CD32 Swap method

[Amigajay]

Originally Posted by earok

Edit: Random thing - the source keeps referring to a "CDGS", could this be an early name for the system ala C64GS?

Yeah its on the early prototype boards as 'Amiga CD Games System' when it was known as 'Spellbound'

[Amiga1992]

Originally Posted by earok

Ok, bad news guys - I think this is case closed.

Thanks for your investigation earok.
My question now is this: I would love to talk more about this subject, but I am worried that the sole mention of this issue would trigger some licensing vulture asshole to have "funny thoughts". Should we talk about this at all?

[Amigajay]

Originally Posted by Akira

Thanks for your investigation earok.
My question now is this: I would love to talk more about this subject, but I am worried that the sole mention of this issue would trigger some licensing vulture asshole to have "funny thoughts". Should we talk about this at all?

Exactly...best bet to let this thread die a quick death and nobody mention about you know what

[Amiga1992]

Maybe we should arrange an IRC meet and talk shop.

[SkulleateR]

Really I can´t remember what this thread is about

[jotd]

bTW can someone zone the "noreset" utility? I'd like to perform some cd swapping

[Cobe]

Zoned.

[a4k-oerx]

Originally Posted by jotd

bTW can someone zone the "noreset" utility? I'd like to perform some cd swapping

Asm source for NoReset is available here.

Edit: NoReset uses lowlevel.library SystemControlA which btw. is a very powerfull function for CD32 development.

[earok]

O_o

"SCON_AddCreateKeys"

What is that exactly? Does it create keyboard events from the gamepad?



@Cobe I was vaguely thinking about making a booter disc for Tanks Furry, with CDXL intro or the like. Would you consider doing that project instead? If not could I borrow your current swap disc?

[earok]

I discovered a few interesting things re: the Trademark files.

In brief, I was discussing the issue with a friend who pointed out there's a legal precedent here in Sega VS Accolade, which ultimately determined that - at least in the US, unsure about the rest of the world - copy protection methods similar to the one employed by the CD32 have no legal standing.

Here's a good summary from http://segaretro.org/TradeMark_Security_System

TMSS works by simply requiring instances of the SEGA trademark to appear in various memory locations (see below). Should an unlicensed game appear on the market, Sega could exert its rights over the SEGA trademark and sue the developer for trademark infringement.

The legality of this system was challenged in the United States by Accolade in the court case SEGA vs. Accolade, which ruled in Accolade's favor. The verdict set a precedent that copyrights do not extend to non-expressive content in software that is required by another system to be present in order for that system to run the software. While the system was never challenged elsewhere, Sega did not enforce it after the Accolade case, and consequently several unlicensed game developers started popping up.

In short as I understand things
* Developing software for a system like the Genesis (presumably any other computer system including the CD32) is protected by Fair Use, even if said software is commercial.
* Given that it's an activity protected by Fair Use, and that there's no way to carry out the activity without the inadvertent Trademark infringement, Sega themselves were held responsible.


And this was back in 92-93 even!

[Cobe]

Originally Posted by earok

@Cobe I was vaguely thinking about making a booter disc for Tanks Furry, with CDXL intro or the like. Would you consider doing that project instead? If not could I borrow your current swap disc?

Feel free to use it. With my CD32 not working(sigh) I couldn't test it myself so I don't feel like doing that...

[Amiga1992]

Originally Posted by earok

In short as I understand things
* Developing software for a system like the Genesis (presumably any other computer system including the CD32) is protected by Fair Use, even if said software is commercial.
* Given that it's an activity protected by Fair Use, and that there's no way to carry out the activity without the inadvertent Trademark infringement, Sega themselves were held responsible.


And this was back in 92-93 even!

Very, VERY good find earok! This should put people's worries to rest.

[earok]

cheers Akira

I talked to another friend about the CD32 trademark thing and we came up with a couple of ideas

- As has been already established, only the first 2048 bytes need to match, so what's after that could be anything (I think - may need to double check that)
- So we could add some text after the trademark with a standard disclaimer, eg, the Commodore trademark is only present in order for the game to boot, and that the game isn't endorsed or authorized by Commodore in any sense.

[Amiga1992]

Sounds good. Although I am not sure if that's 100% necessary, because you'd be modifying a file that you're not supposed to.

I think that starting from the fact that you cannot acquire a license anymore, this is kind of a moot cause. But this precedent helps and I hope people stop worrying about it.

[earok]

@Akira true that.. I don't know.

In any case Tanks Furry is out as freeware now, resolving the original issue. We'll be doing a sanctioned release on CD32.co.uk hopefully soon.