[Coco] MAME

[Bruce W. Calkins]

Like many early computing systems the legal issues of the copyrights are 
a bit muddy.  The Color Computer's original ROMs were written by 
Microsoft, a company known to aggressively protect their interests.  How 
the original contract with Radio Shack AKA Tandy would also figure in.  
Similarly with Microware's overlay code for the CoCo 3.  With Radio 
Shacks repeated corporate bankruptcy their hold on the copyright might 
be hard to prove.

The basic issue is: It is a violation of copyright law to distribute 
copies of the Color Computer ROMs.  Are you likely to be prosecuted?  So 
far it appears to be unlikely, but should one of the interested parties 
file suit, you would probably be bankrupted and possibly incarcerated.  
Risk verses reward, your call.

Bruce W.



On 06/07/2017 10:40 AM, Salvador Garcia via Coco wrote:
> Perhaps an obvious question, but is (or are) the legal owner(s) or the ROMs? Is it Tandy/Radio Shack, or are other parties involved?
>
> Salvador
>
>        From: Barry Nelson <barry.nelson at amobiledevice.com>
>   To: coco at maltedmedia.com
>   Sent: Tuesday, June 6, 2017 8:28 PM
>   Subject: [Coco] MAME
>     
> As far as the roms for MAME are concerned, we don’t “talk" about that unfortunately, because those files are not legal to distribute yet for the CoCo. At least we don’t “officially” talk about it. You would be taking a risk mentioning any sites that have those files hosted in your video. Maybe not a big risk, but still...
>