Question How will gbatemp handle links to shops that sell pirated firmware

[notimp]

So TX' "firmware SKU" is literally pirated Nintendo firmware, modified with its own DRM layer, then sold in stores. Which are linked in here.

Is the "I'm just buying the license for that firmware in those stores" argument enough to freely link to stores selling pirated firmware?

You know - details...

Should we report those links. Should we pretend, they arent what they are?

Should we only ignore those of them that allow paypal?

 

[masterspike52]

mods havent removed em, so i can only assume its fine. the rules say we cant post links to actual piratable things in which case this is just a dongle, what it has on it isnt really of any concern

 

[notimp]

I'm not talking about the dongle necessarily, I'm talking about the "buy pirated Nintendo firmware licenses" TX SKU.

Lets talk about that. Seems a little more straight forward.

Mods might have ignored the links, because they havent conceptualized, what people are selling in here.

So I thought I'd ask the question outright.

edit: I'm talking about the following product thats currently advertised in multiple threads on gbatemp:

Description:

• Xecuter SX OS software license
• Requires: Tools to be installed on your Nintendo Switch
• Compatible with all regions.
• Compatible with all firmwares.
• Real time game switching.
• More features to be announced soon.

Only $24.95 (excluding local taxes when apply)

 

[masterspike52]

I'm not talking about the dongle necessarily, I'm talking about the "buy pirated Nintendo firmware licenses" TX SKU.

Lets talk about that. Seems a little more straight forward.

Mods might have ignored the links, because they havent conceptualized, what people are selling in here.

So I thought I'd ask the question outright.

thats what im sayin though, they sell a dongle that just happens to have a pirated firmware on it. selling the dongle isnt illegal its just selling whats on it in which again its of no concern id believe

 

[notimp]

No, they are selling pirated firmware licenses in a separate SKU, without the dongle.

I've just linked to the advertising for it - thats present in several threads in this forum -- to help defining, what we are talking about.

Lets talk about the "buy pirateed firmware licenses SKU", please. The one where people pay money to literally get a pirated version of Nintendos Firmware. But thats encapsulated in a "you only pay for the piracy license" claim.

There are no loopholes.

You pay for a license to use a pirated firmware.

You pay for a pirated good, and the shop links are spread all over this forum.

 

[pofer]

I am not defending them, but as long as they don't directly provide a link to download pirated content, I don't see why they should be banned

 

[notimp]

I am not defending them, but as long as they don't directly provide a link to download pirated content, I don't see why they should be banned

So linking to stores that sell pirated software is fine, as long as they sell you "licenses" to pirated goods - and provide you with download links later - because you know they will have to. Because people in here literally are talking about "buying the firmware".

You are not buying "some hardware" here, you are paying for a license to use pirated software. (Modified Nintendo firmware.)

Thats not ambiguous at all.

Thats actually pretty straight forward.

You are paying for pirated software, and the advertisement, and links to shops are all over this forum.

 

[Ericthegreat]

So linking to stores that sell pirated software is fine, as long as they sell you "licenses" to pirated goods - and provide you with download links later - because you know they will have to. Because people in here literally are talking about "buying the firmware".

You are not buying "some hardware" here, you are paying for a license to use pirated software. (Modified Nintendo firmware.)

Thats not ambiguous at all.

Thats actually pretty straight forward.

You are paying for pirated software, and the advertisement, and links to shops are all over this forum.

No one cares, this used to be a rom site.

 

[notimp]

Can I have this in an official statement, please?

You know, we are all entering new grounds here. With companies selling pirated CFW licenses, because they packaged Nintendo software with their own DRM layer - and all...

The answer might also be important to developers who frequent this forum under their real name. So its not playing "devils advocate" only.

 

[Deleted-355425]

Gbatemps sponsor sells flash cards and pirating devices... why would they be bothered about one that sells this?

 

[_______]

Gbatemps sponsor sells flash cards and pirating devices... why would they be bothered about one that sells this?

