is it actualy illegal to have an iso ?
- Thread starter SteveD88
- Start date
cooliscool
Nintendo Zealot
Even if you own the game, it's illegal.
SteveD88 said:
No it's illegal if you don't make the backup yourself. It would be like saying you can steal a game from Best Buy because you own it. While your first copy will be legal if bought, the other's will be stolen.
So when you download an ISO, it's not the exact copy of the CD you possess, rather the exact copy of another person.
That of course, is impractical. It's like they won't let you install certain software if you are on a network, unless you pay more...
So yes, it is illegal to download an ISO if it is not the ISO that you possess (they are all not exactly alike).
Heinster
New member
-It's not illegal to have an iso if you made it yourself of one of your own games.
-It's illegal if you got it through internet or other means that gave you the opportunity to get the iso........ But eventually the people chasing piracy don't care about these things.... So I wouldn't be afraid if I were you in this case.
-The only problem you can encounter is when you yourself upload these files. But if it are non commercial running games then again the chance you get caught is slim since they only care about the current generation games piracy. And personally I can't disagree, good work should be rewarded in hard cash.... Would you like it if people run arround with stuff you made unpaid?Everyone who does a decent job should get paid for it I believe.
But I personally have no problem with non commercial running games neither do the companies who protect right of games(little problem but no imediately action is being taken).
-It's illegal if you got it through internet or other means that gave you the opportunity to get the iso........ But eventually the people chasing piracy don't care about these things.... So I wouldn't be afraid if I were you in this case.
-The only problem you can encounter is when you yourself upload these files. But if it are non commercial running games then again the chance you get caught is slim since they only care about the current generation games piracy. And personally I can't disagree, good work should be rewarded in hard cash.... Would you like it if people run arround with stuff you made unpaid?Everyone who does a decent job should get paid for it I believe.
But I personally have no problem with non commercial running games neither do the companies who protect right of games(little problem but no imediately action is being taken).
Doomulation
?????????????????????????
This is like a grey area... the law in some countries say that it's legal to make a backup of software you own for archival purposes. Although even so, companies tend to claim that any form of backup is illegal. That said, I don't think you'll be going to jail if you make a backup of your own game / software.
STC-Fan
Dollop.
If you are in the UK, you can make backups of games, as long as you own the original titles. If in any doubt, read this article (though as you will find, the new CRRA law technically makes it illegal, even though the old law allowing backups remains intact - now there's clarity for you!):
http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/world/pczone/backed.htm
http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/world/pczone/backed.htm
n00by duddy
New member
I don't care if it's legal or not, I just download tonz of isos for pleasure 
greasyspoon
New member
No, its not Illegal if someone else makes backup, because you supported the people by buying the game in the first place, so it wouldn't matter who made the backup in the first place as long as you had originally bought the game. Even if you dont own the game, no one will care if you have an image of it anyways, since its DC.
Kakashi-sensei
New member
hmm....lol you cant stop me! *as i say that 7 black cars pull into my driveway*
Doomulation
?????????????????????????
Illegal.greasyspoon said:
Well DUH, it's still a game.
Talbain
Moo.
Game backups from other countries cannot be enforced in the U.S.A. At least not criminally, because while a copyright may exist in the country of origin, the copyright does not transfer over to American soil. Likewise, American copyrights do not transfer over to other countries. Owning copies of American games on your computer is now illegal due to the DMCA and Patriot Acts, no matter if you own the original. It used to be that you could own them if you owned the originals, but no longer. Also, it's not a grey area, it's been very well documented, and it's illegal, at least in America, with American games.
General Plot
Britchie Crazy
In fact, any use of bypassing copy protection as a means to copy digital information is deemed as illegal, regardless whether or not you own it. Bypassing copy protection includes, but is not limited to: using modified cd/dvd drives, either through the use of hardware or software to obtain normally "unreadable information." So, you may own the disc the game came on, but you don't own the information that's on it, you simply own a license to use it. Think of it this way: if you owned the game (disc and information on the disc, you could potentially make copies and sell them for profit without any fear of legal action.
Talbain
Moo.
Also, most copyrights can now last anywhere from 25-75 years, and can be reissued at any time, though generally they are renewed at the end of the latest copyright term. This makes it so that it is effectively impossible to have a game (even old NES games, which began to make their way here in the 1980s) that is not under some form of copyright protection, and therefore, infringement, should you own it on your computer. (I think that realistically, a copyright should not last more than 3-5 years, but companies are greedy, so it doesn't really matter a whole lot as to what I think.)
General Plot
Britchie Crazy
One thing you're missing: if you don't think cartridges are considered a form of copy protection, then tell me how many private people have been issued eeprom chip readers/programmers by Nintendo. Those roms for NES games are ripped using Nintendo issued hardware for transferring info from a pc to a chip (to later be installed in a cartridge), and it can also transfer the info from the chip back to the pc (this is how rom images get dumped). Only other way to dump a cartridge rom is to own a cable that can connect your NES to your pc, but this still breaks the copy protection.Talbain said: