• kernelle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    12 hours ago

    Emulators are legal

    With the caveat that an emulator cannot copy any copyrighted code to use in the emulation. They try to add as much proprietary code and encryption that it’s nearly impossible to emulate without breaking the law.

    It’s scummy, but people have and will continue to find ways around it. But even the smallest of copyright infringements will result in Nintendo’s wrath.

    • Ghoelian@piefed.social
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      5 minutes ago

      The problem is, even if you write all the code yourself and require users to dump their own BIOSes and shit, when you get sued by Nintendo, you need the money to be able to hire people to defend yourself. You actually have to prove and most likely convince a judge you’re right.

    • Rob T Firefly@lemmy.world
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      9 hours ago

      Which is why so many emulators require you to somehow acquire the console’s actual BIOS binary yourself (manually dumping it from your own hardware, of course, and by no other means at all) and dropping it into a file folder for the emulator to use.

      • kieron115@startrek.website
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        6 hours ago

        Even with this they fall back on the god forsaken Digital Millenium Copyright Act (at least in the states). Since they encrypt the system, if you have a key from your own system then it’s assumed that you acquired it by violating the DMCA.

      • forestbeasts@pawb.social
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        7 hours ago

        It’d be really nice if it was like Wii, where you can have the emulated console do an online system update and bang, there’s your whole OS… or failing that, the entire system is on every game disc, just in case… but nooo can’t have that.