From: Kevin Wimberly <kwimberly_at_fcsl.edu>
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 15:00:29 -0500

It's not really a patent - it's more like a copyright. Until it falls into
the public domain (which keeps getting to be longer and longer amount of
time), then you will have copyright issues. Disney just successfully got
the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act through - this keeps Mickey safe as
he was about to hit the public domain. The funny thing is that Disney got
most of their start from public domain stories/ideas (Grimm, etc.).

The loophole is this - the emulator engine is legal. The BIN files are
legal to own as long as you own the original - just like with CD's - you're
allowed to make a "backup copy" for yourself...
Received on 2003-02-27