Re: Wait, hold on, what? (Re: [lojban] Re: Pokemon translation)

[Robin Lee Powell <rlpowell@digitalkingdom.org>]

On Wed, Aug 08, 2012 at 08:35:08AM -0500, Joe Anderson wrote:
> On Wed, Aug 8, 2012 at 8:08 AM, Paul Predkiewicz
> <paul.predkiewicz@gmail.com
> > wrote:
> 
> > sure thing it would be great to have a game in lojban. but what
> > about the licensing/copyright? i can almost smell a lawsuit
> > coming around the corner...
> >
> 
> It's very true that the ROM hacking is considered illegal to some
> degree, but legality is also defined by execution. Generally, ROM
> hacks of old games are not pursued by lawsuits, as the game makers
> no longer make much money off the systems and cartridges, if any.
> (Generally, charges *are* pressed if someone is making money
> selling hacked or copied cartridges, however.)
> 
> Also, in many media, it is sometimes considered acceptable to fan
> translate a product before the official release comes out, so long
> as the public distribution network is shut down when the official
> release comes out.
> 
> Lastly, most of the companies/countries that would consider the
> ROM hacking illegal would more importantly consider the existence
> of the ROM illegal. Google "Game Boy ROM" to see how many sites
> freely distribute ROMs without issue. I doubt lojban.org would be
> a prime target for sticklers.
> 
> It's basically one of those things that would be a problem if it
> was a current system, a current game, translated into an
> officially released language, and selling it for money on a
> popular website.

In other words, it's entirely illegal but no-one is likely to hunt
you down for it.

It does, however, mean that the LLG will never officially promote
this project, and stuff like that.

-Robin

-- 
http://singinst.org/ :  Our last, best hope for a fantastic future.
.i ko na cpedu lo nu stidi vau loi jbopre .i danfu lu na go'i li'u .e
lu go'i li'u .i ji'a go'i lu na'e go'i li'u .e lu go'i na'i li'u .e
lu no'e go'i li'u .e lu to'e go'i li'u .e lu lo mamta be do cu sofybakni li'u

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "lojban" group.
To post to this group, send email to lojban@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to lojban+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/lojban?hl=en.