Roms.. Are they legal?

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by Deadlock, Oct 2, 2006.

  1. #1
    Thinking of starting a rom site but I wasn't sure if they are even legal. I know there are quite a few sites out there but I just wondering are they legal? The roms will be only NES and maybe Genesis and SNES. Thanks for your time.
     
    Deadlock, Oct 2, 2006 IP
  2. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #2
    No. (Unless the creator/owner gives you permission)
     
    marketjunction, Oct 2, 2006 IP
  3. Deadlock

    Deadlock Active Member

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    #3
    I thought that was the case. But how do all these roms site stay up? From another country?
     
    Deadlock, Oct 2, 2006 IP
  4. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #4
    I'm not one to tell you how to do this stuff.

    Many probably bounce around. You might notice many rom sites are lacking actual roms. They are either ad catchers or link to roms on other servers.
     
    marketjunction, Oct 2, 2006 IP
  5. The Critic

    The Critic Peon

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    #5
    Using ROMs isn't illegal as long as you own a copy of the game that you have in ROM form. Technically, you can use a ROM for games you don't have as long as you delete it after 24 hours. As far as I know, allowing ROMs and emulators for download isn't illegal as long as you make your visitors agree not to download any games they do not own. This is how it was a few years ago anyway, I'm not sure if anything has changed.

    ^ Not a lawyer.
     
    The Critic, Oct 2, 2006 IP
  6. Pat Gael

    Pat Gael Banned

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    #6
    Sourceforget is plenty of rom projects, would they allow them if not legit?

    Of course not all ROMs are legal though.
     
    Pat Gael, Oct 2, 2006 IP
  7. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #7
    There's no legal basis for that. Also, owning a copy doesn't mean much. You are still causing an illegal copy to be created when you download or share the copy. But, I'm basing this off an actual court case in the USA. If you are not in the USA, I don't know.
     
    marketjunction, Oct 2, 2006 IP
  8. PayItForward

    PayItForward Peon

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    #8

    None of that is true. Sites made that up to look like they are following the proper law and procedures.
     
    PayItForward, Oct 2, 2006 IP
  9. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #9
    Disclaimer:

    This site sells illegal drugs. By entering, you agree that you are not a member of law enforcement or the government. If you are, you agree to hold the site's owner harmless for the contents and services that this site sells.

    :D

    Yea, that'll stand up in court.
     
    marketjunction, Oct 3, 2006 IP
  10. The Critic

    The Critic Peon

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    #10
    I stand corrected. I guess this means those "educational purposes only" disclaimers are also a bunch of bunk?
     
    The Critic, Oct 4, 2006 IP
  11. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #11
    Depends what you are talking about--specifically.
     
    marketjunction, Oct 4, 2006 IP
  12. dastuff

    dastuff Peon

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    #12
    Haha yah basically.. I remember when it use to be...
    "By entering this site you agree that you are 190 yrs old. If you are not 190 years old you are not allowed to enter"...

    Always found those funny.
     
    dastuff, Oct 4, 2006 IP
  13. The Critic

    The Critic Peon

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    #13
    Well, ROMs specifically, but there's a lot of stuff like instructions on how to make bombs or build potato guns that use the same thing.
     
    The Critic, Oct 4, 2006 IP
  14. droolingmnky

    droolingmnky Well-Known Member

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    #14
    Just because no one cited any thing credible here's from Nintendo's website

     
    droolingmnky, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  15. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #15
    There are court cases, which support what Nintendo is saying. I wrote about one some time ago. Nintendo is basically saying what the court found, which is why I said:

    Good link!
     
    marketjunction, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  16. D_C

    D_C Well-Known Member

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    #16
    Sorry for the bump, but it is better than makeing a new topic.

    So, even with the disclaimer it is illegal (according to nintendo.). Is there not an internet privicy law of some sort that allows you to restrict the people that enter your site, and if they do they have no power to do anything that could hurt your web site.

    I heard that somewhere, not sure if it is true.

    I wonder if you make a disclaimer that says "You are not supposed to download any of these files from this website and we, -website-, are not responcible of any matters that happen because of that."

    Or something like that... Would that work?
     
    D_C, Dec 23, 2006 IP
    Bean likes this.
  17. slipxaway

    slipxaway Active Member

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    #17
    im thinking of starting a brothel where instead of paying for sex, people pay for admission... do you think that'll hold up? :) It's basically the same concept, you can try to dance around the law all you want, but in the end if you're doing something wrong, you stand a good chance of getting bit in the ass. Proceed at your own risk.
     
    slipxaway, Dec 23, 2006 IP
  18. whitegreyblackhat

    whitegreyblackhat Peon

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    #18
    I love ROMs... how else can you get a whole collection of games for any system? (good luck getting PS2 collection or Xbox lol)

    too bad I can't make a site with them legally :)
     
    whitegreyblackhat, Dec 23, 2006 IP
  19. whitegreyblackhat

    whitegreyblackhat Peon

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    #19

    That will no doubt
    :p
     
    whitegreyblackhat, Dec 23, 2006 IP
  20. Yfcadmin

    Yfcadmin Notable Member

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    #20
    Come on .... dont cost anything of that sort. If someone ( Ms, Nes, Sony) gets angry ... you'll see yourself in court... and believe me you wont need a lawyer to defend yourself coz you are a liar already... so better keep away from them... Its like starting a Warez site. A better option will be mailing Sony for the permission,.... :D
     
    Yfcadmin, Dec 23, 2006 IP