Is it legal to modify video games for commercial use?
In the State of California, it is generally illegal to modify video games for commercial use. This is based on the premise of copyright infringement. According to California Code, Section 980(a)(2), it is illegal to make a copy of a copyrighted work for commercial benefit without having the permission of the copyright owner. This would include modifying a video game for commercial use. It is also important to note that modifying video games for commercial use also makes the modification a derivative work which is also subject to copyright law. Any unauthorized derivative work of a copyrighted work is illegal. Moreover, California has enacted anti-circumvention laws that make it illegal to circumvent or break any digital rights management policies that the original video game may have. These policies are designed to protect the copyright owner from unauthorized copies of the game. Breaking or circumventing these policies could result in legal action being taken against the individual who made the modifications. In short, it is generally illegal to modify video games for commercial use in the State of California. Doing so could result in the individual who made the modifications being subject to copyright law and anti-circumvention laws. Therefore, it is important to make sure you are in compliance with these laws before attempting to modify video games for commercial use.
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