How do you know your JAMMA PCB is legal?

[Haze]

Dude, you're getting way past the point of annoying.

As the copyright holder of part of the product you are wanting to sell / operate I am telling you, beyond any reasonable doubt, you have no permission to do so.  The MAME license does not grant ANY commercial use, no amount of reselling, or tax changes that.  As I've said, if you wish for further legal advice on the issue please email Namco's lawyers and ask them directly, you will get exactly the same response.  The priorities for the MAME developers do not include having a crack team of paid lawyers, so if you don't believe me, then please contact professionals who are directly involved with one of the rights holders for the copyrights you are directly infringing.

End of story.  Please destroy your illegal product(s), or license them properly.  If you have nothing to hide, and believe you are correct, then do as I say above, and post the response here.  I don't believe you will bother, because you don't want to actually hear the answer you'll get.

Saint, can you please check that this isn't just another username for a certain other argumentative user, and if so, just outright ban them for their absolute moronic attitude and inability to comprehend simple facts regarding the legality of the product they are attempting to sell.  This is clear-cut as the sun rising and the sun setting.  I should not have to waste my time here explaining that somebody has no permission to sell my code / product without my permission at some point in the process, permission that has never been granted.

I do not study law because I do not wish to have to deal with morons like this attempting to justify their pathetic actions despite clearly being in the wrong.  Anybody with more than a peanut for a brain can see that this is just plain common sense, and doesn't need legal papers digging up just to show that.  I have better things to do with my time and this place is becoming a breeding place for such types.  This kind of bull really puts off potential developers.

You can't sell MAME, or any MAME based product. Period.

[saint]

* saint responds to a summons.

Driver-Man does not appear to be any other user in disguise for what that's worth. Interestingly however, and either I missed it or I wonder why he didn't raise it earlier, Driver-Man is not posting from North America and is presumably not familiar with and/or referring to American or Canadian laws.

I don't think this site is becoming a hot bed of such issues, though perhaps I'm not seeing the forest for the trees. This question comes up every few months, and has for many years. Typically either the questioner is genuinely ignorant of copyright law and the MAME license and after a brief education understands and moves on to something else, or the questioner has come in with a preconceived notion about what they *want* to be right and are determined not to be confused by facts. Either way, after a few posts I wouldn't bother responding anymore.

By the way, I really like the perspective you (Haze) give as a (former?) coder/contributor to MAME, and appreciate the time you spend answering MAME related questions. Don't let Internet foolishness get you down

[Haze]

* saint responds to a summons.

Driver-Man does not appear to be any other user in disguise for what that's worth. Interestingly however, and either I missed it or I wonder why he didn't raise it earlier, Driver-Man is not posting from North America and is presumably not familiar with and/or referring to American or Canadian laws.

Ok, thank you for checking.  The demanding tone for specific answers, and ignorance over every other fact and shard of evidence they are presented with seems strangely familiar.

I don't think this site is becoming a hot bed of such issues, though perhaps I'm not seeing the forest for the trees. This question comes up every few months, and has for many years. Typically either the questioner is genuinely ignorant of copyright law and the MAME license and after a brief education understands and moves on to something else, or the questioner has come in with a preconceived notion about what they *want* to be right and are determined not to be confused by facts. Either way, after a few posts I wouldn't bother responding anymore.

By the way, I really like the perspective you (Haze) give as a (former?) coder/contributor to MAME, and appreciate the time you spend answering MAME related questions. Don't let Internet foolishness get you down

I still contribute to the project, there is still probably more of my code in the actual drivers than the vast majority of other developers.  I just don't think that this subject even needs further debate.  The position of the development team is very clear, and expressed in the license.  No series of actions or chain of sales changes that.  I can understand some people unknowingly operating these things without realizing, but quite frankly trying to argue that you have the legal right to use and sell a product which has never been legal is just stupid, and I won't be making any further posts on the matter.

