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| RayB:
--- Quote from: Lactose on August 16, 2005, 10:50:02 pm ---What I really want to know is, has there been any legal precidence on this? A case that was won or lost? --- End quote --- I've never heard of such a case. Keep in mind that ca$h dictates who and why people get sued. One guy with a MAME cabinet in a public place making money... yeah it's illegal, but why would a big corporation spend thousands and thousands on lawyers, only to get this one guy to stop making his measly $30 a week? That just doesn't make sense. But if we're talking about one guy making and selling hundreds of cabinets, we're talking about a much bigger target.* Just compare it to the MP3 suits. They didn't sue everybody or just anybody. They went after the ones who they saw were sharing thousands and thousand of songs. In other words they struck where they would make the biggest impact for the least effort. It's like killing ants. Better to go around stomping on anthills than it is to try and stomp on each individual ant. *Exceptions are that they can still send out a "cease & desist". That doesn't cost them much. |
| AlanS17:
--- Quote from: TurboC-- on August 16, 2005, 11:23:53 pm --- --- Quote from: RayB on August 16, 2005, 10:35:12 pm ---With a Copyright law, a police officer cannot touch you. It is up to the copyright owner(s) to initiate a prosecution. Nothing will happen. Make sure the cabinet is set to free play. --- End quote --- How about if it's set to accept coins but the coin door is unlocked? --- End quote --- |
| DaveMMR:
A MAME cabinet in an office? What a great alternative to productivity. :D But seriously, the answer lies in what kind of people walk through your office on a daily basis. If it's just for employee use I don't see any problems. You can even keep the coin box active (lock it though) and give the money back by throwing occassional pizza parties or happy hours with the funds (it's a good way to keep play down to a minimum). Of course, having the ROMs wouldn't be legal (unless they were gotten through the proper channels such as starroms - though techically you still can't be charging for it with a proper license). I don't think anyone's going to be knocking down your door with a battering ram anytime soon though. It must be noted that IANAL, but I enjoy pretending that I am. |
| Lactose:
We already have multiple arcade machines (all on free play). This isn't a money making venture, it's a "hey these old games are pretty fun" venture. I was already planning to build a 4 player cabinet for all to enjoy and I figured hey, why not make it a mame cabinet instead? Multiple birds would die by a single, albeit more expensive stone. It'd suck to have some disgruntled former employee raise a stink about it, but I'm less worried about it if there's no precedent of people losing court cases or being forced to settle over it. |
| Lilwolf:
Basically no way to make it legal while accepting money. Can't do it with most PC software (thats cheap enought that you would be interested). Almost every license agreement will prohibit this. ESPECIALLY free or shareware programs. Can't with mame. This hobby is a hobby... not a business. Keep it that way and you will stay happy, and you wont piss off all the people who have spent years to make it possible... for free... |
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