4 ms·

I think it's similar to adding a note to a book, and then removing that note, leaving you with a the original book. That scenario doesn't violate copyright law

I think it's similar to adding a note to a book, and then removing that note, leaving you with a the original book. That scenario doesn't violate copyright law as far as I'm aware.

Dylan16807 2mo ago
That's not how patching a rom works. You directly replace data and the formats that let you undo have to put a copy of the original data in the patch file. So yes it is a risk.
- choo-t 2mo ago
  You don't need a copy of the original data, you can simply store your change as a XOR so undoing it mean XORing it again.
  - Retr0id 2mo ago
    However, if your change involves zeroing something out, you're back to storing the original data again.
    - Retr0id 2mo ago
      Slightly silly idea to solve this: Hash all non-patched areas of the file to produce a key. Use the key to encrypt your XOR value. Thus the key can only be derived by someone who has either the original file, or the patched version.
- Joker_vD 2mo ago
  So? Since when has making backups of the copyrighted stuff that you have the right to use been made illegal?
  - SideQuark 2mo ago
    Employing anti-protection methods to do to has been illegal since 1996 WIPO treaties, and then much more strongly in the 2002 DMCA. So around 30 years now.
    - WhiteDawn 2mo ago
      In fairness, games didn’t start employing encryption on the content till the 7th generation. So unless you’re applying ips patches to a 360 game you’re not breaking any DRM Playing the title you backed up and patched is a different matter entirely
      - SideQuark 2mo ago
        Courts have ruled many things besides encryption count as anti-copying measures, and that the laws apply retroactively, so it’s not so clear such patches even on 360 are legal. Try selling such patches and test it.
      - gblargg 2mo ago
        A patch wouldn't need to even care about encryption, since it's just looking at the raw file data.
  - Dylan16807 2mo ago
    A patch you can undo isn't a backup mechanism, it's data in the patch file when you download it. That's a big copyright risk. You could design a system that generates undo info while you're patching. But it's easier to make a full backup copy of the original rom, and have no way to actually reverse the patching process.

I think it's similar to adding a note to a book, and then removing that note, leaving you with a the original book. That scenario doesn't violate copyright law as far as I'm aware.

Dylan16807 2mo ago

That's not how patching a rom works. You directly replace data and the formats that let you undo have to put a copy of the original data in the patch file. So yes it is a risk.

choo-t 2mo ago
You don't need a copy of the original data, you can simply store your change as a XOR so undoing it mean XORing it again.
- Retr0id 2mo ago
  However, if your change involves zeroing something out, you're back to storing the original data again.
  - Retr0id 2mo ago
    Slightly silly idea to solve this: Hash all non-patched areas of the file to produce a key. Use the key to encrypt your XOR value. Thus the key can only be derived by someone who has either the original file, or the patched version.
Joker_vD 2mo ago
So? Since when has making backups of the copyrighted stuff that you have the right to use been made illegal?
- SideQuark 2mo ago
  Employing anti-protection methods to do to has been illegal since 1996 WIPO treaties, and then much more strongly in the 2002 DMCA. So around 30 years now.
  - WhiteDawn 2mo ago
    In fairness, games didn’t start employing encryption on the content till the 7th generation. So unless you’re applying ips patches to a 360 game you’re not breaking any DRM Playing the title you backed up and patched is a different matter entirely
    - SideQuark 2mo ago
      Courts have ruled many things besides encryption count as anti-copying measures, and that the laws apply retroactively, so it’s not so clear such patches even on 360 are legal. Try selling such patches and test it.
    - gblargg 2mo ago
      A patch wouldn't need to even care about encryption, since it's just looking at the raw file data.
- Dylan16807 2mo ago
  A patch you can undo isn't a backup mechanism, it's data in the patch file when you download it. That's a big copyright risk. You could design a system that generates undo info while you're patching. But it's easier to make a full backup copy of the original rom, and have no way to actually reverse the patching process.