Are BIOS files illegal if you already own / owned a copy of the game?

[X Mun]

So, are ROM's illegal if you currently own a copy of the game? Just tell me if you don't get what I mean, I'll edit the post.

EDIT: As the person stated below, I meant ROM's. Not BIOS. Sorry about that.

[Mr.T]

What? So you're saying that you are using a BIOS to emulate a game? Someone please clarify OP's post was not so clear.

[Netsc]

Fairly sure the BIOS files themselves aren't illegal, but I'm unsure about the actual ROMs/ISOs

@above, the emulators require BIOS files of the console/system they were initially created for for them to run correctly, I believe.

[Lick]

You need to own a copy of the game in order to play that game, legally of course.

The idea of a bios is that it has to do with the console that you own, however they're easy to find and download, not that I'm advocating this.

A commonsense version is that no one cares if it's legal or illegal, do what you will.

[Froztshock]

[QUOTE=X Mun;32129446]This involves emulators. I'm not sure what exactly a BIOS is, but it seems to be what makes the game work. I have also heard that they are illegal to use with emulators on PC / Mac. So, is it illegal if you currently own a copy of the game? Just tell me if you don't get what I mean, I'll edit the post.[/QUOTE]

1. This is probably in the wrong section. General games discussion or hardware and software are probably better places to post things like this.
2. The BIOS is part of the console, not the game.
3. Usually, BIOS files are proprietary. Chances are if they weren't included with your emulator of choice, that it's indeed illegal to download them. That's not to say that you [i]can't[/i] download them, but I cannot condone such an action. The only legal alternative is to dump them straight off the console that you're trying to emulate. But don't ask me how to go about doing that.

[X Mun]

Edited.

[ChaosUnleash]

As long as the rom is the EXACT game that you own (Same region etc) then I think it is illegal. Some people say that the rom you have has to be taken from your game cartridge, but I do not think that is the case and provided you get one with the same region and version you should not have any problems.

[slater]

This is a common misconcenption in the UK, even if you own the game it's still illegal.

Source: I live with 3 masters law students.

EDIT: This is in the UK of course. Not too sure about the US.

[X Mun]

[QUOTE=Slater;32129635]This is a common misconcenption in the UK, even if you own the game it's still illegal.

Source: Live with 3 masters law students.[/QUOTE]Awwww :< I wanted to play Megaman legends 2 on the go!

[rsa1988]

What I say is fuck them anyway, the games are not in circulation anymore so it be bit of a money wasting court case if they were to litigate.

[Pepin]

You are allowed to make backups for personal use. Downloading copies from sources other than your own is where it gets complicated as I don't believe there has been a major decision on this. What there have been decisions on is making your personal copies available for public use such as uploading them to a website or even downloading through P2P (because you have to upload something).

[slater]

Well, what you have to remember is they don't really care enough to take you to court over it anyway. There are far bigger 'fish to fry' if you'll excuse the statement.

I'm sure raiding a house full of cannabis or a brothel is far more socially beneficial than knocking on your door over what you downloaded.

[AuntJimmy]

With any form of getting game files from the original disc/cartridge, you can only legally get them by extracting them yourself, torrenting the whole game is illegal whether you own it or not.

[slater]

[QUOTE=halofreak472;32129830]With any form of getting game files from the original disc/cartridge, you can only legally get them by extracting them yourself, torrenting the whole game is illegal whether you own it or not.[/QUOTE]

Overall, this is your answer my friend.

[Bang2Rights]

Its perfectly legal, I have been doing it for years and there has never been any problems.

:quagmire:

[slater]

[QUOTE=Bang2Rights;32129884]Its perfectly legal, I have been doing it for years and there has never been any problems.

:quagmire:[/QUOTE]

Not being caught doesn't mean it's legal.

[Johnny on Flame]

If you DUMP the BIOS yourself from a VIDEO GAME YOU OWN, It's legal, otherwise, illegal.

[Viva_]

Roms are legal to own if you own the game.

At least everything i know says so.

[Xarxes The Great]

No they aren't: [url]http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/help/entry.html?cat=24[/url]

[slater]

[QUOTE=Dr. Deeps;32137586]No they aren't: [url]http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/help/entry.html?cat=24[/url][/QUOTE]

We've already established that you can backup your OWN cartridges but not use other people's backups.

End of thread!

[Ninja Duck]

[QUOTE=mysteryman;32136773]Roms are legal to own if you own the game.

At least everything i know says so.[/QUOTE]

I wonder if it's legal to do that for movies...like you bought the DVD but it won't play on your computer, so you download it.

[fenwick]

I have no moral objection to somebody downloading the ROM for a game that they already own.

But it's still illegal, make no mistake.

[editline]6th September 2011[/editline]

[QUOTE=rsa1988;32129771]What I say is fuck them anyway, the games are not in circulation anymore so it be bit of a money wasting court case if they were to litigate.[/QUOTE]

Not all ROMs are for games that aren't in circulation. Companies like Nintendo and Sega still sell their old games.

[viperfan7]

[QUOTE=Slater;32129635]This is a common misconcenption in the UK, even if you own the game it's still illegal.

Source: I live with 3 masters law students.

EDIT: This is in the UK of course. Not too sure about the US.[/QUOTE]

I'm quite sure here in canada we can legally bypass DRM, and are allowed to make backups of disks/cartridges, probably wrong though