It annoys me because we try hard to ensure that MAME can't be used as a piracy engine in direct competition with new arcade releases.  These xx-in-1 PCBs go directly against this and are employing MAME in a way which hurts the industry directly, with no permission at all from the development team and in explicit violation of the license agreement.

[Malenko]

My angry friend, can you not answer these question:

Q1) You agree nVidia, ATI/AMD, Intel already did sue each other, and therefore these products everyone has/had were illegal at some point in time... and it is/was illegal to possess, buy and sell this hardware? YES/NO


Q2.) U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that Nvidia violated three of five patents held by Rambus which could lead to a possible U.S. ban on the import of some Nvidia products. -- So, anyone who has, buys or sells this offending hardware is breaking the law and can be held accountable for trafficking or possession of illegal item? Or maybe, the government needs to issue a BAN on the particular item first? YES/NO

Q1) No
Q2) No

Stop asking and since you wont listen to anything anyone types anyway, you can go ahead and find out why on your own.

*unsubscribes*

[Driver-Man]

End of story.  Please destroy your illegal product(s), or license them properly.

As soon as you flush down the toilet your Nvidia card with memory controllers for SDR, DDR, DDR2, DDR3, GDDR, and GDDR3 SDRAM, and delete all the game ROMs from your hard drive. -- You refused to answer the question, again, and you do not have any court case to support your claims. I'm laughing.


Has MAME been registered with "copyright office" or whatever office?

Are you sure MAME is legal to start with? Did you read Section 1201'?

I'll bet I have bought more of these boards than you have and have NEVER received any declaration that the product was legal or authorized for use.

I'll bet you thought you were on "good side", together with everyone else.

Sorry, now go and destroy your illegal product(s), or license them properly!

You know, it's an interesting point Driver-Man eventually got to (but dude, what took you so long to explain it logically?!?!).

Thanks, your involvement was truly heroic. Let me just ditto this: - they contain infringing content, but when you buy a board, you are not copying the IP. Someone else is guilty of that action.

[CheffoJeffo]

I'll bet I have bought more of these boards than you have and have NEVER received any declaration that the product was legal or authorized for use.

I'll bet you thought you were on "good side", together with everyone else.

Sorry, now go and destroy your illegal product(s), or license them properly!

Actually, that was kinda the point ... I'm NOT on the good side.

[Driver-Man]

I'm with you CheffoJeffo, and thank you for not insulting me.

Buying this 60-in-1, it's like paying a "friend" to setup MAME for you, only you get it on nice compact "Computer-On-Module". And if you look at the price of that hardware it is clear that whatever emulator and ROMs included, they actually come for free. -- In other words, if you wanted to buy such "Single-Board-Computer" as 60-in-1 PCB, then you would not be able to get it much cheaper than what the cost of 60-in-1 already is, plus you would then need to cross-compile MAME for another platform and do all the setup, roll-backs, and what not so it can run smoothly/correctly on that very week platform.

I really do not see why would any MAME developer disprove purchase of such nice, compact piece of hardware. Would it be better if I now, after I bought it, go and download MAME for free, would that make it better? This just doesn't make sense.
======================

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=13339

davidrfoley: - "Actually, you have your facts wrong. If you read the threads, including comments by Aaron Giles, I contacted the MAME team many times in an effort to stop people from selling commercial machines with MAME installed, advertising them with the MAME name, and competing against UltraCade machines. We paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in license fees to companies such as Capcom, Taito, Jaleco, and Midway for the rights to publish the games. When the MAME team refused to respond, we took a completely legal action to file a trademark to use the MAME name and stop the unlicensed competition. Once the MAME team contacted me, I, as I had always offered, worked with them to secure the registration and put a stop to the commercial use that going unchecked...."


Is Foley a good guy or bad guy?

He sounds a lot like Haze, or does he?

[saint]

I really do not see why would any MAME developer disprove purchase of such nice, compact piece of hardware. Would it be better if I now, after I bought it, go and download MAME for free, would that make it better? This just doesn't make sense.

