Is it legal to make a copy of a game you own?

In addition to being a violation of the exclusive right of distribution, such activity is also likely to be a violation of the terms of the license to the software. In many cases these sites appear to be a front for distribution of illegal copies, which is copyright infringement.
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Is it legal to make your own version of a game?

Making a game about a non-copyrighted topic or IP is perfectly legal. For example, you could make a game based on the geography of North America and no one will come after you. You could make a game based on hamburgers and you're okay. You can make a game that's a clone of the board game Monopoly and you're okay.
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Is it legal to make a game clone?

As copyright law does not protect game mechanics, the reuse of such ideas is generally considered acceptable. For example, Grand Theft Auto III spurred a number of games that have been called GTA clones but which are not direct copies of assets or mechanical ideas.
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Is it illegal to make a game similar to another?

Any existing assets - images, code, writing, or music - are under copyright and you can not copy them from another game. Names are trademarked - your name can not be the same or mistakable for an existing trademarked name.
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Is it legal to rip a game you own?

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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I Paid Fiverr Game Developers to Make the Same Game

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 rip game assets?

Of course though, whatever you do on your own people won't know about. It doesn't matter you are using it for commercial or non-commercial use. Both are illegal. When it's said ripping assets is illegal it's meant it's illegal to use their assets in any way.
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Is it illegal to own the guy game?

The Guy Game is considered illegal due to it including underage pornography.
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Can you legally make a Tetris clone?

It's settled U.S. case law. If you develop a clone of Tetris, you are infringing on The Tetris Company's copyrights and trademarks and may be subject to civil and criminal penalties under U.S. law. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SUED, DON'T EVER WRITE A TETRIS CLONE. PERIOD.
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Is it illegal to make your own Monopoly game?

So, yes Monopoly is copyrighted, but change the design, name and text and you should be within the law. Also remember that it is within the law (in my understanding) to make a game from scratch as long as you are not selling it or using protected material for graphics.
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Is Tetris still under copyright?

Tetris Holding is a company that holds the copyright to the original Tetris game from 1985 and licenses those rights to game developers.
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How did Nintendo get the rights to Tetris?

Tetris was shown at the January 1988 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where it was picked up by Dutch-born American games publisher Henk Rogers, then based in Japan. This eventually led to an agreement brokered with Nintendo where Tetris became a launch game for Game Boy and bundled with every system.
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What is the rarest Tetris game?

The Rarest Tetris Games
  • Tetris (NES, Nintendo, 1989) ...
  • Tetris DS (NDS, Nintendo, 2006) ...
  • 3D Tetris (Virtual Boy, Nintendo, 1996) ...
  • Pokémon Tetris (Pokémon mini, Nintendo, 2002) ...
  • Tetris: The Grand Master 3 - Terror-Instinct (Type X, Taito/Arika, 2005) ...
  • Tetris (Mega Drive, SEGA, Unreleased)
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Is it illegal to make a free fan game?

You can make your fan game and it is entirely legal for you to do so. Unless you distribute copies (including a full transfer the single copy you made), you do not violate copyright. There are some who say you can distribute fan art and it's legal so long you do not profit from it.
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Who owns the rights to a game?

Sometimes the developers do, IF they self-publish… if they don't, usually the publisher takes all rights to it and the developers only see what they earned creating the game… The studio that the developers work for may see some royalties, but its more likely all they'll see is a lump sum.
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Can only 1 person make a game?

Can you make a video game by yourself? Absolutely you can. It follows a few games closely that are developed by either 1 or 2 people.
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Can you go to jail for cracked games?

Answer: The legal consequences of video game piracy can include civil lawsuits leading to hefty fines, and in severe cases, criminal charges that may result in imprisonment. The exact penalties vary depending on the country's laws but generally involve significant monetary fines and potential jail time.
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Is it legal to pirate old games?

First, pirating games is illegal. The possible penalties are highly dependent on the region. In some regions like the US, internet providers are required to block the internet connection if one pirates multiple times. In other regions, blocking of the internet connection is uncommon.
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Can you get sued for modding a game?

2. Distribution of Modified Content: If a modder wants to share their modified game or mod, they could run into legal problems with licensing agreements and distribution rights. Some video game creators expressly forbid the sharing of altered versions of their works.
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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 using ROMs?

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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Why is emulation legal?

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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Who has beaten Tetris?

Willis Gibson, 13, beats Tetris in just 38 minutes. He shares his plans and his winning technique with CNN's Laila Harrak.
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What game is worth the most money?

The most valuable vintage video games

A recent study by Cribbage reveals that a sealed copy of 'Super Mario 64 – Wata 9.8 A++' holds the record for the most expensive vintage video game ever sold, fetching $1.56 million at auction.
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