Abandonware

Abandonware describes software (usually games) whose copyright is no longer defended. This could be by intentional non-enforcement by its owners due to its age or obsolescence. sometimes this is because the copyright holder went out of business or died without transferring ownership, leaving no one to defend the copyright. Usually this means that abandonware is rather old.

Transfer of this software is still technically illegal (except in cases of owner dissulution or death) as the copyright is still in effect. Abandonware exchanges hands based on the presumption that the copyright holder is no longer making money on selling the games, or that the owner will not spend the time or money to enforce copyright.

Companies do sometimes voluntarily relinquish copyright, putting it into the public domain. Transfer of public domain software is perfectly legal, distinguishing it from abandonware.

The most common abandonware is old video games, either computer games or older console or arcade games that are played through Emulation?. Many of these games are more fun than newer games, so have gained a second life by being distributed through the internet. However, sometimes this conflicts with the owners. Atari games are commonly distributed throughout the internet based on the presumption that no longer would anyone buy a primitive Atari game. This presumption is false as cell phone manufacturers have bought the rights to use these games, which play quite nicely on newer programmable cell phones.

I am wont to put a link to abandonware sites as of course it is still illegal.