Question Does the Internet Archive count as a "warez" site?

MeowthBlep · May 27, 2026

im asking because they have an exemption from the DMCA, meaning they can legally host retro games on their site. Thus, is it against the rules to link to the Internet Archive?

Scarlet · May 27, 2026

In my mind it's the kind of site where you can link to content as long as the content itself isn't warez. Similar to how a Google Drive link could have warez, or how it could have cat pictures.

Obviously a mod can give better insight on an official stance though.

p1ngpong · May 29, 2026

MeowthBlep said:
im asking because they have an exemption from the DMCA, meaning they can legally host retro games on their site. Thus, is it against the rules to link to the Internet Archive?

That is a good question.

The internet Archive is easy to find things on, with that in mind what would be the point in sharing links to stuff? If someone is asking for a link to warez that would be against the rules. Technically providing a link to warez regardless of the source is against the rules also. So either way it would be both rule breaking and pointless.

Lostbhoy · May 29, 2026

The exemption allows them to host for preservation but covers strictly for non-profit archiving and research, meaning downloading and redistributing these files remains largely legally gray or infringing.

As it could potentially place GBAtemp in the line of distribution if links are posted here, I would say it's still a clear no no.

DinohScene · May 29, 2026

If it contains copyrighted code, best not to link it, let people google/duckduckgo it themselves.
Easiest way to stay out of trouble.

MeowthBlep · May 30, 2026

Lostbhoy said:
The exemption allows them to host for preservation but covers strictly for non-profit archiving and research, meaning downloading and redistributing these files remains largely legally gray or infringing.

As it could potentially place GBAtemp in the line of distribution if links are posted here, I would say it's still a clear no no.

Yes, but I meant like the games that are natively emulated on there

fst312 · May 30, 2026

MeowthBlep said:
Yes, but I meant like the games that are natively emulated on there

if by that you mean play from web browser, there is a good amount of websites that already allow that for free.

NostalgicMillennial · May 30, 2026

I suggest no one should answer nor confirm this question as this could be used in a future "[shit head chud] v. internet archive" case

Reddit had the same problem when there was a fishing expedition without any merit just your query

And for the record, no it is not, it is an essential database which has hosted decades of irreplaceable lost content.

SylverReZ · Aug 16, 2026

Scarlet said:
In my mind it's the kind of site where you can link to content as long as the content itself isn't warez. Similar to how a Google Drive link could have warez, or how it could have cat pictures.

Obviously a mod can give better insight on an official stance though.

Well, so long as the link doesn't contain warez then it will be fine if it sticks to the rules really. Any other page outside of the URL containing warez there's no control over because the poster doesn't provide ways to obtain it.

I'm not a legal expert, but this is as simple as it gets.

ChibiMofo · Aug 16, 2026

NostalgicMillennial said:
I suggest no one should answer nor confirm this question as this could be used in a future "[shit head chud] v. internet archive" case

Reddit had the same problem when there was a fishing expedition without any merit just your query

And for the record, no it is not, it is an essential database which has hosted decades of irreplaceable lost content.

It is, and has been, the biggest warez site on the Internet for a long time now. A few years back you could download tens of thousands of PDFs of in-print books until that too was shut down. I love

sailing the seas

at Archive.org! I have downloaded countless terabytes of

GameCube, Wii, Wii U, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS1, PS2, PS3 and 3DS, DS, GBA, Vita games

from there. I mean who needs Vimms or the others when you can get it from a pseudo-legitimate piracy site like Archive.org?

AdenAvalon · 2026-09-13T15:00:09+0100

Muddy ground, really. Is it piracy if you're no longer buying ownership, but buying a "lease"? If it was down to companies, a lot of the stuff on the internet archive would be lost forever, due to poor standards at the time, stores closing down with no alternative, etc. Too much classic software would be lost without it.

ChibiMofo · 2026-09-14T01:38:04+0100

Not muddy ground. It's theft. Trying to justify the theft is what a middle-school kid, or an adult who never grew up does.

Embrace the flag -- as I do -- and just admit you like stealing games.

And my piracy of Xbox, Xbox 360, PS1, PS2 and PS3 games (for "preservation reasons"

) has been done in the past half decade exclusively on the best mass piracy website on the Net: Archive.org. As far as I can tell, it is the only place to find complete archives of all of those platforms (including DLC) and more with no malware ads. But that is only the tip of the iceburg in terms of what you can illegally download from Archive.org.

It's hilarious that a US-based non-profit organization gets away with this and is a real kick in the groin to MSFT and Sony in particular. It's a ~~preservationist's~~ pirate's wet dream.

The Real Jdbye · 2026-09-14T01:59:17+0100

ChibiMofo said:
Not muddy ground. It's theft. Trying to justify the theft is what a middle-school kid, or an adult who never grew up does. Embrace the flag -- as I do -- and just admit you like stealing games.

And my piracy of Xbox, Xbox 360, PS1, PS2 and PS3 games (for "preservation reasons" ) has been done in the past half decade exclusively on the best mass piracy website on the Net: Archive.org. As far as I can tell, it is the only place to find complete archives of all of those platforms (including DLC) and more with no malware ads. But that is only the tip of the iceburg in terms of what you can illegally download from Archive.org.

It's hilarious that a US-based non-profit organization gets away with this and is a real kick in the groin to MSFT and Sony in particular. It's a ~~preservationist's~~ pirate's wet dream.

You don't actually believe that piracy is theft, do you? That has been thoroughly debunked and was never more than a marketing ploy to begin with. It's a meme. Piracy is many things, and everybody has their own opinion on whether/when it's justifiable, but theft is not one of them. Not according to the law, and not according to ethics.

Question Does the Internet Archive count as a "warez" site?

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