Dec 10
12
How Do You Backup Nintendo Wii Games Legally?
Most users that have purchased a Nintendo Wii are curious to learn how to copy Wii games. Once they find out, the next concern is “Is it lawful to rip games?”
Now, for that second question, the answer is indubitably a “Yes.” There is no question that it is legal to make copies of your Wii games. There are some caveats, though, making the long answer to that question a bit more complex. I’ll talk about that next.
There’s been much debate over the years, but the answer is found in the Fair Use Act, which in a nutshell says that people are legally able to copy, rip, burn, backup, or whatever you want to call it, if the user are the purchaser of the master disc. This includes music, games, and movies and all other forms of media.
As a matter of fact, many experts encourage end users to rip their optical media as soon as they can after they purchase it. This is because optical media is fragile, and it’s important to have a backup copy in case anything happens to the original that was purchased. The user can then use the copy on an everyday basis, while putting the original up for safe-keeping. The bottom line is that there is no legal penalty for backing up games. The feds are not going to come a-knocking and take you to Guantanamo just for making backups.
However, there is an issue that you need to be aware of when learning how to copy wii games. You can’t just copy a game with Windows Media Player. You need to use a special program that can get past the copywrite protections from the manufacturer. Game companies put encryptions on games to try and keep you from making backups so that you’ll have to buy a replacement when the original fails.
Game makers are within their legal rights to encrypt their games. But you are just as much within your legal rights to de-encrypt them.
So, since not everyone is an encryption master, a few software companies have put applications together that can help you to get past the encryption and rip your games with the click of a couple buttons.
Before you buy any de-encryption software, make sure you check the author’s excellent free report on how to copy wii games, and how to copy wii games lawfully.. This article, How Do You Backup Nintendo Wii Games Legally? is released under a creative commons attribution license.
