Valve just bitch slapped thousands of game pirates into next year. The company posted a thread early this morning saying that they have banned all accounts that used a pirated registration code. That means anyone who used the code can non longer play any of their Valve games, even if they were legitimately purchased. The board s moderator hints that other action may come as well

If you used that key, you should be very nervous right about NOW.

If that isn t enough to put a warm glow in your heart, check this reply from an illiterate pirate:

ahhh geeze im sitting here not knowing what to do. im so angry and so sad at the same time. i have lost all the game i *BOUGHT" !! i feel so enraged about it. then i think i dont have hl2 nd i feel so sad...

If you know what 5J52E-FVKXV-882FQ-YJXRQ-DOD98 is for... [Steam Users Forums]