Is downloading ROMs that you do not own illegal?

[martin88]

It's legal in Canada.

 

[Lily]

It's legal in Canada.

Haha, no it isn't.

The decision in Canada affected P2P distribution of music; which the courts have ruled legal. See the full text of the case here. This decision doesn't apply to P2P in general - downloading everything else is still illegal, it's just that there have been no court cases to decide the issue one way or another. It doesn't make Canada a haven for illegal downloading, it just makes Canada a haven for downloading music at the moment.

In fact, just recently (click here), the CRIA filed documents in court to oppose the expansion of the private copying levy (the tax on all blank recordables that we pay) to include iPods, because it "broadens the scope of the private copying exception to avoid making illegal file sharers liable for infringement". They are really out to turn the decision around and have P2P music sharing declared illegal - so much so that they're now fighting the levy they fought tooth and nail to implement - it will be an interesting case to watch.

 

[Hiratai]

It's legal in Canada.

Yeah, that's why they stop Canadian searches on Demonoid, right?

 

[lookout]

It's illegal to backup your original in UK?

 

[Destructobot]

This thread is a perfect example of why the internet is the best place to get legal advice.

 

[Veho]

It's illegal to backup your original in UK?

Yes. I have a friend in the UK, and I almost fell on my ass half laughing half in shock when he told me of the copyright regulations there. You're not even allowed to transfer your (legally owned) CDs to your mp3 player. Or rip them to your PC, or rip movies from your own DVDs to transfer to your video players... The authorities will turn a blind eye on it, because, come on, it's ridiculous, but in the cold unforgiving eyes of the current law, it's a crime.

 

[test84]

and only way a *roaming* bot can answer urs too!

 

[legendofphil]

It's illegal to backup your original in UK?

Yes. I have a friend in the UK, and I almost fell on my ass half laughing half in shock when he told me of the copyright regulations there. You're not even allowed to transfer your (legally owned) CDs to your mp3 player. Or rip them to your PC, or rip movies from your own DVDs to transfer to your video players... The authorities will turn a blind eye on it, because, come on, it's ridiculous, but in the cold unforgiving eyes of the current law, it's a crime.

Its only because a legal backup is considered a true 1:1 copy, not a rip. So ROMs aren't considered a backup because a 1:1 copy is the extact same product (ie, buying another copy). Same with copy protected items such as games and DVD Videos.

 

[jimmy j]

It's illegal to backup your original in UK?

Yes. I have a friend in the UK, and I almost fell on my ass half laughing half in shock when he told me of the copyright regulations there. You're not even allowed to transfer your (legally owned) CDs to your mp3 player. Or rip them to your PC, or rip movies from your own DVDs to transfer to your video players... The authorities will turn a blind eye on it, because, come on, it's ridiculous, but in the cold unforgiving eyes of the current law, it's a crime.

I did not know that. You are right though

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/digitalmusic/0,390...49284767,00.htm

 

[Smuff]

Actually I believe in the uk it IS legal to copy your CD onto your mp3 player, but as soon as you listen to them both at the same time on different equipment it becomes an offence.
t least that's what I heard from somewhere.....

 

[notnarb]

According to Nintendo, it's illegal to make backups of your own game because you have 2 copies at once (mentioned above in this thread) so it must be legal if you use a copying method that destroys the original at the exact moment of completion

(but then you have no way of proving to anyone that you own the originals >

 

[Urza]

This thread is a perfect example of why the internet is the best place to get legal advice.

I hope you're being sarcastic. Otherwise there's no hope for you.

 

[Eruonen]

All im finding is the it is illegal to distribute and give, but I see nothing about leeching.


OH! I got you! So, people shouldn't distribute them, but if they do - it's not illegal to download them!

That's exactly right!

Think about that last statement you made.

That's like saying: It's illegal to distribute drugs, but it's not illegal to buy them.

Where I live, in the Netherlands, you are legally allowed to download music and movies as long as you don't upload them, so what he was saying wasn't that strange.

 

[Psyfira]

Actually I believe in the uk it IS legal to copy your CD onto your mp3 player, but as soon as you listen to them both at the same time on different equipment it becomes an offence. At least that's what I heard from somewhere.....

I thought I'd read that it was legal to copy your own CD's on BBC News a while back, but all I can find is a few articles from 2006 calling for the law to be changed to allow it. Which basically mean that it's still illegal atm, but the music industry powers-that-be don't care if you do. It's probably one of those slow-crawl through the paperwork things, give it another year or so to get through the system and it'll probably be legalised.

 

[pkprostudio]

I don't know why we are still talking about this. Of course no one cares what the laws say.

 

[Mehdi]

I thought it depended on your country's laws.

Is there a single country that allows piracy?
On the other hand downloading roms of games you own.. I belive it's illegal in the US. But actually it could be disputable at other countries.

Bangladesh