Use the official Side Trak MAME ROM legally and keep a compatibility receipt
Use only MAMEdev's Side Trak page, acknowledge the non-commercial condition there, and do not mirror or bundle its ROM images. Record the page date and downloaded artifact hash, then identify the target MAME short name and run that exact build's audit. The official page's heading says Side Trak while its permission sentence refers to Side Trax; preserve the page and artifact identity rather than silently normalizing the source record.
Do this in order
- 01
Open MAMEdev's Side Trak page directly and record the page URL, displayed title, rights acknowledgement, non-commercial scope, and review date.
- 02
Accept the acknowledgement only if your intended use is non-commercial; do not bypass the page or copy its direct file URL.
- 03
Download from that page for your own allowed use and record the artifact filename, size, and checksum without uploading it to ArcadeShelf.
- 04
Record the exact emulator or core revision and obtain the machine short name from that build rather than guessing from the display title.
- 05
Run the target build's audit and classify any missing or incorrect parent, device, ROM, or other dependency separately from permission.
- 06
Keep the rights receipt and compatibility receipt together, and send future users to the official page rather than redistributing your copy.
Decision and diagnostic table
| Evidence | What it establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Official Side Trak page | Free non-commercial use and approved source | Public domain or third-party hosting |
| MAMEdev ROM index note | Distribution is approved on that site only | Bundling with an app or cabinet |
| Artifact hash | Identity of the file you received | Rights or compatibility |
| Target-build audit | Data match for that MAME definition | Permission to redistribute |
The official page is part of the permission path
MAMEdev states that free ROMs on its index are approved for distribution on that site only. Linking to the exact page preserves the acknowledgement and current terms; mirroring the bytes would remove that context and exceed ArcadeShelf's boundary.
Preserve the source's naming evidence
The page heading and catalog use Side Trak, while the permission sentence says Side Trax. Record what the first-party page actually presents and use the target build's short name for technical commands. A spelling choice is not evidence of file identity.
Rights and compatibility remain independent
The non-commercial release answers who may use the official artifact and within what scope. A MAME audit answers whether bytes satisfy one build's definition. Neither receipt can replace the other.
Side Trak is available for free non-commercial use from its MAMEdev page, but it is not public domain and MAMEdev limits approved distribution to that site. ArcadeShelf must link to the page and must not host, bundle, mirror, or resell the ROM images.