You don't have to understand their reasoning to understand that you are using a product that is not authorized by them and violates their license. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Those hardware products use MAME. Those hardware products are using MAME without a license from the MAME developers to do so, and in direct violation of the terms of the MAME license.

Come up with any personal moral justification you want, but there's no question it's an unauthorized use of their code.

[Driver-Man]

Ok, yes, let me rephrase.

I sure agree MAME is entitled to take a share of profit from, say, Ultracade sales, and I suppose they indeed got some money from Foley, since he also seem to have helped register MAME (logo/name?) with copyright office, or so he says.

However, I also believe that if "MAME team" voted whether they wanted to stop production and import of 60-in-1 PCBs, then majority would not mind, but some might even take pride or satisfaction their work ended up in little board which can make people happy. I do not think anyone would vote for the ban really.

And I do not think it's anyone's concern whether ROMs are licensed or not, that's between copyright owners and the factory. Perhaps factory genuinely believes to have all the necessary rights to copy those games, and perhaps they do, who are we to judge? If copyright owners wanted they could easily report offending X-in-1 PCBs to customs office and make it illegal for real. -- MAME could just as easily report these PCBs to customs office, but to me that would be strange, just as strange as if they decided to charge for downloads.


P.S.
I'm not making any PCBs, nor am I selling any. I'm just playing. There is no disrespect to MAME if I pay instead of download it for free. There is also no point in boycotting these PCBs as that would place you in unfair market, while MAME team if wanted only need to speak to the customs office and all the offending PCBs using MAME would be declared illegal and banned for import, maybe even banned from the market and stores... or so it would seem, in theory.

[lilshawn]

QUESTION:

if we paid a licencing fee to the developers/owners  of these ROMs upon purchase of the xxx in one board, would that then make it legal?

ANSWER:

I would certainly hope so.

STATEMENT:

I believe there is no system in place whereby a consumer such as Driver-Man can go to pay reparations for such a product to make the ROM's contained in it legal. If there was, i'm sure people would do it.... wouldn't we?

[saint]

Ok, yes, let me rephrase.

I sure agree MAME is entitled to take a share of profit from, say, Ultracade sales, and I suppose they indeed got some money from Foley, since he also seem to have helped register MAME (logo/name?) with copyright office, or so he says.

MAME developers don't want money for MAME.

However, I also believe that if "MAME team" voted whether they wanted to stop production and import of 60-in-1 PCBs, then majority would not mind, but some might even take pride or satisfaction their work ended up in little board which can make people happy. I do not think anyone would vote for the ban really.

The written MAME license says the opposite. You are speculating. The document is in black and white, there's no room for ambiguity. There's no uncertainty. The MAME license says "Thou shalt not."

I'm not making any PCBs, nor am I selling any. I'm just playing. There is no disrespect to MAME if I pay instead of download it for free. There is also no point in boycotting these PCBs as that would place you in unfair market, while MAME team if wanted only need to speak to the customs office and all the offending PCBs using MAME would be declared illegal and banned for import, maybe even banned from the market and stores... or so it would seem, in theory.

You are completely missing the concepts of:

- burden of proof
- international law
- MAMEdev folks are volunteers who do this for love of the work. They are not paid. They do not have a company behind them with resources and legal teams to tackle issues such as this.

[saint]

QUESTION:

if we paid a licencing fee to the developers/owners  of these ROMs upon purchase of the xxx in one board, would that then make it legal?

ANSWER:

I would certainly hope so.

STATEMENT:

I believe there is no system in place whereby a consumer such as Driver-Man can go to pay reparations for such a product to make the ROM's contained in it legal. If there was, i'm sure people would do it.... wouldn't we?

There used to be a company called StarROMs that had the legal license to sell certain Atari ROMs. I bought every license they could sell me.

It's not directly pertinent to the discussion however. The copyright holders *aren't* selling the right to use the ROMs in these boards, hence there is no right to sell these boards with the ROMs.

