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.

 

[zoogie]

@Quantumcat is right
https://choosealicense.com/no-permission/ First sentence
(that's from github)

 

[chrisrlink]

i did report one rom hack which was a modified cia of OR I explained if you decide to hack a rom distribute the patch not the files and got called a pussy for it and tbh that mega link was on OP for 3 days until it got snipped

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

The program itself is legal. What you can do with it is not.
It requires a illegal titlekeys site being linked, and only users can add it.

That makes it perfectly legal. Just like any torrent clients.

right torrent clients are legal for large linux iso's under GPL etc (which i tend to do instead of http/ftp tranfers) it makes the dl faster cause youu connect to multiple seeds at once everything is a double edge sword gun's are legal but people can commit homicide with them (using US law here btw)

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

I was wondering could Nintendo CR a archive type (Unique like CIA i've never came across any other computer system using the .cia format)

 

[dpad_5678]

We DO NOT HOST or PROVIDE ROMs/WADs/ISOs/CIAs; or link to websites that do contain ROMs/WADs/ISOs/CIAs.

What about Homebrew executables in CIA/WAD/etc format? :v

 

[Kioku]

What about Homebrew executables in CIA/WAD/etc format? :v

Listen here you little shit... :v

 

[Jonna]

Sorry to bring this topic back up to the top, but I just wanted to use it to address a concern of mine.

https://gbatemp.net/threads/pirate-group-release-switch-master-key.495756/page-10
I'm on mobile so I can't choose a single post to link to.

Regarding the second post on this page, I feel like this is still a violation of the asking/posting warez rule on this forum. Giving direct directions like this to illegal content is no more different than linking to that content.

I only bring this up because I reported the post and it's been at least 3 days and the post is still there, making me think that all the mods seem to agree it's not violating the rules. Feel free to smack me across the face and correct me if this was simply a case of either "the report was somehow missed" or "the mods have been extremely busy," but if this is indeed a common acknowledgement that it is not against the rules, then that is my concern there.

Is any staff able to enlighten me?

 

[Kioku]

Sorry to bring this topic back up to the top, but I just wanted to use it to address a concern of mine.

https://gbatemp.net/threads/pirate-group-release-switch-master-key.495756/page-10
I'm on mobile so I can't choose a single post to link to.

Regarding the second post on this page, I feel like this is still a violation of the asking/posting warez rule on this forum. Giving direct directions like this to illegal content is no more different than linking to that content.

I only bring this up because I reported the post and it's been at least 3 days and the post is still there, making me think that all the mods seem to agree it's not violating the rules. Feel free to smack me across the face and correct me if this was simply a case of either "the report was somehow missed" or "the mods have been extremely busy," but if this is indeed a common acknowledgement that it is not against the rules, then that is my concern there.

Is any staff able to enlighten me?

I can't speak on behalf of the staff, however if you feel it violates or pertains to a specific rule? You should report the post and explain why you feel it doesn't belong.

 

[chrisrlink]

don't be an idiot the mods are pretty damn fast on banning people/removing warez the one guy who posted the actual key on that thread got delt with and key removed

 

[Jonna]

I can't speak on behalf of the staff, however if you feel it violates or pertains to a specific rule? You should report the post and explain why you feel it doesn't belong.

I only bring this up because I reported the post and it's been at least 3 days and the post is still there

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

don't be an idiot the mods are pretty damn fast on banning people/removing warez the one guy who posted the actual key on that thread got delt with and key removed

So then how come I can easily access the illegal key following the user's short, easy instructions?

 

[Kioku]

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


So then how come I can easily access the illegal key following the user's short, easy instructions?

Sorry, I'll admit I'm under right now, so I skimmed. However, one post I reported took 4 days to get SOME response.

 

[chrisrlink]

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


So then how come I can easily access the illegal key following the user's short, easy instructions?

did it instruct you to dump the key from your own system if yes then it's not sharing the key is it?

 

[Jonna]

Sorry, I'll admit I'm under right now, so I skimmed. However, one post I reported took 4 days to get SOME response.

