Obsolete Videogames Now Legal to Own (ROMS)

Menno · Post by **Menno** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 10:05 pm

http://gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/gam ... 1559.shtml

"The Library of Congress has recently granted copyright exemptions in the Digital Millenium Act to obsolete games. The exemption applies to games that require the original hardware as a condition of access, and if the game is ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œno longer manufactured or reasonably available in the commercial marketplace.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬? This means that old, unsupported PC, console and arcade games will now be legal to own (so your illegal copy of Mame roms are now legit). The only muddy side is if publishers consider their old games to be ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œreasonably availableÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬? and plan to release classic games as bundles or bonuses, then the copyright protection still stands..."

Doyle · Post by **Doyle** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 10:08 pm

Wow, official recognition of abandonware. That's pretty cool.

Strap · Post by **Strap** » Sat Nov 01, 2003 1:45 am

I have about 800+ NES roms on my comp, and about 200+ SNes roms too.

My favorite is battletoads

Playing those old games really brings back memories. Plus I have this crappy old Gravis PC gamepad that works perfect with those emulators.

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Sat Nov 01, 2003 11:12 am

Well now that it's legal, could anyone link to some good mame or snes rom sites? Anything else worth checking?

Ruben Rooben Reuben · Sat Nov 01, 2003 11:10 pm

I'd like to find the old NES "Ice Hockey" or "Skate or Die."

Much touching.

POOPERSCOOPER · Post by **POOPERSCOOPER** » Sun Nov 02, 2003 1:11 am

http://www.gamespot.com/all/news/news_6078006.html

SUCKS!!

Menno · Post by **Menno** » Sun Nov 02, 2003 1:31 am

Ah fuck. Sorry for getting your hopes up guys. I was also looking forward to downloading some of the old games. But I guess you can still download them right? You can just "claim" they're for backup reasons.

Strap · Post by **Strap** » Sun Nov 02, 2003 5:32 am

Uhhh... did I say that I had tons of ROMs? 'cause I meant RAM :o

Oh well, thanks for the info.

Franz Schubert · Post by **Franz Schubert** » Sun Nov 02, 2003 12:52 pm

LOL don't worry strapon, we won't turn you in. Unless there's a big cash reward, or something like that.

S4ur0n27 · Post by **S4ur0n27** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 2:39 pm

There probably is. Turning in someone selling weed is worth 500 bucks here. Wonder what it is for 1000+ roms?

Hey Strap, what's your address?

Strap · Post by **Strap** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 7:11 pm

123 fake street. come get me!

PeterWoman · Post by **PeterWoman** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:38 am

w0000000rd

Radoteur · Post by **Radoteur** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 8:21 am

Well, the emulator authors will be able to work without any legal threat. This could make things at least a little better.

Franz Schubert · Post by **Franz Schubert** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 10:07 pm

OMG you stole his sig lol!

PeterWoman · Post by **PeterWoman** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 6:47 am

Franz_Schubert wrote:OMG you stole his sig lol!

y0 i jus showin respect for dat cool pic y0

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 12:03 pm

I can dig that
shame about the law though.

S4ur0n27 · Post by **S4ur0n27** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 5:33 pm

Law = Shame !

Straws · Post by **Straws** » Fri Nov 07, 2003 3:27 pm

thats pretty freaking cool. altough i dont think i've ever heard of anyone getting in trouble for roms.

Franz Schubert · Post by **Franz Schubert** » Fri Nov 07, 2003 5:25 pm

Yeah but with homeland security, who knows?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Nov 07, 2003 5:38 pm

This means that the original System Shock is legal to own for free. That's if you can get the fucker running on Windows. Don't even get me started.