Results 1 to 11 of 11
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    4,345

    Question Are free rom sites legal?

    For example:

    http://www.freeroms.com

    and if anyone knows the legality stance, it would be appreciated.

    Searching free rom on google returns many websites same as above, many that are hosted in the US/UK!

    Thanks,
    Testing 1.. Testing 1..2.. Testing 1..2..3...

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    2,567
    You may only download these ROMS if you own the respective official cartridges.
    If you don't own the roms, you must delete the roms in 24 hours (or less).
    That's from their website. Basically speaking, you can have a ROM on your computer provided it is for your own personal use and you have actually purchased that game and so it's nothing more than a backup. You can read a bit more about it here.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    4,345
    What I got is:

    You are not allowed to do it, but if you do, small chances of being sent a cease and desist order (at most), since companies do not profit from such games.

    Thanks for the link, I appreciate it.

    Peace,
    Testing 1.. Testing 1..2.. Testing 1..2..3...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Reading, England
    Posts
    4,240
    If you don't own the roms, you must delete the roms in 24 hours (or less).
    This 24 hour line is not true. There is no period of time where it is legal to have them on your computer. Even as a "backup" it's fairly dodgy.
    Steve

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    4,345

    Arrow

    Quote Originally Posted by Vortex-Steve
    This 24 hour line is not true. There is no period of time where it is legal to have them on your computer. Even as a "backup" it's fairly dodgy.
    Actually after reading about the legality, even if you owned it you are not allowed to download it.

    But as said, owners like nintendo/sega won't bother with such sites since they are not making money for most of those games are not in production anylonger, even thou nintendo claims otherwise (http://www.nintendo.com/corp/legal.jsp).

    Peace,
    Testing 1.. Testing 1..2.. Testing 1..2..3...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    chica go go
    Posts
    11,876
    How are the roms made, exactly?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    4,345
    Rom are just an "image" of the tape/cd of the game.

    You still need an emulator to run that image.

    I also do not know how exactly they are made, but after reading about the legality I have found several companies who made backup devices (rom) who were sued by Atari.

    Peace,
    Testing 1.. Testing 1..2.. Testing 1..2..3...

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    34
    It's not really legal, but it's also not something you're gonna get in trouble for. Many of our old systems no longer work, so it's pretty fair if you can download them to keep on playing.

    Are you planning on creating your own ROM site?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    4,345

    Arrow

    Quote Originally Posted by Jongasm
    It's not really legal, but it's also not something you're gonna get in trouble for. Many of our old systems no longer work, so it's pretty fair if you can download them to keep on playing.

    Are you planning on creating your own ROM site?
    I already have one that contains MSX (Atari), but I was thinking of expanding more into other systems: S|NES and Gensis to it..

    Peace,
    Testing 1.. Testing 1..2.. Testing 1..2..3...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    1,635
    is a ROM who plays that nowadays

    get a gaming machine and play bf2

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    34
    I actually prefer most of the older games to the new stuff.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •