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Interesting news on how The US Copyright Office helps our hobby
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leapinlew:

--- Quote from: Fozzy The Bear on November 29, 2006, 08:09:34 pm ---Anyway..... this is all getting WAY off Arcade Topic..... Except to say that the new ruling pointed to at the start of this doesn't help us in any way at all.

--- End quote ---

How could this quote not apply to us?

"2. Computer programs and video games distributed in formats that have become obsolete and that require the original media or hardware as a condition of access, when circumvention is accomplished for the purpose of preservation or archival reproduction of published digital works by a library or archive. A format shall be considered obsolete if the machine or system necessary to render perceptible a work stored in that format is no longer manufactured or is no longer reasonably available in the commercial marketplace."

It seems that this could very well apply to video games in the 80's. It certainly would be debatable as to the intent of whats "reasonable" and "archival". To me it seems certain that more roms would be available from games that weren't popular, manufactured by companies no longer in business, and prototypes.

I wouldn't go so far as to say this absolutely does not apply to our hobby.
leapinlew:
I think the sticking point might be a definition of the word library. This is from Dictionary.com.

Library-noun

1. a place set apart to contain books, periodicals, and other material for reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference, as a room, set of rooms, or building where books may be read or borrowed. 
2. a public body organizing and maintaining such an establishment. 
3. a collection of manuscripts, publications, and other materials for reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference. 
4. a collection of any materials for study and enjoyment, as films, musical recordings, or maps. 
5. a commercial establishment lending books for a fixed charge; a lending library. 
6. a series of books of similar character or alike in size, binding, etc., issued by a single publishing house. 
7. Biology. a collection of standard materials or formulations by which specimens are identified. 
8. canon1 (def. 9). 
9. Computers. a collection of software or data usually reflecting a specific theme or application.

Let the lawyers fight it out - I read this as an ok to own certain roms.
arzoo:
I started to read this thread, but is has too many big words.  :dizzy:
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