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MAME machine legalities
SavannahLion:
--- Quote from: pinballjim on September 10, 2007, 10:12:31 am ---
--- Quote from: Dire Radiant on September 10, 2007, 09:49:35 am ---Specifically prohibited by the MAME license.
--- End quote ---
MAME itself is an illegal program.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: pinballjim on September 10, 2007, 11:34:46 am ---The case they cite as proof that MAME is legal has very little to do with MAME.
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2000/02/34281
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An emulator is an emulator, regardless of what it emulates. Just because a court case is in support of an emulator for an entirely different system, does not make it any less relevant. Reverse engineering is a very specific and protected right in the U.S. This has been proven numerous times for at least the past twenty years (probably far longer in other fields) with all the major gaming companies including Atari, Nintendo, SEGA, and SONY. And while reverse engineering has been slowly eroded away, it's not entirely gone.
MAME is legal.
If you think otherwise, take it up with the MAME developers.
FrizzleFried:
--- Quote from: pinballjim on September 10, 2007, 12:41:31 pm ---
--- Quote from: SavannahLion on September 10, 2007, 12:38:07 pm ---MAME is legal.
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The Playstation people got away with it because of the way they developed their emulator.
The methods used by the MAME devs are specifically forbidden. Trust me, if those guys released a MAME CD with an easy to use interface and told you how to get ROMs, they'd be charged criminally and have their asses sued off.
This argument always goes round and round, but in my opinion, just about every MAME developer has committed illegal acts in the process of working on MAME.
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Have you ever went over the speed limit? Have you ever done a "California Stop"? Have you ever lied on your taxes?
Going over the speed limit has greater ramifications if "things go wrong", yet I doubt anyone has the opinion that you have "committed illegal acts" because of it.
...though I wouldn't argue with the fact that the project would be shut down if they encouraged people to use illegal ROMS...but because of the fact there are LEGAL ROM's out there, the actual program itself can be used LEGITIMATELY to play those LEGAL game ROMS, I am betting that it falls within the protections created by the referenced court decision.
SavannahLion:
pinballjim, you know what? Forget it. It's pretty clear you're just fishing for an argument. Want to argue the legality of MAME? Take it up with a lawyer and every major corporation if you think your argument is valid.
Donkey_Kong:
--- Quote from: RayB on September 10, 2007, 11:58:25 am ---(and the reason I'm saying that, is not to be a d!ck, but because that simple question ALWAYS devolves into 5 page debates and arguments. It gets real ugly.)
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;D
Kaytrim:
--- Quote from: FrizzleFried on September 10, 2007, 12:50:28 pm ---
--- Quote from: pinballjim on September 10, 2007, 12:41:31 pm ---
--- Quote from: SavannahLion on September 10, 2007, 12:38:07 pm ---MAME is legal.
--- End quote ---
The Playstation people got away with it because of the way they developed their emulator.
The methods used by the MAME devs are specifically forbidden. Trust me, if those guys released a MAME CD with an easy to use interface and told you how to get ROMs, they'd be charged criminally and have their asses sued off.
This argument always goes round and round, but in my opinion, just about every MAME developer has committed illegal acts in the process of working on MAME.
--- End quote ---
Have you ever went over the speed limit? Have you ever done a "California Stop"? Have you ever lied on your taxes?
Going over the speed limit has greater ramifications if "things go wrong", yet I doubt anyone has the opinion that you have "committed illegal acts" because of it.
...though I wouldn't argue with the fact that the project would be shut down if they encouraged people to use illegal ROMS...but because of the fact there are LEGAL ROM's out there, the actual program itself can be used LEGITIMATELY to play those LEGAL game ROMS, I am betting that it falls within the protections created by the referenced court decision.
--- End quote ---
Yes there are legal ROM files out there. However they are under the same license as MAME thus can't be used in a money making environment.