this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2023
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[HN] Study: 87% of classic video games are not legally available (gamehistory.org)
submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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cross-posted from: https://radiation.party/post/41704

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (9 children)

This may be hot take, but I think games are art and are part of our cultural legacy, and making steps that stops us from enjoying us from that legacy should be considered a crime, especially when they put at risk art disappearing forever.

I would start with simple rules:

  • 5 years after last new copies of the game stops being sold, pirating it stops becoming a crime
  • 10 years after platform (console?) stop being produced, if there is no official emulator available, all emulators of that platform become legal
  • intentionally trying to stop people from buying a game without breaking above rules (for example, selling one copy for price of 9999$) is a crime

As a result, I would expect all companies to either invest in backward compatibility on unprecedented level, or more likely start porting their games to PC (because they will keep being produced), even if that meant selling copies to be used with emulators. When there is money on the table, or perspective of losing money, corporations are really quick to find solutions.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

We need a use-it-or-lose-it clause for all copyrights. If the rights holder is not making a good faith effort to sell copies, they should forfeit their copyright entirely and the work in question goes straight to the public domain. 5 years is generous, I'd make the grace period 6 months.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

This is how you get Fantastic Four (1994)

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