Legal question regarding games...

[jlg6184]

Hello all, I am new to this board, and I am well aware of your rules, and I will abide by them. But I do have a question that I hope doesn't get misconstrued as a potencial "ban". I have been researching games for college (to make a compilation CD for the class). I have noticed that some games are completely available for free. They are considered abandonware. So my question is, so I don't get in trouble, how long does it take for a game to reach Public Domain status?

Note: I absolutely do not want to pirate games and take away from the makers, I am simply talking about the games that have been dropped by their makers and are issued as freeware and abandonware.

[glenbo]

its more a point of no finacial backing,or no system to run it.

[BarryB]

Depends upon the publisher/author allowing the game to become 'public domain'.

Some let their older games be downloaded 'free' for personal use but still retain the copyright, some won't release any games for free. Best contact the publisher/author of the game first if possible to determine it's 'abandonware' status!

The grey area is when a publisher/author no longer exists, if no one owns the copyright is it then 'free' or maybe it reverts to the administrators/next of kin?

[Virdan]

Actually i read an article on this a few weeks ago, "Abandonware" doesnt technically exist the copyrights are still held and although arent actually chased up anymore it is a very grey area as you are still technically stealing...

[ArsenalFc]

Abandonwre generally (or at least PROPER abandoware) is when a software company decides there is no feasible way of making a single penny more off of the existing software, and have no plans to release an updated version or continue the series.

For example, the old Dizzy games, with the little egg (god I loved that little guy!). They don't plan to make a modernised Dizzy game, or a new one to run on modern systems (though they should) and are not going to be stocking the title for sale anywhere, so they basically say "If you want it, just take it. We know we can't charge for it, but if you want it as a freebie......."

It does take give or take 10 years for titles to reach this status though. Some titles you might find on Abandonware status are:

The Dizzy collection (Magicland Dizzy was always MY favourite!)
Beavis and Butthead - Virtual Stupidity
You only live twice
Battlechess (the original)
Day of the Tentacle (this was fantastic! First full game I bought for myself!)
Manic Mansion
King's Quest
Aliens Legacy
Yoda Stories
Sam and Max
Monty Python's Flying Circus

[jlg6184]

I was just curious because I have run across some of the old Quest for Glory, and King's Quest games that many websites consider abandonware, but I wasn't sure the legality of it. So basically it is when the company decides not to support the game, that is when it becomes abandonware, correct?