I don't think its the same in this case. Think like this: yes a flash card can use to play ROM people do not own, and most people do that. But they can also let you load your own backup, which is sorta a good thing to legal users. But selling modified version of Nintendo's OS was illegal w/o Nintendo's permission, just like sell pirate games directly. It's closed source, for profit and non-educational use. I don't see why they are the same.

 

[Joom]

Gbatemps sponsor sells flash cards and pirating devices... why would they be bothered about one that sells this?

Why are people not understanding the OP? Imagine someone linking to a site that sells keygens. The hardware (flashcarts, dongles, etc.) don't inherently come with anything illegal on them. You have to install the kernel and put ROMs on them yourself. TX is selling copywritten software outright separately from its hardware. But yeah, nobody really cares.

 

[_______]

Why are people not understanding the OP? Imagine someone linking to a site that sells keygens. The hardware (flashcarts, dongles, etc.) don't inherently come with anything illegal on them. You have to install the kernel put ROMs on them yourself. TX is selling copywritten software outright separately from its hardware. But yeah, nobody really cares.

I was trying to explain the same thing. Selling Ninty's OS is just like selling a game ROM.

 

[Dan-the-Rebirth]

Sorry if I go slightly off topic now: So because the dongle is a one time use thing we need to pay for licences. But how are reinstallations handled(if my switch needs repair I would format it be for sending it to nintendo and want to reinstall the cfw later.)

 

[Axido]

Are they really selling the already modified full OS or just a patch that modifies it when installed? The former would be the distribution of pirated content, the latter, however, is totally fine, though.

You call this a "pirated firmware". Do you have any actual information that this is definitely more than you a patch to turn the OS into a CFW. Or on the other hand do you have any proof that TX is distributing code written by Nintendo? Everything else is not piracy, whether or not it is sold or freely distributed.

 

[EclipseSin]

Their "OS" is likely the same form as Atmosphere. Patches for the official OS, meaning they are not distributing any illegal content. Unless you have some insider information not listed there.

If they were doing as you propose, it would be trouble for the distributors as well. And I don't mean a slap on the wrist.

 

[linuxares]

Do we know for a fact that the software TX use got copyrighted code?

 

[_______]

Sorry if I go slightly off topic now: So because the dongle is a one time use thing we need to pay for licences. But how are reinstallations handled(if my switch needs repair I would format it be for sending it to nintendo and want to reinstall the cfw later.)

I think the way they were doing it would be like sending your cert/device info to their server, so when you try to play them, they can retaliate, and at the same time make sure you can't copy the stuff w/o a license. In that way, you can install it on the same device as many time as you want. But if your Switch does broke, they could either handle it manually or ask you to buy the license again.

However, I seriously doubt a free CFW or piracy solution would be released later then TX's. Also I don't really trust anything that's not open sourced.

 

[SonyUSA]

To be fair, TX probably applies patches or creates a nand backup and patches that, the patches themselves hold no copyrighted software and only serve to modify your unit to turn it into CFW.

 

[Tilde88]

So TX' "firmware SKU" is literally pirated Nintendo firmware, modified with its own DRM layer, then sold in stores. Which are linked in here.

Is the "I'm just buying the license for that firmware in those stores" argument enough to freely link to stores selling pirated firmware?

You know - details...

Should we report those links. Should we pretend, they arent what they are?

Should we only ignore those of them that allow paypal?

There is nothing wrong with piracy. There is nothing wrong with openly talking about or supporting piracy anywhere on this forum.

The ONLY thing about piracy that cannot be done here, is sharing a link to somewhere that directly has a rom. You may also not attach pirated GAMES to any post.

I can make an app that is called "this app downloads any game for free and let's you play them" and make the title piracy here. As long as that app has no actual piracy or copyrighted material BUILT-IN, it is fine. Obviously, it would also require input of your own such as keys and the like, otherwise it would be completely not ok.


Now everyone shut the hell up about piracy. Its a good thing, it will happen, it's ok to happen, and it will be great.
Don't buy games if you don't have to, download them.

Remember, it's not actual piracy. That term was made up by lawyers to make it sound dirty to lobbyists and whatnot.

If you can do so, download everything for free. Piracy #1