Legality of having a PC cab in a business?

[yalborap]

Simple question. I was wondering just how legal it is to have a PC(or modded console, for that matter) cab running MAME, potentially other emulators, and other such stuff on it. Is this the sort of thing that would get said business's door busted down by the FBI, or is it basically okay as long as it's completely free play?

Thanks in advance.

[crashwg]

I doubt the FBI will give a crap but it certainly isn't legal...  Freeplay or not, you're "attracting customers" with something you've not paid for licensing on.

Using a console is a little more gray I think.  Depends on the terms and conditions provided with the game I would suppose.  It's kinda like playing movies in a public venue which is not allowed BTW.

[yalborap]

Damn laws!

Does it change if it's kept in the back in the employee area instead of up front with the commonfolk(customers)?

[ahofle]

Then it would be fine, that is until one of your employees became disgruntled and called the anti-piracy police on you. 

[vorghagen]

I imagine having it in the backroom would be fine and dandy, since it's no longer "attracting customers" and you'd find it a lot easier to argue that it's for "personal use"

[Chris]

Still illegal (at least on the MAME side) unless you have licenses for the games, but the consoles would be fine with no access to the general public.

[yalborap]

Still illegal (at least on the MAME side) unless you have licenses for the games, but the consoles would be fine with no access to the general public.

Would buying the basic board count as a license? Could I just pick those up for far less than a full cabinet and then toss the ROMs into a MAME cab for the employee consumption?

[GoPodular.com]

No, it wouldn't count.  A little while back there was a company that got in trouble for selling an emulated game even though they had the actual ROM chips in the machine.  I don't see a difference between using and selling (in this context) other than the odds of being caught.

The only way to get a license for a ROM is to get a license for a ROM.  Anything else is technically illegal* under the DMCA and is copyright infringement, so take a look at the funds you have to spend on a lawyer, compare that to the odds of being caught, and act accordingly.

*unless you buy a board and then rip the ROM yourself and use it for "personal use only".  Whatever "personal use" is...  I don't know, argue it in court.  Same with downloading vs. ripping, someone (other than me) can pay to have that settled in court as well.

[yalborap]

Well crap. Guess it's unmodded consoles or genuine arcade cabs only.

Out of curiosity, what's generally cheaper? Neo Geo arcade games, or the home versions?

[danny_galaga]

if it JUST for the employees in a lunch room or something and you arent charging them id say go for it. yes, its illegal but whos gonna snitch? hell, i sometimes play galaga on a four in one cocktail at lunch at the local supermarket. that sure as hell is illegal and hes making money from it!

id especially say yes if your business isnt tech related and the employees arent particularly savvy about these laws...

[Glaine]

Neo geo Home carts (called AES carts) are considered collectors items while arcade carts (called MVS carts) are generally a lot cheaper. If you are going to go ahead and put a real machine at work, you might look into seeing what all you need to do to be able to legally make money off the machine.

Either a real cab or a console cab should be legal. If you don't want to buy arcade PCBs I second something like a PS2 or dreamcast cab.

[leapinlew]

You could use a JAKKS unit. That would be totally legit. Get the 5 game Galaga, Ms. Pacman unit.

You wouldn't have to worry about a thing with that. People at work probably won't care as much about authenticity. Plus, it'll be cheaper.

[tranq]

Christ almighty, just make your own.  I don't see why anyone would want to lose their job over it....however, if so, promptly can them and say they were in violation of policy of using your 'work' cab, and that you hadn't caught anyone else.

[Dervacumen]

Kinda like driving 60 next to a cop in a 55 zone.  I hope the fuzz is worried about more important things, like if you've got illegal immigrants working there.  Or you're evading taxes.  Doubt they're going to do an audit of your arcade machine.  But it is a risk nonetheless.

[danny_galaga]

just had a thought. one of the guys here made a mini cab using jakks type games. he had several of them with a switch (maybe rotary) to select different games. so you could have the namco one, and street fighter etc...

[leapinlew]

just had a thought. one of the guys here made a mini cab using jakks type games. he had several of them with a switch (maybe rotary) to select different games. so you could have the namco one, and street fighter etc...

Your thought looks alot like my thought (3 posts up) 

[danny_galaga]

just had a thought. one of the guys here made a mini cab using jakks type games. he had several of them with a switch (maybe rotary) to select different games. so you could have the namco one, and street fighter etc...

Your thought looks alot like my thought (3 posts up) 

ah yes. im on holiday and using crappy cafes. no time to read all the posts! what i meant though is that the other guy (cant remember who) had two or three units in the machine and you could select between them. so for instance there could be a namco, a taito and a capcom. actually those three would be a good combo. i think ive seen a sega megadrive unit somewhere too...

[leapinlew]

Danny_galaga,

Your referring to the legendary MarkVP. He did an excellent write up here:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=36591.0

To be able to switch to all different units really looks like a PITA to me, but it would be cool.

[danny_galaga]

Danny_galaga,

Your referring to the legendary MarkVP. He did an excellent write up here:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=36591.0

To be able to switch to all different units really looks like a PITA to me, but it would be cool.

yeah thats the one! PITA? well, one must suffer for ones art (",)

edit: just going through that again, why does he have so many question marks in his sentences?