[lilshawn]

It's not directly pertinent to the discussion however. The copyright holders *aren't* selling the right to use the ROMs in these boards, hence there is no right to sell these boards with the ROMs.

agreed, but if there was a scapegoat for legally obtaining the games that would have to be it. these companys have ripped off the IP of the company and selling it for profit.*

* - i can't imagine that the cost of production of the board/computer is much more than what the sale cost is. they are essentially giving the ROMs away with the purchase of the board/computer.

not that i'm supporting them or their ways, just saying, there is more to it than that.

if i might ask, how much where they charging for a licence for a game?

[RayB]

oops

[saint]

It's not directly pertinent to the discussion however. The copyright holders *aren't* selling the right to use the ROMs in these boards, hence there is no right to sell these boards with the ROMs.

agreed, but if there was a scapegoat for legally obtaining the games that would have to be it. these companys have ripped off the IP of the company and selling it for profit.*

* - i can't imagine that the cost of production of the board/computer is much more than what the sale cost is. they are essentially giving the ROMs away with the purchase of the board/computer.

not that i'm supporting them or their ways, just saying, there is more to it than that.

if i might ask, how much where they charging for a licence for a game?

It worked out to like a couple of bucks per ROM on average.

[Osirus23]

* - i can't imagine that the cost of production of the board/computer is much more than what the sale cost is. they are essentially giving the ROMs away with the purchase of the board/computer.

Irrelevant. Does that mean its ok for me to sell pirated movies so long as I only charge people for the cost of blank DVD-Rs?

[lilshawn]

* - i can't imagine that the cost of production of the board/computer is much more than what the sale cost is. they are essentially giving the ROMs away with the purchase of the board/computer.

Irrelevant. Does that mean its ok for me to sell pirated movies so long as I only charge people for the cost of blank DVD-Rs?

I'm not going there. I'm just saying they aren't profiting off the ROM's themselves or the computer/board itself but the combination of the two. The profit off the ROM's is implied, not actual.

again, i'm not supporting it. Just explaining my statement.

[lilshawn]

It worked out to like a couple of bucks per ROM on average.

that's not bad at all, and i would pay that for a 60 in one to have it legal. does that then give me the right to put it in my apartment laundromat and make money off it?

[saint]

It worked out to like a couple of bucks per ROM on average.

that's not bad at all, and i would pay that for a 60 in one to have it legal. does that then give me the right to put it in my apartment laundromat and make money off it?

No.

1. They're not available any more StarROMs is out of business.
2. They were licensed for personal use only.
3. MAME does not allow commercial use even if you had the rights to the ROMs.
4. Even if you have an emulator that did and you had the commercial rights to use the ROMs, you still have to get the appropriate business licenses from your local government.

[CheffoJeffo]

I'm with you CheffoJeffo, and thank you for not insulting me.

To be clear, you are NOT with me.

I have bought these boards knowing full well that the games were not licensed (as is the case with all of the multikits that I have purchased with the exception of the Exidy 440 kit) and that the use of MAME in them was explicitly illegal. I have made the choice to live with that.

I do not sell these boards. I do not tell others where to buy them (it seems that people are happy to pay double the price from their "local" retailers and then claim ignorance and taxation!).

I have no illusions as to what my rights are with respect to those boards.

I will not suggest how the MAMEDevs should respond to the fact that I have xx-in-1 boards in my home arcade. That would be the height of both arrogance and stupidity, particularly given how they have already spoken on the topic (and, I might add, come up completely at odds with your notional representations).

I am grateful to the folks (e.g. MAMEDevs) who have put in the time and effort so that I may benefit. If there were an alternative beyond donating to ROM dumping (e.g. say, donating to MAMEDev explicitly when I buy a derivative product), which I have already done, then I would do so. If you have not, then you should be asking yourself why you haven't.

I have drawn my line in the sand as to where I am morally comfortable and have made arrangements (as best I can) to support those who have contributed to my enjoyment of the hobby

What have you done ?

