I have discovered there are websites which allow users to play old console games using java-coded emulators. They were told to cease in 2008–at which point they got rid of all the games which they don’t have physical cartridges for.
Apparently, this satisfied the people who told them to stop–as the site continues to operate.
They claim they are legal because they are simply acting as a lending library.
I’m dubious, because they’re lending use of the software to more than one person at a time, which you can’t do with a physical cartridge.
Yet, it’s true that they were challenged, did actually do something in response (getting rid of games they have no cartridge for) and were subsequently not challenged further, which would seem to suggest they have at least one legal leg to stand on.
Anything you can say to apprise me of relevant facts here?