Are Video Game ROMs Illegal? What Gamers Should Know
Itching to Try an Emulator? Think Twice Before Downloading!
Lori May
Lori May, Yahoo! Contributor Network
May 3, 2011 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
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In the last ten years, many gamers have asked the question: Are video game ROMs illegal? Emulators are essentially computer programs which mimic older console platforms, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System; Roms are files of the video games themselves, often free to download online to be stored on a computer in a .zip file. For many years, the general consists among ROM and emulator enthusiasts is a belief that both are completely legal if the user owns both the original console and a physical copy of the ROM video game.
Unfortunately, this is widespread belief is incorrect.
Video game ROMs are illegal, even if you own a physical copy of the titles.
The official Nintendo website directly answers the question about whether or not ROMs are legal without any ambiguity:
"There is a good deal of misinformation on the Internet regarding the backup/archival copy exception. It is not a "second copy" rule and is often mistakenly cited for the proposition that if you have one lawful copy of a copyrighted work, you are entitled to have a second copy of the copyrighted work even if that second copy is an infringing copy. The backup/archival copy exception is a very narrow limitation relating to a copy being made by the rightful owner of an authentic game to ensure he or she has one in the event of damage or destruction of the authentic. Therefore, whether you have an authentic game or not, or whether you have possession of a Nintendo ROM for a limited amount of time, i.e. 24 hours, it is illegal to download and play a Nintendo ROM from the Internet."
The amount of free ROM websites has greatly diminished over the last five years, but many still exist. The majority of these websites promote the falsity that ROMs and emulators are legal if you own the physical copy, or if you download but delete the video game ROM within a 24-hour period. Emulators continue to exist in a grey area, as they are programs developed by individuals to play illegal ROMs but do so without infringing on the original technology of the gaming console the title was intended for.
In the eyes of the Nintendo Corporation, any possession of a video game ROM is illegal'"and the popularity of these stolen virtual goods has cost the company millions. "Such emulators have the potential to significantly damage a worldwide entertainment software industry which generates over $15 billion annually, and tens of thousands of jobs." Any video game enthusiast who supports the products and services provided by the hard-working men and women at Nintendo should consider the unseen ramifications of their illegal ROM downloads.
Although information regarding other company's stance on video game ROM is not as easily obtained, it is fairly safe to assume that the stance made public by Nintendo reflects all of the companies in the gaming industry.
check out the website here :
http://voices.yahoo.com/are-video-game-r...98607.html
Itching to Try an Emulator? Think Twice Before Downloading!
Lori May
Lori May, Yahoo! Contributor Network
May 3, 2011 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
* More:
* Nintendo
* Gamers
* Rom
* Wii Music
* Free Pc Games
*
* tweet0
Flag
Close
Post a comment
In the last ten years, many gamers have asked the question: Are video game ROMs illegal? Emulators are essentially computer programs which mimic older console platforms, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System; Roms are files of the video games themselves, often free to download online to be stored on a computer in a .zip file. For many years, the general consists among ROM and emulator enthusiasts is a belief that both are completely legal if the user owns both the original console and a physical copy of the ROM video game.
Unfortunately, this is widespread belief is incorrect.
Video game ROMs are illegal, even if you own a physical copy of the titles.
The official Nintendo website directly answers the question about whether or not ROMs are legal without any ambiguity:
"There is a good deal of misinformation on the Internet regarding the backup/archival copy exception. It is not a "second copy" rule and is often mistakenly cited for the proposition that if you have one lawful copy of a copyrighted work, you are entitled to have a second copy of the copyrighted work even if that second copy is an infringing copy. The backup/archival copy exception is a very narrow limitation relating to a copy being made by the rightful owner of an authentic game to ensure he or she has one in the event of damage or destruction of the authentic. Therefore, whether you have an authentic game or not, or whether you have possession of a Nintendo ROM for a limited amount of time, i.e. 24 hours, it is illegal to download and play a Nintendo ROM from the Internet."
The amount of free ROM websites has greatly diminished over the last five years, but many still exist. The majority of these websites promote the falsity that ROMs and emulators are legal if you own the physical copy, or if you download but delete the video game ROM within a 24-hour period. Emulators continue to exist in a grey area, as they are programs developed by individuals to play illegal ROMs but do so without infringing on the original technology of the gaming console the title was intended for.
In the eyes of the Nintendo Corporation, any possession of a video game ROM is illegal'"and the popularity of these stolen virtual goods has cost the company millions. "Such emulators have the potential to significantly damage a worldwide entertainment software industry which generates over $15 billion annually, and tens of thousands of jobs." Any video game enthusiast who supports the products and services provided by the hard-working men and women at Nintendo should consider the unseen ramifications of their illegal ROM downloads.
Although information regarding other company's stance on video game ROM is not as easily obtained, it is fairly safe to assume that the stance made public by Nintendo reflects all of the companies in the gaming industry.
check out the website here :
http://voices.yahoo.com/are-video-game-r...98607.html
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