Is it legal to modify game files?

Video games are protected by copyright law as a "literary work". In the United States context, the mechanisms of how the modder gets into the code of the game to mod it may violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act or the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act or even simply the end-user license agreement (EULA).
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Is it legal to edit game files?

About Cheating. The use of MODs can become illegal when they are used in a way that constitutes a crime under the Penal Code, including the so-called “cheating” behavior. Cheating, in general, refers to the act of tampering with game data or programs to enable actions that would not be possible under normal use.
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Is modifying games illegal?

For example, creating a mod that infringes on the intellectual property rights of a game developer or publisher, such as by using copyrighted material without permission, could be illegal. Additionally, some games may have rules or terms of service that prohibit modding or certain types of mods.
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Do you need permission to mod a game?

This means that mods are “legal” only insofar as game developers suffer them to be so; the moment a developer finds a mod distasteful, it can be found to infringe copyright. Mods, no matter how well-respected or validated by developers, can also be found to infringe copyright through statute.
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Is extracting game files 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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Can you get banned for changing game files?

Yes, players can indeed get banned for changing and/or tampering/tweaking with files related to the game. While this sounds like the case of someone trying to use hacks/third-party software, it's not even close to the truth.
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Is it illegal to decompile a game?

According to the EULA, or Terms of Agreement for the program, decompilers are illegal.
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Is modding a game copyright infringement?

In addition, if one of the fears of the game companies is reputational damage, moral rights may also be a concern. Under US copyright law, copyright holders have the exclusive right to create derivative works, which automatically makes modding an infringement of copyright.
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Is modding games safe?

However, while modding gives games new life, game studios are not the ones introducing them. Instead, enthusiasts add fresh ideas independently. Therefore, not all game fans create trusted mods. It is possible to compromise players' devices if a mod turns out to deliver malware or viruses.
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Is it illegal to mod The Sims?

Mods must be non-commercial and distributed free-of-charge. Mods cannot be sold, licensed, or rented for a fee, nor can Mods contain features that would support monetary transactions of any type. Note, The Sims recognizes that creating Mods takes time and resources.
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Can you get sued for downloading games?

U.S. copyright law also allows the government to fine you up to $250,000. You might have to pay fees in the place of jail time or in addition to jail time. Statutory damages. If you are sued in a civil lawsuit, you may have to pay $750-30,000 per illegal download.
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Is modifying apps illegal?

Breach of contract: The app developer or provider may have a contract with the user that sets out the terms and conditions for using the app. This contract may be in the form of an EULA that comes with the app. Modding the app may breach this contract if it violates any of its terms or conditions.
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Is emulating a game you own illegal?

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 it illegal to share game files?

While file sharing itself is not inherently illegal, sharing or downloading copyrighted material without proper authorization, even unknowingly, constitutes both a violation of the law and UC policy.
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Are game files copyrighted?

The computer code or other fixed medium is considered copyrightable, and the game's presentation can be copyrighted as a literary work or dramatic work, while elements like character design, art and sound and music can also be copyrighted.
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Can I sue a game developer?

Yes, you can sue under certain circumstances. You may have a dispute about the purchase or use of a game, such as a bad install or a problem with in-game gameplay. Unless you are a minor, you must typically follow the contractual dispute resolution process in the end user license agreement (EULA).
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Are PC game mods illegal?

Are mods illegal? Modding's legality varies from country to country. In the UK and US it isn't strictly illegal, as long as it doesn't infringe on a game's copyright – but to platforms and developers there can be a fine line between modding and hacking.
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How to know if a mod is a virus?

Use the tool to scan all folders that contain Minecraft mod Jars installed on your PC. Click "Browse" and choose a folder that contains jar files, then click "Scan". This will check the selected folder and all it's sub-folders. If an infected file has been found you will see a message.
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Is it legal to modify a game?

In the United States context, the mechanisms of how the modder gets into the code of the game to mod it may violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act or the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act or even simply the end-user license agreement (EULA). Most EULAs forbid modders from selling their mods.
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Is modding a game cheating?

According to a recent Capcom developer conference held for their research and development team, mods are essentially the same as cheating, especially ones that “violate public order and morals,” such as nude mods, which is why older games are being updated with DRM that tends to break mods that are already installed or ...
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Is modding games piracy?

Console modding and piracy

Modded consoles have been cited as an avenue for video game piracy, both by allowing unauthorized copies to be played, and by circumventing DRM. Legal homebrew video games and backup copies can be played on modified systems, but the argument of piracy remains.
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Is it illegal to recreate a video game?

Once a game has been made public, nothing in the copyright law prevents others from developing another game based on similar principles. Copyright protects only the particular manner of an author's expression in literary, artistic, or musical form.
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Is it illegal to make video game hacks?

Modifying game data usually constitutes a violation of a software license agreement that prohibits modifying the program at all.
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Is it illegal to make a clone of a game?

In these cases, games that are "clones" of another are generally not implied to have committed any intellectual property infractions, and otherwise considered legally acceptable practices, although calling such games clones is generally considered derogatory.
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