Thought so.

[CheffoJeffo]

* saint responds to a summons.

I didn't do it this time ... really ... it wasn't me ...

 

[BobA]

It is like a Merry Go Round and around and around and around.    Boring 

[Driver-Man]

It is like a Merry Go Round and around and around and around.    Boring  

I believe I proved my main point. So, I guess we all agree.

Perhaps the best summary of this argument can be put like this:
- Are any of the Ultracade machines owned by people (who got tax invoice for their purchase) illegal?

At least they seem not to violate MAME license if they indeed had an agreement... so illegal or legal, what say you?

[lilshawn]

It worked out to like a couple of bucks per ROM on average.

that's not bad at all, and i would pay that for a 60 in one to have it legal. does that then give me the right to put it in my apartment laundromat and make money off it?

No.

1. They're not available any more StarROMs is out of business.
2. They were licensed for personal use only.
3. MAME does not allow commercial use even if you had the rights to the ROMs.
4. Even if you have an emulator that did and you had the commercial rights to use the ROMs, you still have to get the appropriate business licenses from your local government.

it's a shame really. but now since starROMs is gone, what happens with the licence? is it now void?

how about a way to "MAME" without the "MAME"? I have several non-working arcade boards. theoretically i have bought and paid for the original - which has since ceased operation. if there was a way to emulate the CPU using some sort of software (not MAME since the developers forbid it so) couldn't i place that machine on our route? i would be simply replacing broken hardware with a modern equivalent.

would the MAMEdevs ever consider producing maybe "one ROM only" commercial use version of their software for such a use? or is this just opening up a pandoras box of trouble??? i mean you would have to supply some kind of proof of ownership...or an AMMA serial number or something and register the software. once it's linked to a particular ROM it needn't be changed right?

[Driver-Man]

MAME developers don't want money for MAME.

Is that a fact or speculation? That's what I was saying, although Haze seem to want some, why would he otherwise want 60-in-1 PCBs destroyed?

It's contradiction within another contradiction. Does Rambus want you to destroy your Nvidia cards? No, their work was sold, that's actually a good thing. It's only that someone else sold it for them and is being "late" to pay copyright fees. All they have to do now is get their money from Nvidia.

As far as Nvidia is concerned it's just technicality, kind of like being late to pay the power bill, but no owner of offending Nvidia video card is breaking any laws here. This is not like "blood diamonds", buying this is not helping crime, everything is cool here, no one lost anything, only some of the money still needs to find its way back to home, like Lassie.

To be clear, you are NOT with me.

I have bought these boards knowing full well that the games were not licensed and that the use of MAME in them was explicitly illegal. I have made the choice to live with that.

You have made the choice? Is that some kind of justification? It sounds as if it is you who is making sacrifice here, huh. -- Please point the difference between you and me, and if you can explain why your friends tolerate you what they do not approve to me?

I have drawn my line in the sand as to where I am morally comfortable and have made arrangements (as best I can) to support those who have contributed to my enjoyment of the hobby

What have you done ?

Is that not exactly what everyone hates me for? This is just ridiculous, what was everyone's point then attacking me with all the "trying to justify" and "black and white" ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow---? -- What I have done? I've come here to tell you not to feel guilty for alleged "crimes" you have nothing to do with. But you never did care for any of the "nagging screens" anyway, so it's all the same for you, dear hypocrite.

[Driver-Man]

Irrelevant. Does that mean its ok for me to sell pirated movies so long as I only charge people for the cost of blank DVD-Rs?

The main argument does not translate to whether is it Ok to sell pirated movies, but whether would be legal to buy them. Then comes the question whether would it be legal to sell once you learned it's all pirated. -- There is a huge difference however, you can not buy pirated DVD is stores everywhere and get tax invoice for it. They are actually declared as "illegal", and once you realize your DVD violates copyright you are, as a consumer, entitled to recover damages from the shop that sold it.

[CheffoJeffo]

MAME developers don't want money for MAME.

