, SecurityFocus 2000-07-10
They save Pac Man and Pengo for future generations while ducking the copyright police. Being an arcade archivist is no game.
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But where can you get the ROMS?
2000-07-11
Anonymous (2 replies)
Anonymous (2 replies)
Money is still made from the old games.
2000-07-11
Anonymous (3 replies)
Anonymous (3 replies)
I think video game companies could turn emulation into a profit center
2000-07-17
Anonymous (2 replies)
Anonymous (2 replies)
If you claim the 'backup clause' (USC 17, Section 117, I think [Copyright act, regarding copyright protection of computer software]), case is that the backup *MUST BE AN EXACT COPY*. I.e., Floppy->Floppy. CD->CD. ROM(chip)->ROM(chip). Media transference is NOT ALLOWED. This has been upheld in many cases (I think 1984, Nintendo). Additionally, if the ROM chip has a wierd-copyright symbol (an M in a circle), that ROM chip is not covered under the copyright act - but instead the mask work (silicon chip) act, which is highly restrictive.
There is only one legal recognizance where media transferance is legal - IFF you are a developer (and provable in court). That is how Connectix won it's case against Sony on the use of the copyrighted PlayStation BIOS. It is also a valid defence if the MAME authors were sued for copyright infringement (i.e., using dumped ROMs to develop MAME).
Beware - the DMCA imposes additional restrictions on the ability to use a ROM file...
IANAL, however, just a fan of emulation.
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Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/articles/57/2481#2481