Out Dated VideoGames

[Foxkit 4]

Is it ok to use ROMS, Flashcarts, and the like if the games are not longer sold or are extremely overpriced and hard to find?

[kellessdee 48]

"Ok" is a little ambiguous here.

 

Regardless of whether it can be found or not, pirated software is pirated software.

 

Is it legal? Depends on your country's copyright laws.

 

Is it moral? Well, that's a whole 'nother can of worms, and possibly a religious debate.

 

Either way, I think companies tend to turn a blind eye to pirated copies of outdated games. It wasn't until Nintendo started launching retro games on the virtual console/gba/etc, that a lot of nintendo roms started getting pulled from the internet. Coincidentally, it was only the games that HAD been re-released (therefore obtainable) that were pulled from such websites.

 

Take that as you will, I can't say for certain whether that is actually true, just one conclusion I have drawn. I have no moral issues with it.

[Polraudio 122]

Only if its your backup.

 

If i was a game company and you already purchased the game from me i would say download it. I see no reason to purchase another copy when you have one. But only if you have the game already and didn't give it away or are letting someone else use it(1 bought game per person).

 

If you don't already have the game don't download the rom.

[Jon Bon 43]

Pol has the right idea.

Most of the good/better 'outdated games' as you said, are for sale on either, steam, wii, xbox or psn, which I am fairly certain you don't need a system to buy the games. You go to their website register, buy a game through their vendor system and then you can legally play the rom. I am in the process of composing a guide that shows people how to play roms online with friends. In the guide it has a list, at least for nintendo so far, of games that are sold on which systems, so you can get their user license. Here is the onsite link.

[Knuckles 1]

What is the difference between paying $15 per NES game and downloading a rom for free from a business perspective? In both cases the companies publishing the games get no money. Even if you paid $100+ for some rare cartridge the publishers see nothing out of it, just as if you are downloading a rom for free. But downloading a rom is illegal in the US, it does not matter if you own a legitimate copy, it is an illegally made copy therefore it is illegal. The only legal way of playing roms on your computer is to rip the cartridges you own with special tools. With that said, fewer legal prosecutions were made in this area than movies and music, so chances of getting caught downloading SNES roms are slim.

[Jesse66126 4]

it maybe "illegal", but they're not going to put everyone in jail, though. The economy is already dying with 60% of our country's population in jail, and almost all of our citizens buying imported rather than American made products because it's cheaper. However, they may make an example out of a few unlucky individuals. Other than that, the US government doesn't really have the strength to arrest everyone that pirates things, since that's over 160 million people. According to just piratebay's logs.

Edited May 6, 2012 by Jesse66126

[Jon Bon 43]

What is the difference between paying $15 per NES game and downloading a rom for free from a business perspective? In both cases the companies publishing the games get no money.

 

The difference between paying and not paying has nothing to do with publishing companies, it has to do with who owns the legal rights to the product and there for who is entitled to the sales. This is of course in reference to buying a digital version(not rom) of the game, and not a real world copy.

 

But downloading a rom is illegal in the US, it does not matter if you own a legitimate copy, it is an illegally made copy therefore it is illegal. The only legal way of playing roms on your computer is to rip the cartridges you own with special tools. With that said, fewer legal prosecutions were made in this area than movies and music, so chances of getting caught downloading SNES roms are slim.

 

It is not illegal, please show me the law that states it is illegal in the United States.

 

it maybe "illegal", but they're not going to put everyone in jail, though. The economy is already dying with 60% of our country's population in jail, and almost all of our citizens buying imported rather than American made products because it's cheaper. However, they may make an example out of a few unlucky individuals. Other than that, the US government doesn't really have the strength to arrest everyone that pirates things, since that's over 160 million people. According to just piratebay's logs.

 

Not being prosecuted is not a reason to do something. Just because you can get away with it, doesn't mean you should do it. But for the record, it is not illegal.

 

You are allowed to create a back up copy of any software through any means as long as you have already paid for it, and do not intend to redistribute it to people as an alternative to paying for it. This is the United States copyright law (17 USC 117).

For more information on that law please visit this link to Cornell University where they have it posted.

 

http://www.law.corne...ode/text/17/117

[Ackley14 1]

Ok what if you had the game but your console broke so you gave said games to lets say, cousins. then you found the magic of emulators. do you think it would be moraly ok to download roms of games you have previously owned but gave away due to lack of playability of console?

 

 

edit- and what if u owned lets say "mother" for example, back when you were, like, ten. and you want to remeniess in the glory of the franklin badge and cracked bat yet again. but you lost the game along time ago even tho you payed for it origionally. is that an ok circumstance?

Edited May 6, 2012 by Ackley14

[Jon Bon 43]

I am not a lawyer, I can not officially advise you on such matters, I can only show you laws as I know and understand them. To the best of my understanding you need to currently have a copy of whatever media you have an archive copy of, I believe there is a section that actually says you will destroy your backup in the event you no longer have a user license. It's your job to read the law and interpret it to the best of your possibility.