Piracy

[Shlup]

Is downloading something that isn't available in your country not really illegal? Like downloading anime fansubs and such.

I guess I'll be more strict on blatant piracy threads, but I don't think getting rid of all file-sharing/ROM threads is going to be worth whatever we're trying to do by not allowing them.

[Del Murder]

Saving the world?

[Peegee]

Do we actually give out information on how to download any sort of video games/roms/emulators? I don't really think so, but I suppose the odd thread happens (otherwise Dr Unne wouldn't be so compelled to talk about something).

Anyway, count me in as agreement. Even though I haven't seen threads discussing how to download certain roms (can we give advice on how to troubleshoot emulators?), I don't think we should give out such information.

[HOOTERS]

D'arr, now ye be goin' overboard. Not literally.

BTW You shouldn't try and stop/not promote illegal downloading on the net when you do it yourself.

[edczxcvbnm]

Originally posted by ShlupQuack
Is downloading something that isn't available in your country not really illegal? Like downloading anime fansubs and such.

I don't believe it is illegal as there would be no copyrights in our country...or else it would be here.

[Dr Unne]

It is illegal to steal things even if they aren't for sale in this country, yes. How could it not be illegal? Are you allowed to steal cars from Canada just because that particular car isn't sold in America? "It's not for sale here, therefore it's free" is a poor justification.

Illegal or not, I don't really care, that's not my main concern. This is supposed to be a site about appreciating games. If we turn around and allow people to steal games, what does that say? We like video games so much, we're going to allow and encourage people to steal it instead of paying for it? Maybe if we like games from some company enough, we'll just go run the company straight out of business. There's no reason not to buy a game, if you like it. I don't really care if people talk about really old ROMS or something, commercial games are all I have a problem with. My main concern is with threads like "Find me a crack for this game", yeah. We don't have them often, but we just had one recently, and I can remember others in the past. Not like it's a huge problem around here or anything, I'd just like it if those threads were killed instead of being allowed to stay open at all.

[Raistlin]

So, Unne, to use your car analogy, you don't care if people steal '56 chevys, all you care about are the new BMWs.

[Dr Unne]

Cars increase in value over time. NES ROMs are worth nothing today to anyone. People sell 10 of them for a dollar at flea markets.

There's also a point where, legally, everything does (or should) enter the public domain. Books by Homer and Socrates, etc. are free for everyone to reproduce, because the original creators are no longer able to make money from them. The question of WHEN things should enter the public domain is up for debate, and I'm not sure when they do legally, but like I said, the law isn't my main concern. In my opinion, NES ROMs are or should be public domain by now. FFXI on the other hand obviously shouldn't.

[Del Murder]

I'll agree with that. The only thing I steal of that sort is Microsoft Office, but that thing is really overly expensive.

[Citizen Bleys]

This, I think, is a case in which it should be left to the discretion of the moderators and handled on a case-by-case basis. As you yourself have said, Unne, when things enter the public domain is up for debate; Trying to set something in a rule means that you have to be able to come up with a formulaic way of determining exactly how old something has to be before we disallow discussion of how to share it, and trying to come up with a rule like that is a lot like, to phrase it the way one of my instructors did, trying to nail Jell-o to the wall.

Now, of course, I know *exactly* what thread prompted this, and I agree that that particular case is pretty blatant, and it was absent-minded of the staff to leave it open. (Not an attack, I was absent-minded far far too much myself when I was on staff)...but it still should be left up to the discretion of the Knights...and if the Knights don't seem to be noticing, then there's always the warn button. Which, no matter what anybody says, does not get ignored. Isn't that right, cl_out and BoB?

[crono_logical]

Yes, I read all warn posts, (and BoB does too I think since often he's got to the post before me ) but if I think it's not a big deal, I do nothing about it, so in that case it'll only end up getting dealt with if there's someone more strict than me on that issue that also sees it

I also know which thread prompted this thread, and by my discretion I deliberately left open it because Unne had already replied in it by the time I saw it - if he hadn't, I probably would have closed it. But since he replied with what would be the "legit" solution, I felt there was no need to close it anymore due to the direction he pushed the stance of the thread

[Citizen Bleys]

Still, that sends the message that Unne cares and staff doesn't.

[eestlinc]

i don't think there should be a specific policy, but I do think the staff should stay away from condoning illegal activities like software theft.

[Raistlin]

Originally posted by Dr Unne
Cars increase in value over time. NES ROMs are worth nothing today to anyone. People sell 10 of them for a dollar at flea markets.

But you said stealing was stealing, no matter the excuse. You said availability wasn't an excuse, so why should cost? The act of going out and buying it is the main thing, not the price, isn't it?

Meh, I don't really care.

I do, however, disagree with a policy on ROMs and such. Let them(meaning staff) use their own discretion.

[Dr Unne]

When's the last time the staff had an official policy on anything? If someone made an official policy about this I'd crap my pants. I just wanna see some threads a'closin.