No worries. I figured there was some skimming. I also understand that mods not getting paid on an online forum can have real lives and can be busy, so your 4 day response you had could correlate.

 

[chrisrlink]

much like how you can dump your 3ds bootrom we tell you how to do so but we never share the actual Key

 

[Jonna]

did it instruct you to dump the key from your own system if yes then it's not sharing the key is it?

Sorry, I'm confused by what you're saying. The topic showed that a hacking group got the Switch master key, but removed the key from the post because it's illegal and against the rules to have it on the forum. The instructions in the post show directly how to go to a website and the links to click to show that key.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

much like how you can dump your 3ds bootrom we tell you how to do so but we never share the actual Key

Yes, exactly. But the post I quoted actually shared the key.

 

[Quantumcat]

the post I quoted actually shared the key.

The post does not link the key. The issue is the owners don't want site scrapers being able to link the site with piracy, which would happen if there were actual links or if the files were uploaded to the site's servers. This avoids legal problems and also that the site could lose advertising and sponsorship. In the post you mention, there's instructions for getting it in a place that's not the Temp with no direct links - it is fine.

 

[Jonna]

The post does not link the key. The issue is the owners don't want site scrapers being able to link the site with piracy, which would happen if there were actual links or if the files were uploaded to the site's servers. This avoids legal problems and also that the site could lose advertising and sponsorship. In the post you mention, there's instructions for getting it in a place that's not the Temp with no direct links - it is fine.

Ah, this makes sense. Thank you for explaining.

 

[Joom]

torrent names

You must not know how the scene works. This site purveys release titles (aka, Titles.Like.This.-RLSGRPHERE). These titles can be easily Googled, which result in torrent and other piracy related resources. In fact, this site at one time acted as a pseudo-pre for releases (PSP pre releases are still listed). It's a very sneaky way to dance around copyright laws since copywritten content actually isn't provided, but gives all the necessary information to find warez. It's just as bad as directly linking to a site or even mentioning the blatant location of said warez.

 

[sarkwalvein]

I miss the old scene release list that was there in the main page, with all games that were being ripped.
Not because I would like to find their torrent, but it was an easy way to catch the name some weird game and look into it.
Also, it feels kind of nostalgic.

PS: Vote for the comeback of the scene release list on the main page!!! /s

 

[invaderyoyo]

Tbh, I do think these rules are broken on here all the time. Sure the sites aren't mentioned by name, but people do say that "chaos site" or that "iso site". If you ask me that definitely violates:

• 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.

 

[Costello]

@Jonna
We are simply not going to prevent people from merely giving instructions. Or else where does it stop?
Sometimes instructions can be as simple as "search that keyword on google and click on the 5th result".
Want to find roms? google the word "roms" on google and click on any of the results.
Did I just break the law by saying that? I don't think I did.

The rules are simple to understand and dont really need to be stated more explicitely but if you want I'll do just that:
- do not post direct links to illegal/copyrighted files in your posts or anywhere else on the site
- do not attach illegal/copyrighted files attach to your posts or anywhere else on the site
- do not link to sites that have for main purpose the serving of illegal/copyrighted files

This may not encompass everything, but I'm sure you will have the common sense to understand what else falls in the categories described in our terms & rules.

Remember that some of the rules are here to protect GBAtemp itself: regardless of my personal opinion on ROMs, the reason we enforce the no-ROM rule is because if we did not, it would put the site at risk.

 

[sarkwalvein]

Tbh, I do think these rules are broken on here all the time. Sure the sites aren't mentioned by name, but people do say that "chaos site" or that "iso site". If you ask me that definitely violates:

• 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.

I don't think that would be the case, specially when the site was providing entire release names not so long ago (2010 I think?), including the scene group name and even the info file, all of them that could easily be copy pasted into google to get the corresponding torrent file. Of course, that is my interpretation.

PS: Signs that you are getting old, you drop a "not so long ago" date, and it is 8 years ago.