Posted by RoarCade on 27, 2000 at 12:30 PM:
In Reply to: can I charge people to play? posted by bill connolly on 27, 2000 at 7:54 AM:
: If I buy an old arcade cabinet and get it working again, can I legally charge people to play? Do I owe any royalties to the game manufacturer or can I keep all profits?
I would say it depends on where you put it. Whatever you do in your own home is your own business (I wouldn't advertise on light poles in the neighborhood though). IF it's an original, restored game, it's your to do as you wish.
If you put it in a public place that changes things.
Here's a question:
1. In the privacy of your own home, can you charge for an emulation machine (quarters) with friends?
2. If you plug a Playstation or N64 console in there and interface the controls, can you charge to "rent" time to play "for the experience of an arcade machine?"
3. Playstation emulator, same question, since you BOUGHT the game their playing and OWN it?
Can you charge people for playing your regualr PS or N64 or anything else for that matter?
All this providing it's all done in the privacy of your own home?