Emulation/ROMS/Backupgames Debate

Illegal or not? I just wanted to make sure (so I can edit it out of my sig if the majorty of the members/staff decide it is illegal)

I understand DVDs. I understand MP3s, but the limbo area would be Video Games. My opinion is that its 100% legal to own a backup disk/purchase one if you indeed own one

(Based on the Copyright laws you are entitled to owning backups if you do indeed own the original game. We are providing a service which is also protected under the copyright law to those who do not have the means of creating their own back up disc. By ordering from us, we understand that you indeed own the original copies of all the games you intend to purchase. If you don't own the games , you must destroy the backups within a 24 hour period or be accountable for Piracy and copyright infringement. During that 24 hour period you can use the backups under evaluation purposes only and if you intend to purchase the games after the evaluation you are entitled to keep the backups. We do not practice Piracy nor do we condone it. You, the purchaser, will be held accountable for what ever actions you intend to do when in possession of the backups.Please note again, we do not condone piracy, but we do recognize the ever growing need for CD backup software to protect valuable originals. If you understand and agree with these terms and conditions and you are in no way, shape or form affiliated with any Government (police and/or federal) agency, or Sony, feel free to look up. If not, please leave now without looking at the following post. All information contained herein is strictly for informational & backup purposes only. )

Now if you disagree with this, and you think that the selling of BACKUP games/ROMS/Emulation is indeed warez (I know Zelarons host sure doesnt) just cast your vote and I will remove the link to my forums ASAP.

Thanks for reading/voting.

i think its legal, ive even seen staff looking for it and asking where to get it in the forums before.

Not illegal!! we need an emulation section! I can moderate it, im xpert super pro at that! YAY!

blarg, I voted before reading your post. I thought you meant is it okay to own them/download them. You're talking about SELLING them. I believe there is a law that says you can't make money off of someone elses product like that.

Well... what my service is is a CDR burning service. We are just supplying you with the video game disc, you must actually have it to use it for over 24 hours.

seems to me like tacox had this well before planned and found a loophole

can someone change my vote to 1

I voted no, I think it is legal if you do it like you say tacoX.

The licence agrrement for any software by any major company states that you may not sell or transfer the backup you make separately from the original. Since the licence agreement usually takes effect from the point you open the box, and you do not require them to send you the CD to copy, it is illegal. Besides that, according to you, you offer copies of CDs that aren't even for sale yet, which is clearly counter to your legal non-sense.

Guess what? WW is wrong.

You are allowed to have backup copies of games/software BUT NOT MP3s/Movies!

Read into it, ok?

Guess what? WW is wrong. You are allowed to have backup copies of games/software BUT NOT MP3s/Movies! Read into it, ok?

Try reading my post next time. I didn't say that backup copies weren't allowed, I said that in the licence agreements for software by all major publishers (read: pretty much anything worth having), it states that backup copies may not be transfered separately from the original. So it would be legal, if the person sent you their original CD and you sent both back.