Hacking Legality of selling private headers?

[Tony556]

Is it illegal to rip headers and sell them?

 

[Monty Kensicle]

I don't believe so, I've done it quite a few times myself. A grey area for the most part.

 

[RodrigoDavy]

I don't know anything about Law, but I would guess it's not illegal.

I mean, the header is just a unique sequence of characters used to identify a game. I don't think copyright would apply to these.
Headers are like the serial number written on the back of your 3DS, I can't imagine someone being arrested for selling a serial number.

 

[YourHero]

It's not illegal. I mean you should sell the game with the header, but that's just me. You have to wonder if people selling headers are just reselling the same header feeding the problem.

 

[Lucifer666]

i don't think its illegal at all. its kinda like just reselling the game itself.

but don't take my word for it thats just what i think

 

[MattKimura]

It's not illegal. I mean you should sell the game with the header, but that's just me. You have to wonder if people selling headers are just reselling the same header feeding the problem.

There's no real way to play it safe. Even if the user sent the game itself, the person who ripped it would still have it on their computer, and even uploaded. As long as the original user still has that header, it's never truly safe. So going through something like this would help the buyer have a peace of mind, but they always forget that you can still have the header.bin file. I show how serious I am by actually breaking the cart and showing them. Though I don't sell headers normally since there aren't much cheap games around.

 

[Pedeadstrian]

Like everyone else in this thread, I know little about law, but since I don't know what's actually inside a header, I can't say for sure. I assume it contains some kind of code, written by Nintendo and/or the gave developer. If that is the case, then I would imagine it is illegal. Even if you bought the game you ripped the header from, you don't actually own the game, you own a license to play the game. That negates any "I bought it so I can do whatever I want with it" arguments. If it isn't illegal, I'm sure it's against the ToS/EULA/whatever, but no one really cares about those.

I assume, however, what you're really trying to ask is "Will I get in trouble for doing so?" Chances are slim to none.

 

[zoogie]

It's illegal to sell a number?

lol

 

[Pedeadstrian]

It's illegal to sell a number?

lol

Lots of numbers would be illegal to sell. Social Security, Credit Card, copyrighted code, etc.

 

[zoogie]

Lots of numbers would be illegal to sell. Social Security, Credit Card, copyrighted code, etc.

It's just a randomly generated cartridge ID basically. It can hardly be considered a creative work and even more difficult to prove damages.

 

[Tony556]

It's just a randomly generated cartridge ID basically. It can hardly be considered a creative work and even more difficult to prove damages.

It's not exactly copyright, but more of what it's being used for (piracy, which is illegal).

 

[Pedeadstrian]

It's not exactly copyright, but more of what it's being used for (piracy, which is illegal).

It'd be along the same lines as a bong, or to greater hyperbole, a pencil. You can smoke pot (which is illegal in some areas) with a bong, but it is not itself illegal. You can stab and kill a man with a pencil, but the pencil itself is not illegal.

 

[TecXero]

I'd assume so, as you're selling a portion of code from a licensed and copyrighted game. I have no clue if the copyrights extend to the header or if Nintendo has a blanket copyright for that, kind of like a CD key thing. Either way, I just would just sell the game. If someone really wants that header, you could offer to back it up for them as well. I wouldn't though, as something like that I can't see a use for outside of piracy.

 

[Tony556]

II can't see a use for outside of piracy.

That's the whole point of buying a header, to be honest.

 

[TecXero]

That's the whole point of buying a header, to be honest.

Well, I'm not one to help people pirate. I can't stop people from pirating but I don't see much reason to help them either. Anyway, there's plenty of crap games out there for a couple of dollars people can use for headers, I doubt it would be that profitable.

 

[Tony556]

Well, I'm not one to help people pirate. I can't stop people from pirating but I don't see much reason to help them either. Anyway, there's plenty of crap games out there for a couple of dollars people can use for headers, I doubt it would be that profitable.

Eh, I just like helping people. I don't care much about profits.

 

[TecXero]

Eh, I just like helping people. I don't care much about profits.

Well, then go for it. If piracy doesn't bother you and profit isn't a concern, then go for it. I doubt you'll have to deal with the law, just need to find a site that would be comfortable with you selling those to advertise them on. I'm against piracy, but I'm not some self appointed moral arbiter and there's far worse things people could do.

If you wanted to play it safe, you could just sell the game and send them a backup of the game along with the licensed copy. As long as they have a licensed copy, they can have a backup of that exact copy as well. At least in the US. Then they could do what they want with the backup, which includes copying the header.

 

[Ericzander]

So far I've ripped headers for at least 12 different people on GBAtemp. I only ask for the cost of the game, though I do accept tips. For the most part though, I don't make a profit off of it. I just find the cheapest game at Gamestop/Amazon and buy it from there, showing them the receipt for proof. Is it legal to buy a game and then sell the game? I don't see much of a difference here.

There's no real way to play it safe. Even if the user sent the game itself, the person who ripped it would still have it on their computer, and even uploaded. As long as the original user still has that header, it's never truly safe. So going through something like this would help the buyer have a peace of mind, but they always forget that you can still have the header.bin file. I show how serious I am by actually breaking the cart and showing them. Though I don't sell headers normally since there aren't much cheap games around.

This is true, maybe I should start taking pictures of the broken carts too.. But really if you think about it.. What would be in my benefit to keep the header? I mean, it's only useful if it's private so why would I keep it for myself and risk getting both me and the guy I gave it to banned? That could really come back to bite you!

 

[MattKimura]

@Ericzander A tip for breaking the carts: Take a hammer, and a flat head screwdriver. Turn the game on it's side and hit the screwdriver against it to crack it open. Tryng to break it any other way is just impossible unless you have a lot of tools around.

Also that's true, I dont know why people worry about someone keeping the header. You can't resell the header without the people getting banned and wanting a refund. Overall, I wouldn't really worry about buying a header. Most people can be trusted. I guess people mainly worry about the user selling the game or giving it away, and having it used for it's header by someone else.

 

[Tony556]

@Ericzander A tip for breaking the carts: Take a hammer, and a flat head screwdriver. Turn the game on it's side and hit the screwdriver against it to crack it open. Tryng to break it any other way is just impossible unless you have a lot of tools around.

Also that's true, I dont know why people worry about someone keeping the header. You can't resell the header without the people getting banned and wanting a refund. Overall, I wouldn't really worry about buying a header. Most people can be trusted. I guess people mainly worry about the user selling the game or giving it away, and having it used for it's header by someone else.

I just threw mine against the wall until the case started to loosen, then I ripped it out and cut the board up a bit.