Retro gaming YouTuber Once Were Nerd faces major fines and jail time for reviewing gaming handhelds that ship with preloaded ROMs.

Retro gaming YouTuber Once Were Nerd faces major fines and jail time for reviewing gaming handhelds that ship with preloaded ROMs.

  • Perspectivist@feddit.ukEnglish
    75·
    4 days ago

    It’s a bit sensationalist to say someone “faces possible jail time” just because the maximum sentence for breaking a law is up to three years in prison. Also, he’s not being sued for reviewing handheld gaming devices - it’s about the ones shipped with copyrighted content.

    • AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      51·
      3 days ago

      Currently, officials contest that his reviews of ANBERNIC devices like the RG Slide, which often, but not always, ship with microSD cards filled with copyrighted ROMs, are punishable under Article 171 of the Italian Copyright Law. This law, which was originally written in 1941, allows for a maximum punishment of €15,000 (or 30 million Italian Lira, since the law pre-dates the Euro) and three years of jail time.

      They’re not even claiming he broke any copyright, just that the device he reviewed is often used in copyright violation. That’s like how the Spanish cops are currently suspecting anybody using the Pixel of being a drug dealer.

      And that random not-even-actually-breaking-a-law is enough for them to shut down his channel and threaten his livelihood.