve's inaction and leniency towards them.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by 🌴𝓐𝓈𝓱🌴:

Using a VPN "for whatever purpose" , regardless of the reason, IS technically breaking the rules.

The post I linked explains how this is where the misconception is, when users state "for any other purpose". I agree ti could be worded better, but the mod in that post explains it the best I have seen, in my opinion.

"For any other purpose" covers purposes of bad things, like disguising place of residence, bypassing restrictions, etc.

[🍁𝑨𝒔𝒉𝑭𝒐𝒙🍁]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

The post I linked explains how this is where the misconception is, when users state "for any other purpose". I agree ti could be worded better, but the mod in that post explains it the best I have seen, in my opinion.

"For any other purpose" covers purposes of bad things, like disguising place of residence, bypassing restrictions, etc.

So wouldn't most ,if not every VPN disguise place of residence? He IS trying to assume the IP of another country.
I understand your point mate, it's exactly like you said as it fairly should be. My point is, that technically based on those straightforward 3 rules, he'd fall under the category of rule-breakers and CAN be banned, whether he would or should get punished or not is another argument. So personally I wouldn't assure him he'd be alright. Use at your own risk would be more correct.

[M36AZ066]

Originally posted by 🌴𝓐𝓈𝓱🌴:

Originally posted by The Giving One:

The post I linked explains how this is where the misconception is, when users state "for any other purpose". I agree ti could be worded better, but the mod in that post explains it the best I have seen, in my opinion.

"For any other purpose" covers purposes of bad things, like disguising place of residence, bypassing restrictions, etc.

So wouldn't most ,if not every VPN disguise place of residence? He IS trying to assume the IP of another country.
I understand your point mate, it's exactly like you said as it fairly should be. My point is, that technically based on those straightforward 3 rules, he'd fall under the category of rule-breakers and CAN be banned, whether he would or should get punished or not is another argument. So personally I wouldn't assure him he'd be alright. Use at your own risk would be more correct.

Exactly my thoughts. Reading TOS I get an impression that even if I will use VPN just to play (bare in mind that I purchased the game legally, in time of the purchase it was available in Russia's Steam store page (it was pulled out recently and only because it don’t work because of RKN blockings as RKN tries to shut down Telegram by blocking IPs of Google and Amazon by a million in a day), and the game itself isn't banned in Russia) I still can be banned as the whole decision will be in hands of Valve’s administration and its good will. And I want to have clear rules of what I can and can not before using VPN.

[M36AZ066]

And because our goverment decided that it is a good idea to try to block Telegram by blocking host servers which is used by not only Telegram but a lot of other programs/services, we, common Russian citizens have problems with Uplay, some games on Steam, some cloud services (Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Adobe). For example - we had problems with Uplay for two weeks in april until RKN unbanned 7 million IPs. So in the end I think that they (RKN) will unban all third-party IPs, but the process takes too long.