Is that a fact or speculation? That's what I was saying, although Haze seem to want some, why would he otherwise want 60-in-1 PCBs destroyed?

It's fact, moron ... how many people need to tell you the same thing for you to believe them ? You have been trying to tell people that "I think" when the rest of us have been saying "I know" and you have been chastising people for it.

Aaron, Haze et al have been very clear and you are the only one who seems to think that they are not.

To be clear, you are NOT with me.

I have bought these boards knowing full well that the games were not licensed and that the use of MAME in them was explicitly illegal. I have made the choice to live with that.

You have made the choice? Is that some kind of justification? It sounds as if it is you who is making sacrifice here, huh. -- Please point the difference between you and me, and if you can explain why your friends tolerate you what they do not approve to me?

Uh, moron, THAT is the definition of justification.

The difference between you and me is that I accept what the boards are and represent and don't try to scurry around and hide behind some silly justification like being taxed.

Oh, and I donate.

It is what is it is and I'm not being a little whiny girl about it.

I have drawn my line in the sand as to where I am morally comfortable and have made arrangements (as best I can) to support those who have contributed to my enjoyment of the hobby

What have you done ?

Is that not exactly what everyone hates me for? This is just ridiculous, what was everyone's point then attacking me with all the "trying to justify" and "black and white" ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow---? -- What I have done? I've come here to tell you not to feel guilty for alleged "crimes" you have nothing to do with. But you never did care for any of the "nagging screens" anyway, so it's all the same for you, dear hypocrite.

Again, moron, NOBODY asked you to tell us not to feel guilty.

YOU asked if the boards were ILLEGAL.

WE told you YES.

YOU told use that we were WRONG.

YOU are a MORON.

I don't care what you think and will continue to play my games as I always have, regardless of whether or not you think that I am right or wrong ... I actually know the law and ... I have chosen what to care about. There is nothing hypocritical about it. Show me one spot where I have said "this is wrong". Can't, can you ? That is because we have been talking about what is LEGAL, which actually IS black and white in this case. The mere fact that you can't seem to understand what the Ultracade copyright case is about (HINT: it ain't got much to do with MAME) is indicator enough that you are talking out of your ass.

THAT is why people attack you ... you are ignorant and spouting nonsense.

Get the ---fudgesicle--- off of my lawn!

[Driver-Man]

It's fact, moron ... how many people need to tell you the same thing for you to believe them ?

"Moron", more readily describes a person who believes something is fact just becasue many people say so.


Homer Simpson:
- " ...and all they ask in return is a little bit of blind fate."

The difference between you and me is that I accept what the boards are and represent and don't try to scurry around and hide behind some silly justification like being taxed.

I'm hiding from whom or what?

Whatever that means I'm sure it's a big deal for you. I feel your anger, so sorry to have upset you. If it helps, I'm not hiding, obviously, and there's nothing for me to justify, I'm not violating any copyrights.

THAT is why people attack you ... you are ignorant and spouting nonsense.

Ignorant? Did you expect your insults would convince me? I'm after facts, evidence, not your self-sustained hallucinations. Do you have a single court case to support your claims? I have, and this is what you're keep ignoring:

1.) U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that Nvidia violated three of five patents held by Rambus which could lead to a possible U.S. ban on the import of some Nvidia products. -- Are those Nvidia cards illegal? YES/NO

2.) Ultracade Technologies had been handed a 35-count felony indictment by the United States District Court. -- Are any of the Ultracade machines owned by people (who got tax invoice for their purchase) illegal? YES/NO

[bradx]

todays abandonware could be tomorrows cash cow.  how many years did many arcade classics sit unissued until xbox live was created and nintendo started licensing their classics for cell phones?  there is no way to imagine what technology the future will bring or how these games could create revenue for their owners in the future.  one poster earlier remarked that he downloaded a NES emulator because the games were unavailable new, well he had no way of knowing that some day those games would be making big money for nintendo again.  simply put, not enough time has passed to label any video game as abandonware. 

as for why people building MAME cabs themselves for free is better than giving their money to a chinese bootlegger, the answer should be obvious. 

