Are emulators illegal? - Page 3 - Overclock.net

*VulcanDragon* · 02-01-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by korosu

even if you own a game, it's illegal to download a ROM of it. why? because you didn't make that backup, someone else did, and you're downloading an illegally distributed copy of it.

QFT, because this is the most widely misunderstood concept about ROMs. Everybody seems to think that if they own the game that they can download the ROMs, or that they are "adandonware", or something. All nonsense.

Pretty much everyting korosu has said in this thread is dead-on the money.

**t4ct1c47** · 02-01-08

Quote:

296 Circumvention of technical devices applied to computer programs

(1) This section applies where -

(a) a technical device has been applied to a computer program; and

(b) a person (A) knowing or having reason to believe that it will be used to make infringing copies -

(i) manufactures for sale or hire, imports, distributes, sells or lets for hire, offers or exposes for sale or hire, advertises for sale or hire or has in his possession for commercial purposes any means the sole intended purpose of which is to facilitate the unauthorised removal or circumvention of the technical device; or

(ii) publishes information intended to enable or assist persons to remove or circumvent the technical device.

Office of Public Sector Information, 2003, The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003;
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032498.htm
Accessed: 01/02/2008

That's the bulk of what you should be concerned about under UK law.

Please note that downloading a ROM that someone else has made would be classed as importing.

secretsexyninja · 02-01-08

oh wow, all the nes and SNES games on my phone... illegal -cries- i never really thought about it being illegal cuz the sites arent exactly hidden / allow direct downloads. time to take em off

HatesFury · 02-01-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by korosu

your question is actually two different questions.

emulators in and of themselves are perfectly legal. downloading ROMs off the internet is perfectly illegal.

and guess what, guys? i know i might get a little flaming on this next one:
even if you own a game, it's illegal to download a ROM of it. why? because you didn't make that backup, someone else did, and you're downloading an illegally distributed copy of it.

that one's a little more tricky. if PS2 emulators are anything like previous CD-based emulators i've used in the past (saturn, PS1, etc), then it probably requires some sort of BIOS file. if it doesn't, then by all means, knock yourself out. but if it does, be warned that it might be illegal to download unauthorized copies of that BIOS. best way to approximate legality? if the emulator's website doesn't offer the BIOS file you need, it's probably illegal.

Exactly. Well said. FYI if you're looking to use a PS2 emulator, PSX2 actually had a tool that you can use to copy the BIOS off of YOUR PS2 (that you own, so you "own the right to use this BIOS", not to be confused with actually owning the BIOS itself, it still belongs to SONY) and run the Emu with that, which is supposed to be "the legal way" of doing it. Again any game you didn't purchase on your own would be piracy.

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Are emulators illegal?

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