Are private servers illegal?

Started by Kolby, Jun 04, 2013, 07:46 AM

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Thoth

NPC dialogs are alot more boring and easy to replace than NPC sprites... well, I certainly feel that way, not much of a graphics person

Lassander

My understanding is that the server code itself is legal, the eAthena wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EAthena somewhat explains it.

Ein

Private Servers are illegal, since you need to connect to the server using a hacked client. However, it has been long argued (which means it's still not clear) that running the emulator (such as eAthena) is perfectly legal.
too lazy to design a siggy

lilsword

It is illegal because you're using a client with copyright, but there are like 76312897461278361 servers out there. Gravity wont waste their time filing a case for every server.

HarmsWay

eAthena servers are not Illegal!
rAthena servers are not Illegal!

You are allowed to own a copy of ragnarok since it's a free download.
You are allowed to modify anything in that folder, if it's intended for personal use only.

So, what exactly is illegal?
The act of modifying the client.exe file and sharing it online.
This is the only ILLEGAL part in a private server.

Now, anyone can download a hexed client.exe and use it for his or hers personal whatever.
Hence a private server can only be shut down, if they ask money to let you connect to the server.

The only person who's actively breaking the law, is the person who hexes the client.exe and shares it.

Zhin

Our server once got a notice from Gravity, if I remember correctly, asking for it to be shut down.  Basically, all we did was ignore it, and nothing came of it again. :P  Pretty much the most you'll ever encounter is someone trying to scare you into shutting down, if anything at all, and I think that'd only happen if you get popular enough.  /heh

I'd be more worried about using official artwork for things like graphics and stuff than having them shut you down for pirating the game hah!


Razer

Running a P Server is Illegal. Its akin to installing bootlegged software (pirate bay). Gravity does send out Cease and Desist Letters to servers owners (according to 2 server owners I have known) but Gravity finds it very hard to use litigation against each and every one of them. The costs of litigation would be too high and most server owners are not rich enough to provide good compensations from won lawsuits. Winning 10,000 USD from a Server owner will be much lesser than the costs Gravity put in the lawyers and time. Add to that the fact that most servers are located in countries with slow legal systems that could take weeks, months or even years before the case even reaches to court.

As a result Gravity does not pursue legal actions against such people.  This still doesnt change the fact that they are illegal.

dahman

well the last server i played went down duo gravity :(

http://forum.ratemyserver.net/server-reviews/oldschoolro-the-pre-trans-experience!/msg167704/#msg167704

maybe that was also "boosted" duo the server was hosted in Germany
(bad laws for pserver owners xD)