Question about NES 20th bday

[Ramma2]

In the last thread it was pointed out that something has expired with the 20th bday of the NES, and now companies can make NES knockoffs legally now.

What does that mean for the games, and the rom/emulation stuff?

 

[geno]

I thought copyrights last something like 80 years?

*Wikipedia says "life plus 70 years"

 

[raystorm]

Originally posted by: Ramma2
In the last thread it was pointed out that something has expired with the 20th bday of the NES, and now companies can make NES knockoffs legally now.

What does that mean for the games, and the rom/emulation stuff?

I think that has to do with the patents for the NES running out and I guess Nintendo is not renewing them?? So that means anyone can uses the specs and make their own NES knockoffs. This shouldn't apply for games since they don't have patents and stuff and developers will always protect their IP's till they hit the graves. Maybe someone here can come up with a better answer.

 

[shud]

Ummmm the 20 year thing applies to drug patents. I don't know about this stuff.

 

[Ramma2]

This is what i am referring to:

http://www.playmessiah.com/onlinestore/

 

[Titan]

I have a friend who hates piracy and owns NES games. His old NES died so ho bought a Yobo at a store. A very cheap imitation NES, it was feather light, cost 30 bucks and would screw up the game when his crazy cat ran into. Not positive it was 100% legal though, this was last year.

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: Ramma2
This is what i am referring to:

http://www.playmessiah.com/onlinestore/

Cool. Does that thing actually work? I have a few NES games I'd like playing again, but the ol'NES is a little sensitive.