Is abandonware legal?

Jorath Calar · 11-09-2001, 05:27 PM

Recently I found the coolest site I seen since Ironworks (there is nothing wrong with a little bootlicking [img]smile.gif[/img] ). It's a site dedicated to underappreciated games The Underdogs They have a large collection of great old games for download, just check out the RPG section

rool: .
But I was wondering is this is any diffrent from Warez, the games are no longer available, so why shouldn't they be available for future generations to enjoy?

I'm sorry if the mods feel I'm breaking any laws by posting the link and understand if the thread will be deleted.

Djinn Raffo · 11-09-2001, 06:43 PM

Right on the Underdogs!
Ive rode the hell out of that site!
Wicked man so many classic games!
Is it legal? Who cares!!!!!!!??
Its there its free abuse it!

Grojlach · 11-09-2001, 07:02 PM

Well, if it's called "abandonware" than it means it's not officially sold anymore (there are better definitions out there, but you get the idea), which means it's not illegal anymore to spread them on the Internet.

Mitro Jellywadder · 11-09-2001, 07:04 PM

Uh-oh...I guess I'll showing up at IW less now. Thanks for the tip on the site.

My son has tons of games to play now. No longer just educational games.

[ 11-09-2001: Message edited by: Mitro Jellywadder ]

Mouse · 11-09-2001, 07:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Grojlach:
Well, if it's called "abandonware" than it means it's not officially sold anymore (there are better definitions out there, but you get the idea), which means it's not illegal anymore to spread them on the Internet.

Mouse gets out of the way for fear of getting trampled on by hordes of copyright/intellectual property lawyers rushing to litigate on that contention LOL

Sigmar · 11-10-2001, 04:55 AM

Well it is actually illegal, but most developers tend to ignore abandonware as most of them like to see that their old games are still bringing joy to people, there are some developers (such as Core) who do not approve of abandonware but there's nothing they can do about it really , sure they could sue loads of sites but they cant stop it.

DiabloRex · 11-10-2001, 05:06 AM

Signmar is right, abandonware is illegal, but most companies dont do anything about. For exactly. Its abandoned, no longer sold. Which means that the company doenst suffer a profit loss

KHaN · 11-12-2001, 01:08 AM

I just wanted to thank you for posting that site. Man, Ive been playing some pre-90's games...autoduel, masters of magic. Something about those old game. They didnt have the graphics or capabilities that the newer games have. They were alot harder IMO. I spent all day playing Masters of Magic, that game rocks! Thanks again.

11-09-2001, 07:02 PM	#3
Grojlach Zartan Join Date: May 2, 2001 Location: Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum Age: 43 Posts: 5,281	Well, if it's called "abandonware" than it means it's not officially sold anymore (there are better definitions out there, but you get the idea), which means it's not illegal anymore to spread them on the Internet. __________________ [url]\"http://www.audioscrobbler.com/user/Grobbel/\" target=\"_blank\"> [img]\"http://www.denness.net/rpi/username/Grobbel\" alt=\" - \" /></a>

11-09-2001, 07:06 PM	#5
Mouse Ironworks Moderator Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,788	quote: Originally posted by Grojlach: Well, if it's called "abandonware" than it means it's not officially sold anymore (there are better definitions out there, but you get the idea), which means it's not illegal anymore to spread them on the Internet. Mouse gets out of the way for fear of getting trampled on by hordes of copyright/intellectual property lawyers rushing to litigate on that contention LOL __________________ Regards Mouse (Occasional crooner and all round friendly Scottish rodent)

11-10-2001, 05:06 AM	#7
DiabloRex Elminster Join Date: July 2, 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 460	Signmar is right, abandonware is illegal, but most companies dont do anything about. For exactly. Its abandoned, no longer sold. Which means that the company doenst suffer a profit loss __________________ [url]\"http://everspoon.mine.nu\" target=\"_blank\">Everspoon Temple</a>

11-12-2001, 01:08 AM	#8
KHaN Drow Warrior Join Date: June 21, 2001 Location: the not to distant future, Posts: 250	I just wanted to thank you for posting that site. Man, Ive been playing some pre-90's games...autoduel, masters of magic. Something about those old game. They didnt have the graphics or capabilities that the newer games have. They were alot harder IMO. I spent all day playing Masters of Magic, that game rocks! Thanks again. __________________

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11-09-2001, 05:27 PM	#1
Jorath Calar Harper Join Date: October 6, 2001 Location: Iceland Posts: 4,706	Recently I found the coolest site I seen since Ironworks (there is nothing wrong with a little bootlicking [img]smile.gif[/img] ). It's a site dedicated to underappreciated games The Underdogs They have a large collection of great old games for download, just check out the RPG section rool: . But I was wondering is this is any diffrent from Warez, the games are no longer available, so why shouldn't they be available for future generations to enjoy? I'm sorry if the mods feel I'm breaking any laws by posting the link and understand if the thread will be deleted.

11-09-2001, 06:43 PM	#2
Djinn Raffo Ra Join Date: March 11, 2001 Location: Ant Hill Age: 49 Posts: 2,397	Right on the Underdogs! Ive rode the hell out of that site! Wicked man so many classic games! Is it legal? Who cares!!!!!!!?? Its there its free abuse it!

11-09-2001, 07:04 PM	#4
Mitro Jellywadder Quintesson Join Date: September 5, 2001 Location: Florida Age: 52 Posts: 1,016	Uh-oh...I guess I'll showing up at IW less now. Thanks for the tip on the site. My son has tons of games to play now. No longer just educational games. [ 11-09-2001: Message edited by: Mitro Jellywadder ]

11-10-2001, 04:55 AM	#6
Sigmar Unicorn Join Date: May 17, 2001 Location: N/a Posts: 4,222	Well it is actually illegal, but most developers tend to ignore abandonware as most of them like to see that their old games are still bringing joy to people, there are some developers (such as Core) who do not approve of abandonware but there's nothing they can do about it really , sure they could sue loads of sites but they cant stop it.

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