Suggestion "Warez" Rules Going Largely Ignored?

[WAUthethird]

Hey all - recently, I've noticed a bit of a problem between this forum and The Terms of Service and Rules defined here.

As set down there, the rules state:

• We DO NOT HOST or PROVIDE ROMs/WADs/ISOs/CIAs; or link to websites that do contain ROMs/WADs/ISOs/CIAs.
  
• We do not allow or condone sharing of title keys or any other form of copyrighted material or content.
  
• Members may NOT ASK and MAY NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION or LINKS for and to places that provide ROM, WAD, ISO and CIA files in absolutely any way on our forum including PM (private message).
  
• Members may also NOT mention torrent or warez-containing sites or channels by name or otherwise.
  
• We do not condone piracy in any way.
  
• Please go elsewhere if you only wish to download or share illegal files. The GBAtemp Forums are for discussion ONLY.

I won't deny that I've broken this rule a few times, but high-ranking members and even staff have taken part in certain discussions that contain links to ROMs/WADs/ISOs/CIAs. I'm not going to post links to these discussions, but I just wanted to bring this up. As the rules are set pretty cleanly and strictly, I'm surprised that this rule isn't more well enforced; as such, it might be worth it to make some modifications to the rules so new members/nonmembers won't be confused as they see links to CIAs (the most commonly posted link that technically breaks this rule) pop up.

 

[Kioku]

Talking about piracy isn't an issue. Everyone here does it in one form or another. If they were to link, or give site names, torrent names things like that? Yeah, they infringe on the rules.

 

[WiiUBricker]

Examples, screenshots or any other sort of proof to back up your claim?

PS: Mentioning “that ISO site” is not against the rules.

 

[Frezgle]

The only time I've seen unpunished rom/iso/etc links is for homebrew software, which isn't exactly piracy, then. But I would say that if that's how it is, then the rules don't really make such a distinction clearly.

 

[WAUthethird]

Examples, screenshots or any other sort of proof to back up your claim?

PS: Mentioning “that ISO site” is not against the rules.

For instance: https://gbatemp.net/forums/3ds-homebrew-development-and-emulators.275/
There are quite a few threads with links to .CIA files here.

 

[GhostLatte]

For instance: https://gbatemp.net/forums/3ds-homebrew-development-and-emulators.275/
There are quite a few threads with links to .CIA files here.

I'm afraid you do not know what the definition of homebrew is.

 

[WiiUBricker]

For instance: https://gbatemp.net/forums/3ds-homebrew-development-and-emulators.275/
There are quite a few threads with links to .CIA files here.

You mean CIA files of commercial games?

 

[zfreeman]

Putting the "temp" in GBATEMP.

 

[WAUthethird]

The only time I've seen unpunished rom/iso/etc links is for homebrew software, which isn't exactly piracy, then. But I would say that if that's how it is, then the rules don't really make such a distinction clearly.

The rules don't clearly say something like "It's ok to post a .CIA file as long as it doesn't break copyright laws" or something like that.

 

[GhostLatte]

The rules don't clearly say something like "It's ok to post a .CIA file as long as it doesn't break copyright laws" or something like that.

That's common sense though.

 

[WAUthethird]

That's common sense though.

The rules are pretty clear in all other respects, though, so for people who might think this means ALL .CIA files, the distinction is important and unclear at the moment.

 

[WiiUBricker]

The rules are pretty clear in all other respects, though, so for people who might think this means ALL .CIA files, the distinction is important and unclear at the moment.

CIA is just a package format. Basically like ZIP, RAR, TAR etc files. What’s important is what’s IN those files.

 

[Kioku]

The rules are pretty clear in all other respects, though, so for people who might think this means ALL .CIA files, the distinction is important and unclear at the moment.

The reality is that homebrew IS allowed. Whether it's 3dsx or CIA.

 

[VinsCool]

I won't deny that I've broken this rule a few times, but high-ranking members and even staff have taken part in certain discussions that contain links to ROMs/WADs/ISOs/CIAs.

Link please.

 

[Kioku]

Link please.

He linked to the homebrew Section...

 

[VinsCool]

He linked to the homebrew Section...

That's not what I asked though.
Every single illegal forum posts linking to warez were killed within minutes, so I'm legitimately curious about their "illegal content".

 

[Chary]

I can kind of see your point, ever so slightly--but the rules also strictly mean "warez" or illegal content, aka copyrighted stuff. It prefaces illegal content right at the start. Homebrew isn't copyrighted, so even if it's in a WAD file, it's still not warez.

 

[HaloEliteLegend]

Those rules specifically relate to warez and other such illegal content. Homebrew is legal and so any homebrew-related links and discussion are permitted. I'm not aware of a single violation of these rules that hasn't been swiftly taken care of by the moderation staff.

@Chary Oh poo, you beat me to the punch..!

 

[DarthDub]

I've seen so many Wii U forwarder links taken down cause they were made with copyrighted content. I'm pretty sure GBATemp is enforcing the rules like it should.

 

[WAUthethird]

I can kind of see your point, ever so slightly--but the rules also strictly mean "warez" or illegal content, aka copyrighted stuff. It prefaces illegal content right at the start. Homebrew isn't copyrighted, so even if it's in a WAD file, it's still not warez.

Right, I'm more or less concerned about the distinction between legal files and piracy files, which in my opinion isn't laid out too clearly in the rules.
Sorry if that wasn't clear in my original post.