DOS Games Discussion

angelica · Guest

Sorry but can someone pls answer this question:
Is dosgames illigal or not to download - confused about this!! Benevolent

Dogbreath · Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 3:29 pm Post subject:

Of course it is! Happy

Anything you download on this site is 100% legal, whether under freeware, shareware, or public domain licences.

angelica · Guest

cool thanx for answering! Benevolent

Kazer0 · Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 6:27 pm Post subject:

Notice on this site meaning one of the three sites here: www.dosgames.com , www.dosgamesarchive.com and www.dosgamesonline.com . Any other site may have illegal dos games, so watch out

Dogbreath · Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 1:40 pm Post subject:

Generally, almost any site will warn you beforehand that they are illegal. Look for games/sites labeled abandonware or warez and avoid them if you don't wanna break the law, though admittedly there's no way you'll ever get caught if you do.

wardrich · Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 2:35 pm Post subject:

Thanks for comming to the forums and asking first though. That was a wise move. When it comes to DOS Games (and windows games alike) you just have to see what the game is classified as to know whether it is legal or not.

<caption>The Legal Side</caption>

Classification	Description
Demo	Demos are usually VERY limited versions of games. Where Shareware may contain a whole episode, a Demo may only contain one or two levels.
Shareware	Demo version of a game. Free to share around (hence the name). Shareware games tend to be more complete than Demos.
Freeware	Freeware is full-blown game. The whole 100% with no limitations what-so-ever. Freeware games are free either because the author was very generous and released it as freeware right away, or it may be an older game that a company no longer supports and they release it as freeware. Be sure NOT to confuse Abandonware with Freeware!

<caption>The ~~Dark~~ Illegal Side</caption>

Classification	Description
Abandonware	Abandonware are old (usually DOS) games that are no longer supported by the release company and author. These games, due to copyright laws, are illegal to download. The only way they can become legal is if the author gives permission for them to be freely downloaded. I believe the law states 75 years until abandonware will become freeware.
Warez	Warez is the term given to any modern software that can be downloaded through any medium, whether it be P2P, BB's, IRC, Internet... Warez is probably the worst and most common form of Internet piracy.

Hope this helps, if I'm wrong anywhere, just let me know and I'll fix it up.
-Richard-

Guest · Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 6:58 pm Post subject:

Ro@m · Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2004 5:46 am Post subject:

hmmm....75 years,hope i'm still alive when carmack dies.... Shifty