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I will not discuss where/how to emulate systems on this board, but I would like to discuss the topic of emulation in a more meta context, which I believe is permissible as being the difference between talking about going down to the corner store, or going and robbing the corner store.
In copyright law reverse engineering in a similar fashion to how Compaq figured out the functionality of IBM's BIOS chip is completely legal. If such a fashion is followed in the creation of an emulator such a piece of equipment or software is legal. (See Atari Vs.Coleco in regards to Coleco expansion module #1 and also note the IBM BIOS reverse engineering done in the early 1980's)
Also under fair use, if you own the game in question you can use it with any hardware you wish, or make additional copies for personal non-commercial use. (While this may aggravate the RIAA/MPAA/BSA and so forth it is the reason you can watch movies on your PC and not just their approved player. And give the kids a burned copy of Lion King so that you don't have to buy it again every time they decide DVD = frisbee.)
The argument of "Pirating the whole console" can also be addressed in the same manner. Since I own both an Atari and a collection of games for it unless I keep the emulator and sell the Atari I am still well within the legal bounds provided by the fair use clause of current copyright law. (You would have to hold me at gunpoint to get my Atari from me.)
I do most certainly concede that a large portion of those wishing to emulate games want to steal them, and do not own the requisite console to play them. This of course is unfortunate. However emulation in the situation I have discussed falls well within the scope fair use and its intentions.
If this is an unwelcome discussion, please let me know with something other than a ban. I have not, and do not intend to lend a hand to anyone pirating software and being as I have provided no information or means for someone to do so I believe I am well within AUP. However if that is not the case I will, albeit grudgingly edit this post.
In copyright law reverse engineering in a similar fashion to how Compaq figured out the functionality of IBM's BIOS chip is completely legal. If such a fashion is followed in the creation of an emulator such a piece of equipment or software is legal. (See Atari Vs.Coleco in regards to Coleco expansion module #1 and also note the IBM BIOS reverse engineering done in the early 1980's)
Also under fair use, if you own the game in question you can use it with any hardware you wish, or make additional copies for personal non-commercial use. (While this may aggravate the RIAA/MPAA/BSA and so forth it is the reason you can watch movies on your PC and not just their approved player. And give the kids a burned copy of Lion King so that you don't have to buy it again every time they decide DVD = frisbee.)
The argument of "Pirating the whole console" can also be addressed in the same manner. Since I own both an Atari and a collection of games for it unless I keep the emulator and sell the Atari I am still well within the legal bounds provided by the fair use clause of current copyright law. (You would have to hold me at gunpoint to get my Atari from me.)
I do most certainly concede that a large portion of those wishing to emulate games want to steal them, and do not own the requisite console to play them. This of course is unfortunate. However emulation in the situation I have discussed falls well within the scope fair use and its intentions.
If this is an unwelcome discussion, please let me know with something other than a ban. I have not, and do not intend to lend a hand to anyone pirating software and being as I have provided no information or means for someone to do so I believe I am well within AUP. However if that is not the case I will, albeit grudgingly edit this post.
