Are emulators legal?
- Thread starter anon413
- Start date
idok said:
Not sure what you mean by copyrighting, but emulators are perfectly legal. It's playing/downloading/sharing games owned by companies that is not legal.
You could write your own programs to run on the emulators, and that would also be legal.
LeWaffles
CUSTOM
true its just like what kazza is. It's legal for them to offer the service, but it is illegal for their users to download free mp3s.
anon413 said:
I really doubt they would do anything. You aren't giving copies of the game out, or making money off of it. Not many companies will want to spend a fan and money to stop you when you're not hurting them. That's why the RIAA looks for people sharing the files more than those downloading.
Hairy_Mike
WiiChat Member
ok, emulators technically are not legal for you to play games on that you do not own. there is some debate that if you own the actual game that you can download a copy as a backup. if you do not own the game, you are required to delete it within 24 hours of download. so whether it is legal or not is debatable. but i think that they are illegal and you should not resort to that process of obtaining games.
TiwazTyrsfist
Dubito Ego Sum
- May 12, 2007
- 190
- 4
So, Emulators are very Gray Area.
They are legal for one specific use, under very specific circumstances, but many things you could do are Illegal.
If you own a hard copy of the game you are playing a ROM of, you're good.
However, Distributing Emulators is illegal, as it is basically the same as selling third party gaming consoles. They own the operating system for the game console, so by making a system that runs the games, you are under US copyright law committing a crime.
Possession of ROMs that you don't own a license for (In most cases a hard copy of the game) is a copyright violation. Under US law, each count carries a $10k fine and five years in federal prison.
Distributing ROMs is also almost totally illegal. Basically, you would have to show that You AND the Person you gave the ROM to BOTH own legal copies of the game, and that you knew this before hand. Otherwise, same as above for legal ramifications.
That being said, If you for example own an old NES, and have copies of the old NES cartridges, and Rip the games into ROMs, and play them on an emulator on the computer, that's legal. And if the DMCA goons come and get you, they will have to apologize and release you after your trial. After sitting in Jail waiting for trial for 5 years as they fight over jurisdiction.
They are legal for one specific use, under very specific circumstances, but many things you could do are Illegal.
If you own a hard copy of the game you are playing a ROM of, you're good.
However, Distributing Emulators is illegal, as it is basically the same as selling third party gaming consoles. They own the operating system for the game console, so by making a system that runs the games, you are under US copyright law committing a crime.
Possession of ROMs that you don't own a license for (In most cases a hard copy of the game) is a copyright violation. Under US law, each count carries a $10k fine and five years in federal prison.
Distributing ROMs is also almost totally illegal. Basically, you would have to show that You AND the Person you gave the ROM to BOTH own legal copies of the game, and that you knew this before hand. Otherwise, same as above for legal ramifications.
That being said, If you for example own an old NES, and have copies of the old NES cartridges, and Rip the games into ROMs, and play them on an emulator on the computer, that's legal. And if the DMCA goons come and get you, they will have to apologize and release you after your trial. After sitting in Jail waiting for trial for 5 years as they fight over jurisdiction.
In the USA it's legal to make a copy of something you already own. If I want to make copies of any movie, music, or anything else, it's legal. However if I try to sell copies of something, that is VERY illegal. I'm unfamiliar with other countries, but I myself own many copies of my anime, and games. Because as many of you know, things eventually break down after time.
Make sure you carefully read software EULAs. Written contracts such as EULAs can be exceptions to the law as many software companies are international.
Make sure you carefully read software EULAs. Written contracts such as EULAs can be exceptions to the law as many software companies are international.
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Link_of_Hyrule
Unofficial WiiChat Helper
Ok let me make this clear I have researched emulation very deeply and Emulators ARE LEGAL. BACKUPS or ROMS are legal if you own the game you back it up your self and DO NOT distribute there are laws that allow for ONE back up of any software this means that ROMS that you DOWNLOAD ARE ILLEGAL because YOU did not back them up and don't have the game in your possesion.
