Are portables Illegal to make and distribute?

SNESguy · Post by **SNESguy** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 2:14 pm

A guy at school came up to me today and said he talked with his dad about my SNESp. They claimed that it was illegal to make and sell portable systems. I seriously doubt this, but it's only illegal if you copy the game carts themselves right?

Most portables are made of expired systems anyways, so the copyright should be gone.

If you're using already made NATIVE (not pirated) mobos and putting them in new shells, then WHAT'S THE PROBLEM??

Anybody have any word on this?

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 2:15 pm

there is none unless you use a company=ies namme or logo

G-force · Post by **G-force** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 2:32 pm

This has been discussed a couple times before, and nobody found any reason why it would be illegal.

Post by **bicostp** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:26 pm

Really, I see nothing illegal about building portables. All you are doing is re-packaging the console into a unit with a screen and batteries. You are neither changing the system architecture nor the software, and you have to buy the carts/CDs for them, anyways.

OK, so you DO change the Atari 2600 hardware, but that company went under years ago, and I don't think the new parent company bothered with the old hardware...

Cyberblade · Post by **Cyberblade** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:35 pm

Even if reselling these systems is illegal in some way or another, Nintendo (or any other company) will not step in and sue you for a couple of sold portables, now if you start selling thousands upon thousands of portable SNES's you might get in trouble as they'll find someway to get you. XD

Post by **bicostp** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:52 pm

Who has enough time to make thousands of SNESp's? (I mean, besides a warden or owner of a forced labor camp...)

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:05 pm

your friends dad is full of crap and you can tell him I said so as far as the law is concerned its just a case mod

cennar · Post by **cennar** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:11 pm

its like buying a car serouisly moddifying every thing about it and then selling it.

MajorLag · Post by **MajorLag** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:14 pm

Exactly like cennar said. Hardware is not the same as software, once you buy hardware, it is yours to do with as you please. The only real legal concern with portable making is trademark violation.

cennar · Post by **cennar** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:38 pm

and cats... how big of a cat does it take to take down a regular portable.

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 5:13 pm

I suppose it would technically be illegal to portablize the xbox, as I have heard that you aren't buying the hardware, but a liscense to use it, like with software. Also, you should be careful with logos, especially when selling stuff

MajorLag · Post by **MajorLag** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 7:42 pm

SpongeBuell wrote:I suppose it would technically be illegal to portablize the xbox, as I have heard that you aren't buying the hardware, but a liscense to use it, like with software. Also, you should be careful with logos, especially when selling stuff

Even knowing that this is Microsoft we're talking about, I have trouble believing that. But its not like you can portablize an X-box anyway.

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 7:43 pm

MajorLag wrote: But its not like you can portablize an X-box anyway.

you think so do you

MajorLag · Post by **MajorLag** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:01 pm

peppers wrote:
MajorLag wrote: But its not like you can portablize an X-box anyway.
you think so do you

Well you could, it just wouldn't be very.... you know, portable.

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:07 pm

MajorLag wrote:
peppers wrote:
MajorLag wrote: But its not like you can portablize an X-box anyway.
you think so do you
Well you could, it just wouldn't be very.... you know, portable.

once again you think so do you