Disclaimer!
I don't normally add tags like to a thread, but I feel it's necessary for the subtopic I have to include to eliminate the rumors around TheCruel's situation. What happened to him has no connection to freeShop nor any of his other projects. However not including this detail would be a disservice to freeShop. That being said, this is not the topic to talk about TheCruel nor his crimes. Any further comments must be post in the separate thread made for that topic. Any and all comments related to his crimes will be treated as off topic and reported. If that thread is locked and or removed, that does not open the door to bring the conversation to this thread. This will be the only warning I will give.Right! We all good now?
So one of the most common questions when addressing freeShop is, is it legal? Does freeShop itself violate any actual copyright laws?
Long version for the nerds
So is it legal? This question really depends on what you mean by "legal?" Homebrew legality itself is really subjective to different countries and their copyright laws. Technically in the US hacking your system is actually in violation of the DMCA, even if it's a never enforced policy. But that doesn't answer the question is freeShop itself a legal homebrew? And the simple answer is actually yes. FreeShop is based on free and open source software no longer containing any of Nintendo's code (turns out 3DS bootsplash wasn't a default feature of launching applications on the 3DS ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.) Being that it contains no actual copyrighted code, it doesn't violate any actual copyright laws. FreeShop did run into some legal issues when it turned out the 3DS bootsplash was actually copyrighted code and included without legal permission from Nintendo. This resulted in freeShop getting a DMCA takedown noticed and the repos being pulled from github with the following noticed posted in regards to reason for the takedown.
So does this actually make freeShop illegal? The answer isn't so black and white, but let me breakdown the notice. The DMCA notice does indeed target the potential piracy uses for freeShop, but that's not completely the reason why it was taken down nor does that make it illegal. Arguing that potential piracy uses makes something inherently illegal only opens the door to arguing that every single web browser, download manager, torrent downloader, usenet, etc. are all inherently illegal as well. Each and every one of these tools can be used to illegal piracy and or circumventing security systems. Which is also why Nintendo actually removed it for the copyrighted code it contained. The 3DS bootsplash is indeed Nintendo's own code and was included without legal permission from Nintendo, straight from the takedown noticeNintendo said:Are you the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner's behalf?
Yes, we are authorized to act on Nintendo of America Inc.'s behalf.
What work was allegedly infringed? If possible, please provide a URL:
The freeShop application provided at https://github.com/Cruel/freeShop/releases infringes Nintendo's copyrights, because the application circumvents Nintendo's technological protection measures in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Nintendo encrypts the game files available from its eShop servers to prevent users from accessing those files without paying for them. Nintendo believes the freeShop application circumvents Nintendo's protection measures by decrypting the game files accessible from its eShop servers, allowing freeShop users to access and play Nintendo's eShop games for free.
The freeShop application also contains unauthorized copies of the Nintendo 3DS Logo Data file, covered by U.S. Copyright Reg. No. PA0001781880, which further infringes Nintendo's rights.
In addition, the files located at the links below violate the GitHub Terms of Service by facilitating the theft of Nintendo's games from its eShop servers, and the use of these files with a Nintendo 3DS device violates the user's obligations under Nintendo's end-user license agreement.
With that said, the bootsplash was indeed included unethically and Nintendo had the right to remove the repo for that reason. But this also meant that simply removing the bootsplash completely resolved Nintendo's legal grievances with freeShop. This doesn't mean it resolved the piracy fears from Nintendo, but at the same time Nintendo would have prove that freeShop was made and distributed with piracy in mind.Nintendo said:Is the work licensed under an open source license? If so, which open source license? Are the allegedly infringing files being used under the open source license, or are they in violation of the license?
Nintendo's copyrighted work is not licensed under an open source license.
But isn't freeShop intended for piracy? Nope, in fact right from the description of freeShop
Now once again this does actually get into some legal grey areas. Technically backing up your own games (or in this case tickets) has always been a bit of a legal kerfuffle, but ultimately has never been declared outright illegal. Nintendo is required to actually go to court to determine if the actions of freeShop actually violate the laws or not. Until a courtroom outright says, "freeShop's actions are for piracy only and thus illegal," freeShop remains legal. Nintendo presented the actual copyright for the 3DS bootsplash, but failed to provide piracy laws were broken. This is also why it was worded asfreeShop said:What is freeShop? It's an open-source homebrew eShop alternative for the Nintendo 3DS. It allows you to browse and install titles you own utilizing title keys.
Note that Nintendo only "believes" that it can be used for piracy, which actually isn't a solid argument nor holds no real legal weight. This would have to be a matter settled in court, which as of this current time has not happened.Nintendo said:Nintendo believes the freeShop application circumvents Nintendo's protection measures by decrypting the game files accessible from its eShop servers, allowing freeShop users to access and play Nintendo's eShop games for free.
But doesn't the name "freeShop" imply piracy?
The original dev never said the real meaning behind the name. It could "free" as in the GNU stance of free and open source software or it could "free" as in "free games." We honestly don't know because it was never outright stated by the original dev.
TheCruel got arrested! Does this have anything do with freeShop and am I safe?!?
This is a topic I can't avoid, but I am going to do my best to distance his real crimes from the speculations. First, you can read about his crimes here and like I said at the start of the thread, keep it to that thread. Now to answer the question, did freeShop have anything to do with his arrest? And the answer is just a flat NO! His case dates back to 2012, long before he became part of the 3DS scene. Outside of the DMCA takedown notice, freeShop has not been under any other form of legal issues as they had removed the offending content. There is no connection between his crimes and freeShop. Proof being that freeShop's original source code is still available and since his arrest freeShop has been forked. Downloading, forking, and using freeShop will not get you under any form of legal troubles. Nintendo will not go after you for using freeShop as it would be a complete witch hunt on their end to do so. This doesn't matter how you are using it, the likelihood of facing legal charges are slimmer than winning the lottery.
So in closing, is freeShop legal? Mostly, the code is legal and accessing Nintendo's servers despite being frowned upon isn't completely illegal. Are you safe using it? For the most part, yes, it's extremely unlikely you will face legal charges unless you do something stupid. By stupid I mean like walking up to a Nintendo executive and being like, "LOOK AT ALL MY PIRATED GAMES! LOOK AT ME PIRATING GAMES!" Does it have anything to do with TheCruel's arrest? Nope, stop asking and stop spreading rumors. Was there a point to this thread? Yes, because legal stuff!
Last edited by The Catboy,