RPG Maker 2003... Illegal? O___o

Digital_Bits · February 25, 2008, 01:24:10 AM

(Okay, there was a thread for this below, but it's... dead now. o-o)

Alright, so I have a quick questions here:

I have the downloaded version of RPG Maker 2003 from the Downloads section of Crankeye. Is it or is it not legal?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I just saw this, and now I'm confused too. X_x

(EDIT: Sorry if this is in the wrong place. If so, please move it to the correct board. I think my brain... might've shut-off when I was putting this here. D: )

Irock · February 25, 2008, 01:36:30 AM

Yes. You're going to be arrested and fined $50,000 by Enterbrain.

Lein · February 25, 2008, 01:58:16 AM

It's illegal,(they charged money in Japan) but no one has ever gotton sued by enterbrain. Even the guy who translated Rm2k to english and gave it to everyone for free did'nt get sued.

Digital_Bits · February 25, 2008, 04:35:52 AM

That's wonderful. [-_-]

Well, back to working towards getting Flash then.

&&&&&&&&&&&&& · February 25, 2008, 04:55:03 AM

Quote from: Digital_Bits on February 25, 2008, 04:35:52 AM
That's wonderful. [-_-]

Well, back to working towards getting Flash then.

You will only be fined if they find out, and they will only find out if you tell them. You are fine. Don't worry. Look at it this way, there's no where to buy it in English legally (I think) so it's not really stealing.

Digital_Bits · February 25, 2008, 05:09:31 PM

Quote from: BanisherOfEden on February 25, 2008, 04:55:03 AM
Quote from: Digital_Bits on February 25, 2008, 04:35:52 AM
That's wonderful. [-_-]

Well, back to working towards getting Flash then.

You will only be fined if they find out, and they will only find out if you tell them. You are fine. Don't worry. Look at it this way, there's no where to buy it in English legally (I think) so it's not really stealing.

Yeah, I guess, but still. I'm not really into illegal downloads.

Hopefully I can get the Japanese version (yes, I'm one of those crazy nerd-people who's planning on learning Japanese [o-o]) at some point.

Thanks for answering my question.

Lein · February 25, 2008, 10:17:32 PM

Quote from: Digital_Bits on February 25, 2008, 05:09:31 PM
Quote from: BanisherOfEden on February 25, 2008, 04:55:03 AM
Quote from: Digital_Bits on February 25, 2008, 04:35:52 AM
That's wonderful. [-_-]

Well, back to working towards getting Flash then.

You will only be fined if they find out, and they will only find out if you tell them. You are fine. Don't worry. Look at it this way, there's no where to buy it in English legally (I think) so it's not really stealing.

Yeah, I guess, but still. I'm not really into illegal downloads.

Hopefully I can get the Japanese version (yes, I'm one of those crazy nerd-people who's planning on learning Japanese [o-o]) at some point.

Thanks for answering my question.

I think it's only illegal if your stealing money from the company. With Rm2k3, you aren't stealing money.

Sledrave · February 26, 2008, 04:50:00 PM

So basically, on every single moral ground, you are stealing and it's illegal. Do Enterbrain care you're stealing their outdated, non-profitable product? I seriously doubt it.

Yes, it's a bad, illegal thing to do, but you're not going to bankrupt Enterbrain, either.
Pretty simple, huh?

Digital_Bits · February 26, 2008, 07:31:23 PM

My plan was, the first few games or so would be free-for-download, but eventually I'd like to actually be making games for sale. Not necessarily using RPG Maker 2003, but something else, probably.

Fine. I'll keep working in RPG Maker 2003. [=x=] At least until I can get the official Japan version. XD

BloodyChaos · February 27, 2008, 02:11:21 AM

My opinion is as long you don't sell your game then its legal cause your not getting profit of there program so there not losong money anyway typacly speaking ofcourse

Kail200X · October 23, 2008, 05:07:16 AM

o_o; Last I heard (and saw in multiple forums), Enterbrain is no longer backing RM2k3, which should somewhat increase legality (as far as just owning the software goes)... but I don't doubt it's still illegal to sell / distribute, especially games made with them

Holkeye · October 23, 2008, 05:35:52 AM

« Reply #9 on: February 26, 2008, 09:11:21 PM »

Confederacy · October 24, 2008, 01:59:33 AM

Quote from: BloodyChaos on February 27, 2008, 02:11:21 AM
My opinion is as long you don't sell your game then its legal cause your not getting profit of there program so there not losong money anyway typacly speaking ofcourse

Oh no, you can sell your game. Just you'd had to give them credit. Aveyond is RPG Maker XP game that is being sold. However, they created everything from scratch (sprites, music, scripts) which enabled them to sell their games. You can do the same with your game if you make everything from scratch, otherwise you'd have to ask the creators of the script, music, etc. for permission.

If RPG Maker 2K3 isn't be backed up anymore, then I don't think Enterbrain will give a shit. However, they may get a little upset about finding RPG Maker XP for download, but they will get incredibly pissed if they find VX.

Nessiah · October 27, 2008, 02:37:44 AM

Aveyond was sold legally since they paid for rmxp as said in EULA
and yeah they don't care about rm2k3 anymore

Zeriab · October 27, 2008, 05:52:00 AM

Whether Enterbrain sues or not does not change the fact that it is illegal. (The English version that is)

You can talk about that the likelihood of Enterbrain suing you increases severely if you sell your RPG Maker 2003 rather than distribute it for free. This does not change the illegality of it, but it does change the amount of money Enterbrain can get from suing you.

Sated · November 26, 2008, 09:00:49 AM

Quote from: Zeriab on October 27, 2008, 05:52:00 AM
Whether Enterbrain sues or not does not change the fact that it is illegal. (The English version that is)

You can talk about that the likelihood of Enterbrain suing you increases severely if you sell your RPG Maker 2003 rather than distribute it for free. This does not change the illegality of it, but it does change the amount of money Enterbrain can get from suing you.

Until there's an official English version (which isn't going to happen) it's (technically) not illegal.

Dwarra? · November 26, 2008, 09:14:44 AM

Quote from: Griever on November 26, 2008, 09:00:49 AM
Quote from: Zeriab on October 27, 2008, 05:52:00 AM
Whether Enterbrain sues or not does not change the fact that it is illegal. (The English version that is)

You can talk about that the likelihood of Enterbrain suing you increases severely if you sell your RPG Maker 2003 rather than distribute it for free. This does not change the illegality of it, but it does change the amount of money Enterbrain can get from suing you.

Until there's an official English version (which isn't going to happen) it's (technically) not illegal.

So I could download a game and translate it to german or something and whoever downloads the translated copy isnt doing anything illegal right

Zeriab · November 26, 2008, 02:24:36 PM

Quote from: Griever on November 26, 2008, 09:00:49 AM
Until there's an official English version (which isn't going to happen) it's (technically) not illegal.

No.
It is illegal. (in most countries. There might be some odd country where it's not illegal >_>)
It might be in practice impossible or infeasible to sue outside of Japan until an English version comes out.
Their incentive for dealing with the problem until their is an English version is low since it spreads knowledge of the program and the majority of the users would not have bought the Japanese version either way.
This does not change the illegality of it.
It is not very difficult to understand. It only becomes difficult when you are considering patents and what can be done to enforce the rights in practice.

*hugs*
- Zeriab