Is using PS2 emulators illegal?

[asim1999]

Is using PS2 emulators illegal on PC? However, i will be using actual PS2 discs that i got from Amazon and various local game shops. is ti ok to use the discs with the emulator?

[werto165]

I think it's sketchy when it comes to the bios. Using your own discs is fine. 

[DigitalHermit]

I think it's already legal since the PS2 and the games are already out of production...

[WelshDdraig]

I believe the rule with emulation is you can use it as long as you actually own the ROM/disk.

As long as you physically own it, you can play it on an emulator.

That is what I have heard anyway.

 

Edit: The same as @werto165 said, you have to use your own bios, you can not use/download one from the internet. Like wise, you can not use an American bios if your not in America.

[asim1999]

I believe the rule with emulation is you can use it as long as you actually own the ROM/disk.

As long as you physically own it, you can play it on an emulator.

That is what I have heard anyway.

 

Edit: The same as @werto165 said, you have to use your own bios, you can not use/download one from the internet. Like wise, you can not use an American bios if your not in America.

oh so i have to hack my PS2 for the bios file?

[pulosis]

AFAIK emulators (the programs themselves) are legal. The BIOS files aren't legal to own, unless you ripped it yourself. ROMs/ISO rips are illegal, unless you own the game.

But here's a little snippet of what I found on Wikipedia:

 

Under United States law, obtaining a dumped copy of the original machine's BIOS is legal under the ruling Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc., 964 F.2d 965 (9th Cir. 1992) as fair use as long as the user obtained a legally purchased copy of the machine. However, several emulators for platforms such as Game Boy Advance are capable of running without a BIOS file, using high-level emulation to simulate BIOS subroutines at a slight cost in emulation accuracy.

 

So I guess as long as you owned a PS2 and will be using your old games, you're golden.

(you still might want to take this will a grain of salt since it was from Wikipedia)

[deathjester]

Is using PS2 emulators illegal on PC? However, i will be using actual PS2 discs that i got from Amazon and various local game shops. is ti ok to use the discs with the emulator?

 

I believe the rule with emulation is you can use it as long as you actually own the ROM/disk.

As long as you physically own it, you can play it on an emulator.

That is what I have heard anyway.

 

Edit: The same as @werto165 said, you have to use your own bios, you can not use/download one from the internet. Like wise, you can not use an American bios if your not in America.

 

^. This. Emulation is completely legal as long as you own a copy of the game. Dolphin emulator is also legal. Emulators can be featured on tech sites and gaming sites (Dolphin has been) because they are legal. 

 

Even Hackintosh is legal as long as you do not sell a Hackintosh as a "Mac clone". 

 

Emulating next gen consoles will also be legal as long as you buy a copy of the game, and we will probably have next gen working "well", before power pc based last gen and Wii U. 

[WelshDdraig]

oh so i have to hack my PS2 for the bios file?

I have never emulated a PS2 *shifty eyes* as I didn't know how to get the bios. I downloaded an emulator and it came with its own bios, that emulator as "disappeared" from the internet, I can't remember the name of it. So I can't tell you how to get the bios, as I, to put it simply, don't know myself how to do it. Sorry I can't be much more help. 

[Laurysss]

Is using PS2 emulators illegal on PC? However, i will be using actual PS2 discs that i got from Amazon and various local game shops. is ti ok to use the discs with the emulator?

Why do you care about that? Living near a police station? And come on its ps2 who gives a shit. 

 

BTW this legal and illegal shit is stupid. What fbi is going to arrest you for downloading something?

[asim1999]

AFAIK emulators (the programs themselves) are legal. The BIOS files aren't legal to own, unless you ripped it yourself. ROMs/ISO rips are illegal, unless you own the game.

But here's a little snippet of what I found on Wikipedia:

 

Under United States law, obtaining a dumped copy of the original machine's BIOS is legal under the ruling Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc., 964 F.2d 965 (9th Cir. 1992) as fair use as long as the user obtained a legally purchased copy of the machine. However, several emulators for platforms such as Game Boy Advance are capable of running without a BIOS file, using high-level emulation to simulate BIOS subroutines at a slight cost in emulation accuracy.

 

So I guess as long as you owned a PS2 and will be using your old games, you're golden.

(you still might want to take this will a grain of salt since it was from Wikipedia)

Yeah, got it off my uncle in 2004 (the PS2 fat version (First-Gen)) when i had turned 5. I havent played it in years. Will keep it since i have got a lot of good games and will sell it when it is worth a lot of money