Can I download XXX game that is from a different region?

[dynamicVoidMain]

No idea hwere to post this, if this is the wrong place (probably is) then it should be moved.

Just wondering if I'll be breaking copyright law if I download a game of a different region than the copy I own. Like if I own Super Smash Bros. Melee PAL can I legally download the NTSC version of it or would I be breaking copyright law since it technically isn't the same software?

[Mako Eyes]

Downloading a game is illegal anyway regardless if you own it or not, because, essentially, you aren't downloading your copy, but rather someone else's.

[RedLion]

NO.you can't.You must extract it of your own copy.You've been around for a while you should know that.

[JKKDARK]

As the people said, it is illegal. The only thing that you can do is dump your own game to your computer. You need the BroadBand Adapter and phantasy star online episode 1 & 2 (not plus). There are some guides on internet, search in google

[dynamicVoidMain]

I shouldn't download it?

Heh, I thought it was legal, like downloading cartridge backups... Ok, actually downloading cartridge backups aren't even legal in the US.. gah


Sorry, I'm just confused on the matter...



Though I'll definately look into the phatasy online thing now, given I'm screwed over with the rest... Thank goodness for sega

[JKKDARK]

Originally Posted by dynamicVoidMain

I shouldn't download it?

Heh, I thought it was legal, like downloading cartridge backups... Ok, actually downloading cartridge backups aren't even legal in the US.. gah


Sorry, I'm just confused on the matter...

It is legal on the US? Really, I didn't know

[dynamicVoidMain]

No, I remember reading on wikipedia (ok, not reliable), that you cannot even copy cartridge based games using your own tools period.

Blame atari for it, back in the day a company released a tech allowing you to 'back up' your atari cartridges, atari succesfully sued and I think lobbied the legislators to completely ban cartridge backing up in all its forms. I don't think it is at all legal to even posses cartrdige based roms in the US period.

[hushypushy]

I'll look it up. After reading a couple posts today, it's just been irking me. Especially since NGEmu deals with such a wide global base...based in Germany yet mostly going off US laws that we don't even know that well? Okay well that's harsh. We are mainly taking a "better safe than sorry" approach.

Although, I do need to look up the nature of backup versus original discs, downloading games in different countries, etc.

I mean really, none of these PSX games are in print anymore, it's not like you're hurting anyone. Only when Nintendo comes back with those way overpriced remakes...ugh. The main problem for me is simply the corruption in game downloads, especially with PSX. Other systems, I dunno. Cartridge games can be CRC checked easily, and everyone know's PCSX2's "secret" (and no, I won't tell you, so don't PM me, you freakin n00bs). But PSX games, the elusive mystery...why are so many floating around either completely the wrong format (MDS/MDF? WTF??) or ripped with some sort of errors.

Sometimes it hurts to close a thread or something when I feel like I should be giving them help (but "can't" due to downloaded BIOS or something), but I'd rather have NGEmu stick around than help a few extra people.

[TheCloudOfSmoke]

I found this piracy FAQ from Nintendo very informative. It also answers some of your questions, hushy. It cleared up a lot of myths that the internetz made up. Even worse, they said that backing up your own games is illegal (Nintendo claims). Now knowing that information, that really puts this forum at risk IMO even though this forum is supposed to promote the legal side of emulation. Just knowing that backing up your own stuff is supposably illegal and that this forum has many guides to backing up your games. Check it out here:

http://www.nintendo.com/corp/legal.jsp

[dynamicVoidMain]

backing up cartridgesin any way, shape or form is illegal in the US outright. It was a band aide law they set up to protect Atari's copyright back when gaming piracy was still in its infancy.

[hushypushy]

Originally Posted by TheCloudOfSmoke

I found this piracy FAQ from Nintendo very informative. It also answers some of your questions, hushy. It cleared up a lot of myths that the internetz made up. Even worse, they said that backing up your own games is illegal (Nintendo claims). Now knowing that information, that really puts this forum at risk IMO even though this forum is supposed to promote the legal side of emulation. Just knowing that backing up your own stuff is supposably illegal and that this forum has many guides to backing up your games. Check it out here:

http://www.nintendo.com/corp/legal.jsp

Yeah, I read that a while ago. It's just Nintendo taking the obvious approach--condemning piracy. Protecting their assets, they say. Oh, I see, so they can release the same NES games that used to be available at Funcoland for 20 cents and sell them for the GBA for 20 dollars.

As far as I know, it's illegal to copy cartridges in the US, but I'm more concerned about CDs. What happens if you make a backup and the original explodes? Do you have to destroy the backup now? Some argue that's the point of the backup, to have it in case the original one explodes. But shouldn't you keep the original in safe keeping and let the backup explode? I don't know. And it goes beyond the US, because many people who browse this site are not from the US. And this site isn't based in the US, so what rules do we have to go off of?

It's a huge grey area, and it's been bugging me a lot lately.

[dynamicVoidMain]

you back it up and use the backups hushypuppy, what the hell is the point of using the original clean pressed dvd if your backing it up?

[TheCloudOfSmoke]

What's the point of making a CD backup if you have to get rid of it if the original gets lost, stolen or whatever else. My main reason to make backups is just for that reason. If the original gets lost or damaged, I'll have my backup just incase. It's just stupid the way things are.

Lol! I've had quite a few CDs explode in my lifetime .

[dynamicVoidMain]

reverse order, I use my backups, if the backups break I burn another ocpy with the original

[hushypushy]

Originally Posted by dynamicVoidMain

you back it up and use the backups hushypuppy, what the hell is the point of using the original clean pressed dvd if your backing it up?