- Are any of the Ultracade machines owned by people (who got tax invoice for their purchase) illegal?

i would say if it is found in court that they did not have the right to produce them, then it would definitely be illegal to sell or operate them. 

another analogy i find applicable is selling an ipod preloaded with songs, it is illegal. 

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4204934/ITC-ruling-could-bar-Nvidia-chips

Nvidia Corp. said a ruling issued Monday (July 26) by the U.S. International Trade Commission finding that some of its products violate patents held by Rambus Inc. would have "no impact" on customers.

http://cpedia.com/wiki?q=Global+VR&guess_ambig=Play+Mechanix+Global+VR+#headline_9

None of these so-called illegal "Multicade" machines come anywhere close to matching the AUTHENTIC ARCADE EXPERIENCE afforded by purchasing true commercial-quality video game machines from the only two fully licensed and legal manufacturers of these games at this time, Chicago Gaming (Arcade Legends) and Global VR (Global Arcade Classics). [10.5]

[CheffoJeffo]

It's fact, moron ... how many people need to tell you the same thing for you to believe them ?

"Moron", more readily describes a person who believes something is fact just becasue many people say so.


Homer Simpson:
- " ...and all they ask in return is a little bit of blind fate."

It's in the damned MAME license, which everybody in this thread has referred you to.

It is in black and white and we have all told you so.

You refuse to even read this stuff and rely entirely on your knowledge of video card judgements, which is, frankly, scary in a locked-in-the-attic for your formative years kinda way.

[CheffoJeffo]

Ignorant? Did you expect your insults would convince me?

Well, facts sure haven't convinced you (despite your claims to the contrary), so insults were at least worth a shot. 

[mmb]

It is illegal to buy stolen goods.  Doubly so now that you know it is.  

Tax sticker means nothing.  The US Feds make sales tax off of the sale of medical marijuana, even though Federally that sale is illegal.  

The XXX n 1 cards contain stolen Intellectual property, both in ROM form and sometimes in the code to emulate the arcade machines, MAME.  You've been told that.  Now you know it is illegal.  

Can we lock this thread now?  It's been the same go around for the last dozen or so posts.

[saint]

Get your last (polite, please, even if you think the other person doesn't deserve polite) licks in folks. This thread's heading for a locking...

[Malenko]

IBTL!

I havent done that in years.

Ummmm, helluva thread.  Can I start one where I ask a question and dispute the facts with opinion and scream how I was taxed? pls?

welcome back Genesim (or his clone)

BTW ITS THE CODE!

[Hoopz]

welcome back Genesim (or his clone)
BTW ITS THE CODE!

LCD rulez!!!!!! 

[Hoopz]

BTW, I still think we need one dedicated section for all legal questions.  This is actually popping up more and more and it almost always ends the same way. 

Just call it IANAL and let the masses argue about stuff there.   

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

As much as was 'discussed' here I almost wonder if a lock/sticky would be useful... kind of like how they used to stick the heads of the executed on pikes outside the city walls.

[lilshawn]

well, to sum this up:

illegal 100%

if you are fine with that. then fine play it, enjoy it. I wouldn't recommend selling it.

[Driver-Man]

So, the "best" solution is to destroy my 60-in-1 board and buy some Ultracade/GlobalVR unit?

Uh, almost forgot, is there any actual evidence to confirm there is indeed MAME on that 60-in-1 PCB?

well, to sum this up:

illegal 100%

To make some item "illegal" in relation to copyright infringement you first need to register with copyright office, then prove your case in court, and finally issue a ban on import of the particular item via customs office. Until then it is only "allegedly infringing", and no police or whatever authority you try to complain to will be able or willing to do anything about it.



cotmm68030, thanks for those two.
I'd say that's check and mate, but if that is not convincing enough, then I have said it all.