Pirating has become so popular nowadays; I mean everybody is doing it!  Although many people know its illegal there are many people who aren’t quite sure of the legality of copying games, especially older games.  The fact is that there are companies and websites out there willing to help you modify your game console by selling you mod-chips or create emulators to help you play old games.   I’m certainly not a lawyer, I don’t have all the answers but I’ve done some research and hopefully I can better inform you and possibly keep you out of trouble.

Every once in a while I get questions from people asking if copying Wii games are legal?  Or how can I make a backup copy of a Wii game?  Sometimes the questions are much more forward, I want to make a copy of a Wii game, Can you help?   I want to copy Wii Games!?!?

So let’s start with some basics.  Copying of any game and sharing the game with another person is illegal.  You can make a copy of a game for personal back up but the manufacturer, in this case Nintendo, does not need to make available the technology to play the game or instructions on how to copy the game. 

Downloading a game (ROM) from the internet and playing it through a Video Game Emulator, regardless of whether you own an authentic copy is illegal.  What is an Emulator?  Basically its software written by someone that allows your game to work on a platform other than it was originally intended.

Many times these ROM’s (Read Only Memory, the software in the game cartridges and CD/DVD’s) are copied using game copying devices.  Guess what.. Yup, these devices are also illegal because they give you the possibility to violate copyright laws.

So let’s say you have a very old game that is no longer distributed.  You may think that the game is now public domain and can be used through emulators but in reality you need to follow copyright laws.  Copyright laws state that a game is under protection for 75 years.  Since the oldest games are only 30+ years old ALL games are still under copyright protection.

The use of mod-chips automatically void warranties and Nintendo is pretty strict about going after companies that try to manufacture these especially when they claim to lose over $700 million yearly.  It is also illegal to have a website that links information on pirating of games.

Basically if you have to ask whether or not it’s illegal to copy video games, err on the side of caution and assume that it is.   Hopefully I’ve kept saved one person from having to pay a hefty fine.