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- Abandonware is any software still under copyright when the copyright owner either doesn't or can't enforce it. Regardless, since the copyright still exists, hosting and downloading abandonware generally counts as piracy in the US, making it illegal.
www.howtogeek.com/829307/what-is-abandonware-and-is-it-legal/
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Jan 15, 2023 · Abandonware is any software whose copyright has not lapsed, and all of the legal restrictions that apply to typical copyright are still in effect, yet the copyright holder isn't currently enforcing the copyright.
- Sydney Butler
- Editor, Hardware And Cutting Edge Technology
However, since the largest risk in dealing with abandonware is that of distribution, this may be mitigated somewhat by private users (or organizations such as the Internet Archive) making private copies of such software, which would then be legally redistributable at the time of copyright expiry.
In a nutshell, downloading abandonware is illegal, but it’s rare for a company to actually chase you over it. In some cases it’s even a victimless crime. Arguments for and Against Downloading Abandonware
Mar 19, 2020 · The simple answer is no, abandonware is not legal. Even if the creator abandons a copyrighted work, it does not become public property automatically. The copyright on the work exists until the copyright expires, the duration of which varies from country to country.
- Senior Editor
"Abandonware" isn't a legally recognized term, not at all. As far as the law is concerned, if a game is copyright (read: all games you'd ever want to play) then copying it yourself is piracy. Period.
Oct 26, 2023 · Abandonware is not legal, to cut a long story short. A copyrighted work does not immediately become public property if the creator abandons it. Instead, the copyright on the work remains in effect until it expires, which varies by country. For example, a video game’s copyright typically lasts between 70 to 125 years.
The philosophy of abandonware is if a piece of software falls under these conditions, you're in a moral right to just download it for free. But do note that's internet law, not real law. Okay, what makes something legally abandonware? There isn't one.
