Hacker News Reader

jsd1982

> Reverse engineering of machine code is generally forbidden except for very specific exemptions, like compatibility with other systems

Reverse engineering is generally legal in the US, except in cases where a EULA expressly forbids it. Since n64 titles are not covered by EULAs, to the best of my knowledge, reverse engineering them is perfectly legal. Distribution of such results however may not be.

View on HN

Legality requires to be tested in court. Until it is, anything is technically neither legal nor illegal unless you opt to not contest it in court when exerted by other parties.

Good to know. Perhaps the US law makes more sense here, because banning reverse engineering by itself is not really enforceable.

For Europe there is the EU Directive 2009/24/EC, and I think I remember reading something almost like that predating it by many years in some country's (possibly mine) legislation.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com