logo
Here's why that embattled retro gaming YouTuber might not be so innocent

Here's why that embattled retro gaming YouTuber might not be so innocent

TL;DR Embattled retro gaming YouTuber Once Were Nerd left out key incriminating details in his initial video.
Earlier videos uploaded to the channel link to blog posts sharing ROM and BIOS downloads.
He may have also sold consoles, with ROMs, on the secondhand market via Facebook.
Creating emulation-focused content online is risky business, since the entire industry is filled with legal gray areas. Italian YouTuber Once Were Nerd found this out the hard way, with authorities seizing dozens of consoles and threatening jail time for sharing copyrighted content.
While his initial response video proclaimed innocence, new details have come to light that tell a different story. While the creater never explicitly shared ROMs, he may have played a little too fast and loose for his own good.
In a video posted in January, Once Were Nerd creator Francesco Salicini ran through the steps to set up a new emulation handheld (h/t Monto Tech). While he clearly wants to avoid giving details on YouTube, he links to a blog post on his website with the text 'Where to find ROMs' in the description. The link to the blog post has since been removed, but it's still visible in the Wayback machine (translated below).
That blog post (which is still live as of writing) links to websites with ROM and BIOS downloads, both of which are protected by copyright. The post does include a disclaimer asking readers to only download ROMs for games they legally own, but this is a very thin legal defense.
The video also recommends buying a handheld that ships with a microSD card filled with ROMs, then copying those ROMs to your other gaming handhelds.
In addition to this, users on the RetroAchievements forums uncovered that he was auctioning used handhelds on his Facebook page. These included the original microSD cards filled with games, which refutes his initial claims that he did not share or profit from copyrighted material.
Still, it's worth pointing out that all of these handhelds are readily available to buy on Amazon. Handing down jail time to a YouTuber for a relatively minor offense while ignoring the retailers and middlemen who are actively profiting off of selling copyrighted materials isn't a great precedent to set for content creators in the future.
Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at
Email our staff at news@androidauthority.com . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Linfield fined 12,000 euro after Shelbourne game
Linfield fined 12,000 euro after Shelbourne game

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Linfield fined 12,000 euro after Shelbourne game

Linfield have been fined 12,000 euro by Uefa for two separate incidents in their Champions League qualifier with Shelbourne. The incidents occurred in the second leg against the League of Ireland Premier Division champions at Windsor Park on 16 July. The Irish Premiership champions have been handed a 10,000 euro fine for "racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of its supporters". The Blues have also been handed a partial stadium ban for their next European ban, which is suspended for two years. In addition to that sanction, a further fine of 2,000 euro has been imposed on the club for the lighting of fireworks in the stadium. The game finished 1-1 in Belfast but Shelbourne progressed 2-1 on aggregate. Linfield, who face Zalgiris in Uefa Conference League qualifying at 17:00 BST, have been contacted for a response.

Hungary bans Irish rap group Kneecap from entering country over 'antisemitic hate speech'
Hungary bans Irish rap group Kneecap from entering country over 'antisemitic hate speech'

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Hungary bans Irish rap group Kneecap from entering country over 'antisemitic hate speech'

Hungarian authorities have banned the Irish rap group Kneecap from entering the country, accusing them of engaging in "antisemitic hate speech" and "supporting terrorism". Kneecap were set to perform at the Sziget Festival, taking place from 6 to 11 August in Budapest. The Belfast-based band, which often shares pro-Palestinian messages during its shows, has attracted controversy in recent months after accusing the Israeli government of committing "genocide" in Gaza. Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said on Thursday that the band's members "repeatedly engage in antisemitic hate speech supporting terrorism and terrorist groups". "Hungary has zero tolerance for antisemitism in any form," Kovacs said in a post on X, adding that the band's planned performance "posed a national security threat," and the band has therefore been formally banned from entering Hungary for three years. "If they enter, expulsion will follow under international norms," Kovacs added. Responding to the spokesman's comments, Kneecap said "there is no legal basis" for Hungary's decision and that "no member of Kneecap has ever been convicted of any crime in any country". "It is clear that this is a political distraction and a further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people," the band said in a statement on X. During Kneecap's gig at Britain's Glastonbury Festival in June, frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, performing under the stage name Mo Chara, accused Israel of war crimes in Gaza. Ahead of the gig, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he doesn't think Kneecap's planned performance was "appropriate". Following Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury, a criminal investigation was launched into comments made on stage by the trio. However, police ultimately decided not to pursue further action, citing "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence". Kneecap called the investigation "political policing intimidation". Mo Chara has been formally charged with a terrorism offence after allegedly displaying a flag in support of the militant group Hezbollah during a gig in November. He denies the offence. Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UK and the US.

LA Times Today: Undocumented workers power L.A.'s restaurants. Will the industry protect them?
LA Times Today: Undocumented workers power L.A.'s restaurants. Will the industry protect them?

Los Angeles Times

timean hour ago

  • Los Angeles Times

LA Times Today: Undocumented workers power L.A.'s restaurants. Will the industry protect them?

A chaotic scene outside of a San Diego Italian restaurant was seen back in May as ICE agents clashed with angry protesters following an immigration raid. L.A.'s restaurants are now facing similar actions as immigration agents sweep the anxiety grips many corners of the city, restaurateurs face a new challenge, empty dining rooms and undocumented workers afraid to show up. L.A. Times staff writer Marie Sanford joined Lisa McRee with more

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store