Are console emulators legal (if you own the original console)??

Answer 1

No it is not legal. You can only play on the designated console.

Answer 2

emulators are legal but the ROM and BIOS is illegal (you must own the console if it needs a BIOS to boot, and you must own the ROM)

Answer 3

No, there is no legal way about it. The rule about owning the console / game that you are emulating is something someone just made up. So is the "delete within 24hrs" rule.

Answer 4

Unfortunately no, but sometimes there's simply no other way to enjoy some classic games that aren't around.

Answer 5

They are illigal , but legal when you want to try a game , after 24 hours you have to delete all the files. After that you can decide to buy the game or not.

Answer 6

The details of the legality differ depending where in the world you live (although they are becoming similiar/more aligned the more time goes by).

 

The general idea is that the emulators themselves are legal (the program that runs the games), as it itself does not violate any copyright.  However the duplication of the games themselves (copying and possession of ROMs) is the part that violates copyright law. This is the part that differents (most places it's illegal straight up, in some places exceptions can be made if you own the original copy of the game. Presumably the ROM copy is then for "backup" purposes).

In North America, things are not so leniant, and all the ROMs are not licensed under copyright and so are illegal to possess, use or distribute.

Note: this covers the legality (ie. does it break the law) of the topic, which may differ from the moral / ethical viewpoint (whether it is right or wrong to do this).

Answer 7

"Usage" of emulators with stolen bios is illegal and just wrong. You should repair the console if it's broken. Owning a console deosn't make usage of emulators legal.

Answer 8

Emulators are completely legal, but that doesn't mean the company won't still try to take legal action against you if they find out you are using one. Sony, for one, would - but I don't know of any emulators for any of their products.

The illegal part of emulating games is downloading the ROMs. Since they are copies of the game, you're violating copyright laws. Companies don't usually go after dl'ers though - just distributers. So you're probably alright.

Answer 9

they are legal if you alrady own the console and game i believe

Answer 10

You could have a emulator,the illegal part is downloading ROMS of games.

Answer 11

it is perfectly legal to own a console emulator, but not any games for it.