Rom hack and fan game

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Hello, I know that owning an emulator is legal but that downloading ROMs is illegal, and you must use data from your own games.
However, is it illegal if it concerns a ROM hack or a fan game? (examples: Pokémon Emerald +, Salty Platinum, Blaze Black, Uranium, Solar Light, Mario Call of Cthulhu...)

1 answer

Jean20B Posted messages 1861 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2 372
 
Hello, it depends on how the rom hack is distributed.

If the rom hack includes the original game or content that is copyrighted, then yes, it is illegal.

If it is distributed in the form of a patch to be applied using a tool to a rom that you own, then the patch is not illegal (unless the patch itself also contains copyrighted content). A commonly used patch format is IPS (International Patching System).
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Hello, thank you for replying, but are fangames like Pokemon Uranium, Mario Call of Cthulhu, or Five Nights at Candy legal?
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Jean20B Posted messages 1861 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2 372 > 123
 
Pokémon Uranium uses protected content without Nintendo's permission, and Nintendo has filed a DMCA notice for copyright infringement regarding this game, so it is illegal.

Super Mario World: Call of Cthulhu is available as a patch, and apparently the patch is legal. To do things properly, you would need to legally own a ROM of Super Mario World to play it completely legally.

Five Nights At Candy's is legal; it is inspired by Five Nights At Freddy's, and its creator, Scott Cawthon, has left a positive comment on this fangame, so as long as he has nothing against this game, everything is fine.

Just to clarify, those who are most at risk of problems are those who publish protected content without authorization, not those who download the content in question.
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123 > Jean20B Posted messages 1861 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
 
Okay, thank you for getting back to me.
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