Regarding Unlicensed/Bootleg Games

[Bubsy Bobcat]

I haven't found a clear answer on this one, but is it okay to link/host "pirate original" games on this site (An example of a pirate original is Somari (which doesn't contain copyrighted code and is kinda classed as homebrew)) as long as they're not links to sites that host warez or roms? An example of non original pirate game is Mario 7 Grand Dad which is a ROM hack of a commercially released game (The Flintstones: Rescue of Dino and Hoppy), which I know would definitely not be allowed on this site.

 

[Red9419]

As long as it contains no copyrighted material Im pretty sure it would be allowed. Rom hacks actually contain the original game so it wouldn't be allowed.
But hey im just a regular member. What do I know

 

[Bubsy Bobcat]

That's what I thought, I'll be waiting to hear what a member of staff would have to say about it though.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Somari is a pirated unlicensed game for nintendo, but it is indeed copright by team hummer.
http://info.sonicretro.org/Somari

There for, do not think about that as a way of getting around things. NO COPYRIGHT Material of any kind. Freeware or homebrew that have the open source material is accepted.

 

[Bubsy Bobcat]

There's no copyright mention on the site, and it's placed in the "unlicensed" category. Also the rom for Somari is on that page so...

 

[RemixDeluxe]

I always thought bootleg games are games scammers sell to people in believing it's a legitimate copy of a game but has a different board inside?

Pokemon games are notorious for this.

 

[Bubsy Bobcat]

You're thinking of bootleg copies. I'm on about original bootleg games.

 

[RemixDeluxe]

Why not call the games hacked or homebrew games.

Bootleg already has a bad reputation and I wouldn't want to associate myself with it.

 

[Arras]

If it's a bootleg original, it's copyrighted by the bootleggers.

 

[FAST6191]

There is such a thing as paid homebrew and we do respect that around here, it would even extend to things like donations codes ( http://www.zincland.com/powder/?pagename=about has such a thing despite even being open source). It gets a bit confusing on older systems when the term homebrew had not been cooked up and things instead got called public domain (why some things have (PD) at the end of the names, will be PD collections and why you see homebrew sites call things like http://pdroms.de/ ).

So yeah if it was never explicitly released to the public ( http://pdroms.de/files/gameboyadvance/world-reborn being an example) or otherwise clear of copyright issues then afraid you will not want to link it up around here. You might find the odd link in the past but these days we are a bit more cautious.