4 ms·

The missing word from this inflammatory headline is extremely important: "remotely". You can certainly access the physical game media in person, and check it o

The missing word from this inflammatory headline is extremely important: "remotely". You can certainly access the physical game media in person, and check it out, no problem. The DMCA controversy is over remote access.

BriggyDwiggs42 2y ago
Wait, why would that matter at all?
- izacus 2y ago
  Yeah, especially since the publishers have ceased to produce physical media completely.
- AStonesThrow 2y ago
  Because until GOG and Steam, most video games were manufactured and distributed as physical artifacts, such as cartridges. A ripped ROM image in an emulator is not equivalent to an Atari or Nintendo cartridge. We do acknowledge that these artifacts are discontinued, and extremely valuable, but under DMCA, you literally can't have your cake and eat it too: the cake is a lie.
  - BriggyDwiggs42 2y ago
    Under the DMCA, one is able to request an exemption, and the reason it wasn’t granted in this case seems to be lobbying by the industry. Even if none of that were true, why would I use an anachronistic law to define what is and what is not similar? That law should be replaced. Emulated and physical games seem quite similar in the important ways to me.
michaelbrave 2y ago
that becomes more difficult though since older games are in essence collectors items and would be stolen or not returned. It's like if most of the books in the library were out of print books that were highly collectable, a recipe for disaster. Not saying they made the wrong call here or anything, but there is clearly a gap here between old games being made available and legal options to access them, libraries tried to own a physical copy and distribute a digital copy, which was an attempt at a fair compromise, but if that isn't allowed either then I guess piracy is the only options now.
- chgs 2y ago
  Or having your government change copyright law
mmooss 2y ago
Without 'remotely', it is not available for 99% of users.

BriggyDwiggs42 2y ago

Wait, why would that matter at all?

izacus 2y ago
Yeah, especially since the publishers have ceased to produce physical media completely.
AStonesThrow 2y ago
Because until GOG and Steam, most video games were manufactured and distributed as physical artifacts, such as cartridges. A ripped ROM image in an emulator is not equivalent to an Atari or Nintendo cartridge. We do acknowledge that these artifacts are discontinued, and extremely valuable, but under DMCA, you literally can't have your cake and eat it too: the cake is a lie.
- BriggyDwiggs42 2y ago
  Under the DMCA, one is able to request an exemption, and the reason it wasn’t granted in this case seems to be lobbying by the industry. Even if none of that were true, why would I use an anachronistic law to define what is and what is not similar? That law should be replaced. Emulated and physical games seem quite similar in the important ways to me.

michaelbrave 2y ago

that becomes more difficult though since older games are in essence collectors items and would be stolen or not returned. It's like if most of the books in the library were out of print books that were highly collectable, a recipe for disaster. Not saying they made the wrong call here or anything, but there is clearly a gap here between old games being made available and legal options to access them, libraries tried to own a physical copy and distribute a digital copy, which was an attempt at a fair compromise, but if that isn't allowed either then I guess piracy is the only options now.

chgs 2y ago
Or having your government change copyright law

mmooss 2y ago

Without 'remotely', it is not available for 99% of users.