Are you talking to me? I can't tell. anyway dynamicVodman, I wasn't arguing my own point, I was mentioning something that someone said to me.

I always make copies of my music stuff for the car. My car has zero store bought CDs, they are all copies. As far as other things (games and such) I see no need to make backups because all of my media is well taken care of.

[Shin_Mike_God]

You make a backup and your original dies.. what a mess, been wondering that for a while, but what about those games with multiple discs and stuff, I dont see it in a wrong way, having per example Diablo 2, first disc copy and the other 2 original, with your original cd case.. but thats just me still, what will you do when the other ones die? and your backups? "get" the game online? or buy it again =/
Dont think its really legal in that way.. anyhow this posts its all messy too, ignore it, and I dont think getting and internet copy from a different region its legal, cause game might be different and many ways.
its like getting a copy of the game but in a different console, thats how I see it.

Sincerely...

[firyace]

See I am confuse too, pc games use to have their own keys right? So if you bought the original, and its scratched badly, to the point of unplayable, can't you plug in your backup copy (assuming you original is dead and you threw it away) and use your UNIQUE cd-key?

[hushypushy]

PC games seem to exist in a different realm, well in my mind. Supposedly the key helps prevent piracy, but you can easily share a key like you can call up your friend and say some letters.

[dynamicVoidMain]

yeah, in essence when you buy a PC game your simply buying the right to play it, the cd-key is what your really paying for. The game comes on a ncie cd/dvd just out of conveniance.


But its not the same with console games were the key I suppose is built into the cd/dvd...

[Cid Highwind]

Originally Posted by hushypushy

PC games seem to exist in a different realm, well in my mind. Supposedly the key helps prevent piracy, but you can easily share a key like you can call up your friend and say some letters.

Actually that is not true in all cases because some games do require you to register to some extend, but those are in a minority. Like with Neverwinter Nights there is no way you will be able to play online with an illegal key, offline it's a different matter though. I like their approach The game is even playable without cd's when you've downloaded their later patches.

Originally Posted by dynamicvoidman

Just wondering if I'll be breaking copyright law if I download a game of a different region than the copy I own. Like if I own Super Smash Bros. Melee PAL can I legally download the NTSC version of it or would I be breaking copyright law since it technically isn't the same software?

I personally pick whatever is morally 'legal'. You paid to play the game, so it's not like Nintendo will be making any losses. It's the same with getting a 'backup' whenever your cd explodes, like my own Baldur's Gate 2. The fact I have bought that game 3 times out of fanboyism is a whole different matter

See where I'm coming from? In a grey area just think for a moment, think what those companies complain about. It's financial losses, which I'm not giving them this way However, for anyone reading this: don't go telling here you are looking support for a DL'd game even if you got it for this reason, cause technically it is still wrong.

Originally Posted by hushypushy

I'll look it up. After reading a couple posts today, it's just been irking me. Especially since NGEmu deals with such a wide global base...based in Germany yet mostly going off US laws that we don't even know that well? Okay well that's harsh. We are mainly taking a "better safe than sorry" approach.


Sometimes it hurts to close a thread or something when I feel like I should be giving them help (but "can't" due to downloaded BIOS or something), but I'd rather have NGEmu stick around than help a few extra people.

The problem here is that the US has got more power than the UN. However, seeing how it is stationed in Germany, Bobbi might want to look into the European guidelines. Which might be less strict and more reasonable for backing things up the legal way.

If Bobbi is willing to take the risk he might want to give the American officials the finger pointing to the EU laws whenever they knock on his door. Though it is probably not worth it getting problems over. NGEmu has been doing fine the way it deals with piracy now. People can easily get support for it if they don't mention it.

If you feel like helping someone out after a thread is closed, just do what I do when in a good mood: Send them a PM explaining why it got closed and a quick solution, most questions are pretty standard anyway. I like to do this whenever a polite newbie 'accidentaly' chooses the wrong words.

Originally Posted by hushypushy

Although, I do need to look up the nature of backup versus original discs, downloading games in different countries, etc.

I mean really, none of these PSX games are in print anymore, it's not like you're hurting anyone. Only when Nintendo comes back with those way overpriced remakes...ugh. The main problem for me is simply the corruption in game downloads, especially with PSX. Other systems, I dunno. Cartridge games can be CRC checked easily, and everyone know's PCSX2's "secret" (and no, I won't tell you, so don't PM me, you freakin n00bs). But PSX games, the elusive mystery...why are so many floating around either completely the wrong format (MDS/MDF? WTF??) or ripped with some sort of errors.

Interestingly, downloading games, movies and music is legal here in the Netherlands, even when using filesharing apps. You do have to disable uploading because providing such material is illegal. The government forces us to pay some fee for every CDr and DVDr bought, which goes to the music companies. It's a really odd situation, cause now you have people order their writable media in Germany which is 2 times cheaper, and still download their stuff. Also the fee doesn't apply to harddrives and compact flash media, and all kinds of portable music devices.

I've also been thinking about the 'they aren't sold anymore' arguement. In the end, I have to conclude it is pure bull****, no offence meant Shopkeepers buy games from distributors, so there has been an investment from their side. The developers and Nintendo/Sony got their money already, so they're safe. But the shopkeepers are stuck with their investment, even if it is an old game. Downloading it over buying means it will be a loss of income to them.

If you'd look at it from a secondhanded pov. You could have bought the game secondhanded, this means you get a legit copy. Now there is no money that goes to the developers and publishers, however, the money the guy has sold it for, might be used for buying a new console and a couple of games. So the gaming industry would still be losing out on money if you had downloaded it.