Retropie distribution work around?
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Hi Good day,
Just joined the forums after reading around a bit and find most people are very rude and will ignore the legal issues just to make a quick but from the software, I couldn't find any reasonable questions or answers to the vast majority and excuse me if I didn't come across them from my limited search (I won't lie :P)
I understand it is not legal to offer this product as part of a package but from what I understand from previous posts is it is ok to make note that it is an OS available for the system correct?
My real question if I understand all the legal matters so far is would it still be illegal to offer the Pi with the options of the Retropie and to offer install assistance to a client say once the product has been delivered and installed at the residence?
Installing any Legal OS on site for the client would be something I offer but I am checking the legality of each one before doing so, This is not to say the package is taken to the clients house in any way, what we do is say mount it to the rear of their TV or under their Bar and then assist with setup and configuration of Retropie by downloading and installing it on site.
I am not trying to work around any legal issues here I am just trying to assist people who would be interested in using the Pi for this reason and if I would be able to assist them (No Charge for OS installs by the way only for the actual SD card) or if I should make a note to clients that retropie will need a bit of a technical hand while installing at the home and as stated in the legal and contact section just place a link and maybe a walkthrough video to assist those who might consider it but not have a technical hand available?
No Rom and No Bios are ever offered to the clients as I am doing all in my power to be 100% law compliant and No actual software is transported by myself all of the scripts and installing is run on clients internet and devices on the clients property and only if the client needs the assistance.
Sorry for the long read and thanks for looking at the issue presented by me! Looking forward to reading the reply :) Cheers!
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Are you saying you are charging people to take the pieces of retropie and finish building it? This sounds like it would be fine as you are still using the software and giving credit to the original creators. I would ask an admin just to be sure however. This seems more like a case of laziness as setting up a pi shouldn't be that difficult and with the numerous amount of free videos and guides most people should be able to set up retropie on their own.
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@phagex said in Retropie distribution work around?:
I am not trying to work around any legal issues here I am just trying to assist people who would be interested in using the Pi for this reason and if I would be able to assist them (No Charge for OS installs by the way only for the actual SD card)
so what's in it for you? i'm trying to understand your business here. someone pays you the cost of an SD card and you come around and attach a pi to their tv and install retropie onto their sd card? :)
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@dankcushions No Stress I understand, It's basically more a call out IT assistance company but I intend to offer to install hardware for clients that are wanting to rather than have an entire desktop PC behind a Bar to just Run their Youtube or Other Online services or Install a Raspberri into a car seat and plug in a USB DVD drive to be used as an Alternative to the available car DVD models as it offers Internet connections too and depending on the family maybe even some small lan based games for the back seat, even installing one behind their TV in the lounge to be used as a media center to stream media from the main PC.. many many ideas.. One thing some clients would be interested in would be having the retropie say like also hidden behind their main lounge TV and one in the guest room that is also used for Media and so on and so on.. Retropie is not an offering and not even the highlight to anything my company will offer simple an option available (If I am able) to be able to assist the client to set it up and make note it cane be used for such means if the client desires. I also noted the Heading of this Topic does not help much :) made sense in my head at the time. and basically what Afunnyname said is true. I just want to take what they purchased and install and configure it for them on their own property using their own internet and so on but to be able to show it as a possible usage of the Pi.
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@afunnyname thanks bud it does sound pretty legit right? But I do want to make 100000% sure cause I am doing everything as legal as possible with room for human error ofc, this will be my first forte into my own company :) and I am from South Africa.. I love my country but some people here want something and know how they want it but can not be arsed to figure it out or are so far behind in the modern world asking them to figure it out would honestly be like me asking you do map some DNA or something equally technical and specialist. So yeah to guys like us it's like opening a bag of chips, only a person with real problems can't manage but to these folks here in S.A it's like literal Rocket science!
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I'm no lawyer, but if you're not charging for the installation, and if you're not charging a premium on the pi by selling it with the promise of an installed OS (which could feel like bundling RetroPie and the pi for a single price), and if you're not distributing SD cards with it (or, once again, selling it at a premium because of the implicit OS installation), I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with it, unless I'm missing something obvious.
That being said, outside of the legality of it, I certainly would expect that if someone asks you to install RetroPie for them, but didn't go through the process themselves, might then run into problems when trying to set it up themselves (Roms, configurations, etc). That might result in work for you that may not be adequate - installing Roms, etc., or pointing them towards illegal resources would certainly not be something that we'd encourage. So even if you move past the first barrier there, you would need to think how to tackle that.
But I'm sure other, more informed members may shed some more light or perspective on this.
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The licence of some components forbids commercial usage including giving the software away with a commercial product etc.
I can't say for sure if your usage would constitute a breach, but I wouldn't encourage/support it. If they can't write an image I would assume they are unable to install roms/bios too, so not sure the use?
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I'd have to agree with @BuZz if they lack the competence to set it up in the first place it's just setting them up to fail when it breaks assuming they can even get it running in the first place. The software is best left to the user to sort themselves so they can maintain it when it breaks.
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@pjft honestly a good thought you put in there though and I had not considered it at all.. I am happy to assist installing the Retropie but I refuse to assist with roms.... But I never considered someone who wouldn't even be able to install Retropie could actually manage roms by themselves and it would probably be requested of me and I would have to decline, Off the top of my head I could explain how... It's a very valid point I will consider deeply and honestly thanks for bringing it to my attention!
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@herb_fargus I read what he said before reading yours and indeed it was something I did not consider, read my reply to him. I understand the situation in that regards and will put some thought into it. I don't want a premium or nothing for offering retropie and such I simple wanted to be able to assist clients and bring to their attention it is a possibility, I would like to still do it in some way cause at heart I am a gamer but before I do I'll consider the matter with the new line of logic you guys pointed out and I'll get back to you if I think of anything worth discussing or consideration. off subject you guys are super awesome for the assistance and even considering my matter. Will chat soon but for now I'll just make mention it is a possible usage and make links to the retropie site with a few instructions but I will also make it clear on the site that for now no assistance with installation and configuration is given with any retropie software.
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@buzz Thanks so much for even looking at this the other Admin and a user gave some great and logical points of view and I do need to consider. In no way do I want to slip around any legal matters I was just trying to understand what could and could not be offered in a service sense but I actually agree with their posts and as mentioned to Herb_Fargus I will rather link to the site and maybe offer a tutorial video or just a basic instructions and not offer assistance with it but make not it is a possible way to utilize the hardware. You guys are great and if I have any other question I'll make sure to shoot them the way of the forums :)
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@buzz I Feel like I'm spamming, sorry about that. I had an idea crop up and running it past for consideration. Could I create a leaflet with some screenshot and instructions with links and credits and such in it and distribute it with any package I sell regardless of persons intent for the Pi or complete project they purchase? If you guys have your won I could simplify and print with credits too that would also suffice nicely. From there a disclaimer on the leaflet and the website will also state no games are provided and no assistance with retrieving roms in any form? Could this be an acceptable method of providing the knowledge of Retropie to the client and as a highlight to the packages versatility without infringing on anyone?
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@phagex of course. Thanks for being open and honest.
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