Hardware: Most video game hardware is based on off the shelf chips that don't have any relevant patents still in effect. If original BIOS files are required for a certain emulator, then see the restrictions for ROMs below.
#Bsnes bios code#
Most emulators that do not require an original BIOS file have code that imitates the functions of the original file after it has been reverse engineered. You can reverse engineer the functions of a BIOS file and create code that will perform the same functions.
However, they are not illegal to imitate.
#Bsnes bios license#
However, many places have similar copyright laws.īIOS files: Bios files are illegal to distribute without a license just like any other copyrighted material. copyright law because that is what I am most familiar with. My comments here are based primarily upon U.S. However, usually the things that are within your rights will draw no attention at all from these companies because they don't involve anyone but the individual doing them. A company can theoretically try to take legal action against you for doing things that are generally considered perfectly within your rights. The law is not as cut and dried as it should be. They claim that they are illegal, but that is not generally considered the case (in most places anyway) as long as you don't distribute the ROM to anybody else.
Notice that that page by Nintendo has inaccurate information about the legality of game copying devices.
#Bsnes bios software#
However the reason why the original software cannot be included is simply that software and hardware are protected by different regulations, copyright vs patent. If the console did include BIOS software but its function can be reproduced, then that alternative software may be OK (as is the case in some PSX emulators). If the console never included BIOS software in the first place, then obviously none is needed. Whether you require a BIOS file or not is a consequence of both the particular design of the console, and how easy it is for some hacker to create alternative software which serves the same purpose. The software of such a system is called the BIOS (for no good reason). Creating something with the same function of that art is perfectly legal since, well, traditionally art doesn't have a function.Ĭlassically, some consoles have included software, while some have been entirely hardware. Think of it like software actually is a form of art (some of us programmers think that it is, anyway ). In principle you can violate a patent without knowing it, because a recreation of something which you didn't know was patented is a violation of the patent. In particular, emulation is not a reproduction of the actual hardware schematics, it is merely an invention with the same intent. But emulation of hardware does not violate patent law patent law was designed to protect the innovation but allow reasonable competition, so there's a lot more leeway in what's legal. And in short, unless you're explicitly given the right to copy, you don't have it. Copyright is exactly what it sounds like: The right to copy. Software is protected by copyright, the same mechanism that protects written works, works of art, film, music etc. Roms: So I truly own a product called the SF Professor 2.ĭue to some nonsense in history, software and hardware are protected by a different set of rules and regulations. I can freely trade a collection of files that make up a GBA emulator but can not legally share a bios file? How does that work? It would seem if the powers that be could clamp down on a single file why not stop them all? Also how come some emulators dont have this at all? Game Gear, SNES, Sega Genesis, but Sega CD does? It just seems odd to me, I am easily confused though With that background in mind, can anyone explain if there are world wide rules that apply to emulation.īios files. Im also not a programmer, so when i look at all the files that go into making an GameBoy Advanced emulator i have no idea what I am looking at. Im not a lawyer, I would be surprised if there are many lawyers in these forums (could be wrong) and I have heard many things about the usage of ROMs (Im using this term to mean essentially the software component of either a cd or cartridge video game) Right off the bat, Im not asking for roms, or bios files or anything else that could get members of this community in trouble or invoke unwanted attention.
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