I don't mind I'm playing Castlevania 3 and these roms are legal cause people made them so :p.
Post a copy of Microsoft Dos 6.22 on the Internet, and then e-mail the URL to Microsoft. They'll shut you down.
Even if the software is no longer in use, companies still hold an interest in it.
If you didn't pay for the right to use their product, you're doing something illegal.
Ergo, using a rom is illegal.
(There's the whole exception clause for back-up copies of software.. .but that's intended for archival use only. Actively using (i.e. playing) the software isn't using it for archival purposes!)
Ethically, you don't see any harm in playing the rom (and I would be inclined to agree with you). However, that doesn't make it any less of an illegal act.
fuwafuwa, can you read all written in this topic.We're talking about LEGAL PD roms on www.zophar.net . Commercial roms is legal if you're having an original cartridge.
Commercial roms is legal if you're having an original cartridge.
As far as I know, Nintendo disagrees on that.
*nod*
Commercial Roms are legal if (and only if):
1) You made the rom yourself, using your own back-up unit.
1a) The rom must be made from your own game cart.
1b) You must have legally purchased the game cart.
2) The rom is being used exclusively for back-up purposes.
"Back-Up" refers to using the rom for restoration in the event that the original cart fails. "Back-Up" does not mean "to play, as a means of preserving (or as a replacement of) the original cart".
If the cart is no longer playable (i.e. it cannot load; a dead battery alone isn't enough to consider it unloadable), the rom must be used in an attempt to restore the cartridge to working status.
Only at that point (IMO) does it even become possible to potentially consider playing a rom "legal".. and I'm pretty sure Nintendo would disagree with me, even then.
(And, since we're on the topic... the "24 hour rule" does not exist.)
You are allowed to play your backup copy as long as only one copy is in operation at any given time. At least, that was true last I checked. Was the law changed with DMCA?
someone is out there who will like you. take off your mask so they can find you faster.
I support the new Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun.
if roms are legal as long as you got the original depends on the country you live in. here in germany i.e. it's no problem as long as you got the original game. lucky i never sold my couple of games :D
This is taken from page 42 of the Metriod Fusion instruction booklet.
"WARNING: Copyting of any Nintendo game is illegal and is strictly prohibited by domestic and international intellectual property laws. "Back-up" or "archival" copies are not authorized and are not necessary to protect your software. Violators will be prosecuted."
Now, that sounds to me like any ROM of any game made by Nintendo is illegal, even if it is a back-up. However, the only problem is that the last sentence isn't enforced really, considering the mainstream use of ROMs nowadays.
Dan_,
Keep reading. Ninty says that the statement does not interfere with statutory rights, and therefore your statutory right to create backup and archival copies is protected, and the entire warning is meaningless and only meant to scare people from doing it.
someone is out there who will like you. take off your mask so they can find you faster.
I support the new Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun.
Joined: 5/17/2004
Posts: 106
Location: Göteborg, Sweden
What is legal and not differs from country to country (obviously!). For example, swedish copyright law specifically gives me the right to make copies of purchased music and distribute these copies to "close friends". Most countries allow nothing of the sort. FAIK, there are a number of countries where you are allowed to keep and use back-up copies downloaded of the net.
There's also the lovely morality can-o'-worms; although it's obviously illegal, is it also unethical to download a rom of a cartridge you would under no circumstances actually purchase? 's not a can I feel like opening, though.
there is a site out there that deals specificly with games that have become abandonware. they must have at least 2000 games for download all for free (yes all free, and titles such as carmageddon, blood and blood 2 too) that are no longer in production by any company. when it comes to roms and if they are illegal or not, this is what i believe...
if a company (such as nintendo and sega) is no longer making money from selling copys of a game, or collecting royalties from another publisher that has re-released the game, to me this classes it as abandonware. classic games such as all the ones on this site have been made by companys that have either long disbanded, or stopped producing these games/consoles altogether. while i can understand why nintendo and such want to protect their games but honestly... games for the nintendo, super nintendo, genesis and sega master system are no longer being officaly sold, or re-sold in any shape or form. the company has no interest in these titles anymore so what harm could POSSIBLY come from someone owning 1 of these titles illegaly? if no company is profiting from this then it is hurting no one. would they prefer their classic games that made them what they are today just be forgotten about? would they like us to never be able to play these games again? if wanting to keep a part of gaming history alive is illegal then god damn i'm guilty
i bought quite a few games back when i owned a nes, snes, sega master system and mega drive (also known as genesis). if i had to guess i would say around 150 all up. many of these games when they were released were around $80 - $120 for me to buy. while i no longer own the cartrige of any of these games, i still believe i am entitled to own them in some form. i dont think that is asking to much. if nintendo dont like it they can give me my money back and i'll give them the roms.
if a company (such as nintendo and sega) is no longer making money from selling copys of a game, or collecting royalties from another publisher that has re-released the game, to me this classes it as abandonware. classic games such as all the ones on this site have been made by companys that have either long disbanded, or stopped producing these games/consoles altogether.
You err.
The Castlevania series and Contra series were recently rereleased.
The Mega Man series rereleases (again) today.
Not all of the videos on this site are of "abandoned" games.
someone is out there who will like you. take off your mask so they can find you faster.
I support the new Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun.
Well according to U.S copyright law, all copies are illegal , so recording your favorite TV show is illegal.So all american must be put on jail.
This law is illogical.When people, even cops and politicians etc.., are doing copies, I think it's morally legal. What do you think!?
So is giving or recieving oral sex in the state of MN... No one is going to jail for it. But if the debate is over the legality of ROMS then they are indeed illigal.
Nintendo is actually re-releasing alot of thier games on gameboy now.
You know what I think, Sega and Nintendo both should release and emulation pack. Official nintendo/sega made emulators of NES/SNES/Master System/Genesis including a bunch of roms and USB original controllers. Who wouldn't buy that eh? I would be all over it. Then they could sell more games off thier website for 1-3$ a download... They can easily make money off this.
But if the debate is over the legality of ROMS then they are indeed illigal.
Why I'm not feeling guilty?Maybe because like I said it's morally legal?
Do you know someone who didn't use "illegal" , like you said, even a single copy, on this Earth?I don't think someone like this exist.
So is giving or recieving oral sex in the state of MN... No one is going to jail for it. But if the debate is over the legality of ROMS then they are indeed illigal.
heh, even if the most strict, law enforcing cop in the state tried to give you a ticket it put you in jail for it, the case wouldn't even go to court. Most of the U.S. laws at dumblaws.com can't be enforced, and are simply there because people are too lazy to officially remove them from the books.
edit: Just went to the site. "Oral sex is prohibited. (Repealed)"
guess it's not officially a law anymore.
It's actually longer than that, as I recall it got extended recently.
U.S. Copyright website wrote:
for works created after Jan. 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years. For an anonymous work, a pseudonymous work, or a work made for hire, the copyright endures for a term of 95 years from the year of its first publication or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first.
ok fair enough. i had heard no news about the rerelease of any castlevania or mega man games. while i know that 75 years or some crazy number of years must past before the copyright wears off, in 75 years time nintendo might not even be around then. there might be no trace of these games left. who knows what could happen in 75 years. sa deviance said, at that rate, you'll have grandchildren by the time you can play someone else's nes roms legally.
