So, I was recently checking the status of RomUniverse, a place where pirated games are once hosted. Mathew Storman… who ran this website has been ordered to remove or destroy ALL of these Unauthorized copies of Nintendo’s work, such as: games, books, movies, TV programs, music, and other types of work. Also, what I’ve learned from Mathew’s bad choice; he did NOT obtain licensing from Nintendo and other companies, or made his own games from scratch. Despite being some sort of a software developer of some kind; he made one bad choice by NOT making his own games from scratch, or develop his own gaming console. This is one example of being lazy when creating interesting and unique content.
Now, RomUniverse is gone! But Mathew Storman isn’t able to run the another website. If he did, and he want to host games to play; he must make his own games, or obtain licensing from other developers (except for Nintendo). I prefer to make my own games, or find an open-source game to remix,–after checking licensing associated with an open-source game.
Why Did RomUniverse Made A Bad Choice?
Mathew, a site owner has used this unpopular practice: do this… ask questions later, just like an Amazonian wide mouth frog in South America. Even if he owned a website; he still need to use common sense when creating content, or use someone’s content with their permission, and pay relevant royalties and licensing fees. However; he didn’t use use common sense when handling copyrighted works.
The owner has made a bad choice, violated copyright. He messed with Nintendo’s work so bad; he was “bombed” with a lawsuit, failed to make a payment to Nintendo, and he faced an injunction indefinitely. And once Mr. Storman faces a permanent injunction; he is banned from Nintendo for good. He isn’t able to visit Super Nintendo World either.
Selling access to pirated games via a subscription is one thing what RomUniverse has done wrong. This kind of piracy what he has done has resulted him facing lawsuits.
The Takedown
RomUniverse is now gone for good! However; the court order continues to prevail. However; Mathew Storman can still find a relevant job, but Nintendo reserves the right to garnish his wages, to force him to pay damages that are unpaid. Although; me… as a person heading back to game development myself; I will NOT do the same what this guy does. If he starts his coding career from scratch; and makes his own games; he can’t get his site back, but start a new one with ONLY his own work what he made himself. If he did that; his earnings are still going to be seized by Nintendo. However; he can’t publish his games to Nintendo at all… due to an injunction against him. According to Torrent Freak; Mathew was sued by Nintendo for mass copyright infringement! This bad choice still haunts him.
I never heard of a site owner like this making this bad choice before, but that provides me an educational sense about why you should create interesting and unique content. I was amazed when RomUniverse is finally taken down. I think Nintendo is going to put this site to good use, or I can put it to good use by only offering my own games to play,–capable of being flashed on cartridges for a cartridge-based computer system. However; I don’t have any advanced skills of making my own gaming console just yet. I need to learn a coding language, C first and take my time. Eventually, I’ll study C++ in the future, or find a similar person to work with to develop games and a console of dream.
What I forgot to mention: Mathew Storman is prohibited from reopening his website altogether, I think his domain has been seized, and his hosting account has been terminated.
What You Should Do?
Always create your own games.
Don’t be lazy obtaining licensing to reuse anyone’s work.
Don’t be like this man.
Avoid possible traps that can lead you to piracy.