The only statement I see floating around the internet on a regular basis is that making copies of your Wii games is illegal. Is this true? Can I copy Wii games? Yes and no, depending on your circumstances and the reasoning behind doing it. I’m going to explain different scenarios, which can get you into trouble, and which ones are perfectly fine.
First of all, I advise you to check the local copyright laws in your area, as they may differ from place to place. As of writing this article, in my area, these scenarios I provide are correct, some are legal and some are illegal, however things can and do change. So stay up to date and stay out of trouble.
I borrowed a drive from a friend and want to make a copy?
We have all been there many times. Your friend has such a good time that he doesn’t stop bragging about how great he is. Finally they complete it and lend it to you. Under the terms you do copy the Wii game and return the original disc immediately. In this situation this is illegal! Since you do not own the disc, you were not the original purchaser of the game. So this is against copyright laws and could get you into serious trouble. Tell your friend that you can borrow the game, but not copy it. You will just have to wait until you complete it to get it back. That is if he is willing to wait!
I just rented a video game from the game store, now I want to make a copy
I’ve seen this numerous times where people rent a new game they want for 2-3 days. Before having to return the disk, they decide to make a backup of it. Therefore, they will never have to rent this game again and also avoid paying the full price of the game. Again, this is illegal! You haven’t bought the game yourself and you risk getting into big trouble if you get caught. Do not do it!
I have a video game, but I want to make copies and give them to my friends/family.
This time, you check the correct box in terms of owning the game yourself. Yes, it is your personal game. However, it is not allowed to make copies and then distribute them for free! You may only create backup copies for personal use and not to provide to others. Your friends and family may pressure you to do this. But be strong and say no. Not worth the hefty fines if you get caught.
Can I copy my video game and then sell it for a profit?
No way! This is the worst thing you can do and it will get you into a lot of trouble. Yes, people do this, and yes, you can buy ripped games in some places. But it is illegal to copy games and distribute them for profit.
So what can I do?
You are allowed to backup and copy games for your personal use. This means that if you originally purchased the game, you can create a duplicate in case the master copy is damaged or lost. This is legal, but remember that you must not distribute or trade these copies!
