MAME license vs game ROM rights: what each permission covers
MAME's code license covers MAME code under its stated terms; it does not license third-party game data. For each game, require a separate first-party rights source and scope. A title on MAMEdev's free-ROM pages is free for the stated non-commercial use and restricted to the approved host, not automatically public domain or mirrorable.
Do this in order
- 01
Identify whether the item is emulator code, a compiled emulator, game ROM, BIOS/device data, CHD, artwork, audio, or documentation.
- 02
Open the first-party license or rights-holder page for that exact item and release.
- 03
Record allowed use, redistribution, modification, commercial scope, approved host, and review date.
- 04
Treat missing or unclear game-data permission as no redistribution permission.
- 05
Link to an approved official download page when its terms restrict hosting; do not mirror the file.
- 06
Keep the rights receipt beside a separate technical compatibility record and recheck before publication.
Decision and diagnostic table
| Item | Permission evidence | Do not infer |
|---|---|---|
| MAME source/binary | MAME licensing terms and included notices | Rights to any game |
| Commercial game data | Rights-holder authorization | Abandonware permission |
| MAMEdev free download | Individual official page and stated scope | Public domain or mirroring |
| Open-source game | License covering code and every asset | Code license covers all art/audio |
Compatibility and permission are independent
A perfect MAME audit proves bytes match the target definition; it says nothing about the right to possess, publish, or redistribute them.
Free is a scope, not a copyright status
MAMEdev's Free Download index says its listed titles were released for free non-commercial use and approved for distribution on MAMEdev's site. Preserve that host boundary.
This workflow is a conservative publication check, not legal advice. When the rights holder, scope, or approved host is unclear, do not host or redistribute the file.