Are handheld game emulators legal?

Emulators are the code that can interpret the game files (i.e. roms, bios, etc.) and run the game. Emulators typically do not include the BIOS or the firmware used to perform hardware initialization, runtime services and programs needed to emulate the given game. Therefore, emulators themselves are typically legal.
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Are emulators legal if you own the game?

If you own a game physically, you are likely to emulate or own a ROM of the game. However, there's no legal precedent in the United States to say it's illegal. There is no trial on record of any company going to court over emulators or ROMs and their use.
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Is Steam Deck emulation legal?

Is it legal to use the Steam Deck as a game emulator? Yes, it's legal to use the Steam Deck as an emulator (in the United States, at least).
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Is the pocket retro legal?

The Analogue Pocket is a marvel of design, setting a new standard for premium video game handhelds, retro or otherwise. Best of all, it's completely legal since it relies on authentic cartridges.
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Is it legal to emulate n64 games?

Emulators and ROMS are legal, the problem is you have to source the ROMS yourself from a copy that you own (or get permission from the various owners). It's getting ROMS you didn't make yourself where the legal slap comes along.
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Are emulators legal in Canada?

Yes, emulators are legal.
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Has anyone gone to jail for downloading ROMs?

So, basically, under no circumstances is playing ROMs on an emulator legal. But no one has ever been prosecuted for it – not even once. Mind you, websites sourcing ROMs have often been asked to shut down.
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Is it illegal to emulate retro games?

Emulators are legal, as emulating a system is not exactly the same as copying proprietary code of that system. Except those emulators which require the BIOS files to run, they are illegal. Since NES emulation does not require bios files that won't be a problem.
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Is it legal to play retro games online?

No, you are just taking an additional copy from the Internet without paying. In the US, the only way for it to be 100% legal is if you take the original game you purchased and get a Retrode or Polymega console to dump the cartridge to make an archival copy.
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Is Pocket Gamer real?

Pocket Gamer is a video game website and former print magazine that focuses on mobile, portable and handheld games. It was launched in 2005 by Steel Media Limited.
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Are Nintendo emulators illegal?

Since the emulator itself doesn't include a copy of that crucial copyrighted BIOS software, it can generally be freely distributed without much legal risk.
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Are game ROMs illegal?

Emulators are legal to download and use, however, sharing copyrighted ROMs online is illegal. There is no legal precedent for ripping and downloading ROMs for games you own, though an argument could be made for fair use.
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Why do people think emulation is illegal?

Emulating proprietary hardware is illegal. On a similar tangent to the above, the IDSA has argued that emulators are illegal because the hardware that they emulate is proprietary and any emulation of that hardware without the consent of the manufacturer constitutes an illegal copyright violation.
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Can Nintendo sue you for using an emulator?

Emulating a game you already own is legal. Yuzu is no longer active as of the lawsuit, but last week when it was, it was all above board if you bought a game on the Switch and then emulated it through Yuzu to play it on your PC, so long as you extracted the ROM yourself.
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Is it legal to download ROMs in Canada?

Yes, Downloading Nintendo ROMs Is Illegal (Even if You Own the Game)
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Are free emulators illegal?

Emulators are perfectly legal, and also perfectly ethical. There is nothing wrong with writing code, or using code, that happens to behave the same as other hardware or software. There is something illegal about using code that is actually copyrighted. This includes Roms, Disc images, and even bios images.
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Is it legal to rip your own ROMs?

So, you can't find cases of legal trouble for it because it's effectively legal. Emulators are legal to download and use, however, sharing copyrighted ROMs online is illegal. There is no legal precedent for ripping and downloading ROMs for games you own, though an argument could be made for fair use.
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Why is pirating old games illegal?

Most importantly, game developers and publishers depend on the legitimate sales of their games in order to survive. Piracy discourages innovation and new game development which ultimately impacts the consumer.
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Is downloading ROMs piracy?

If you see games offered for download using Peer-to-Peer networks, or by clicking on links to files hosted on third-party platforms, the content that you are accessing is an unauthorised copy (i.e. a pirate copy). Pirate copies of game files are often referred to as “ROMs”.
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Is it illegal to emulate Gameboy games?

While emulation software itself are legal, emulating games is only so when legitimately purchasing the game physically and ripping the contents. Freely downloading or uploading game ROMs across various internet sites is considered to be a form of piracy, and users may be sued for copyright infringement.
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Will Nintendo sue me for downloading ROMs?

It is illegal to download a Nintendo ROM from the internet whether or not you own an authentic copy of that game.
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What happens if you get caught illegal downloading?

Penalties for Piracy

Maximum penalties for misdemeanor copyright infringement are one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Maximum penalties for felony copyright infringement generally are: Commercial advantage or private financial gain: five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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Can you get fined for downloading games?

Answer: If you are caught with a pirated game, you may face legal proceedings initiated by the copyright holder. This can result in fines and, depending on the severity and jurisdiction, criminal charges. Additionally, you may face a ban or suspension from gaming platforms and services.
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Has anyone been sued for emulation?

There have been a handful of emulator lawsuits; described below are three emulator-related legal incidents, one of which is highly significant in that it may finally be the case that sets the precedent for all such cases to follow.
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Why did Apple ban emulators?

Apple isn't very clear on its reasoning, but the community believes Apple doesn't allow emulators on its app store because of the likelihood people are using them to play illegally distributed games.
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