Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- polybrew:policies [2024/08/22 12:50] – created asie
+++ polybrew:policies [2024/08/22 17:25] (current) – asie
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
   * Non-commercial ROMs created by hobbyists and distributed online free of charge are the most typical variant of homebrew, and are obviously in scope.
-  * Commercial releases distributed in specialist/hobby spaces, which do not masquerade as official cartridges, are in scope. However, without author permission,
+  * Commercial releases distributed in specialist/hobby spaces, which do not masquerade as official cartridges, are in scope.
   * Software created for official hobbyist development kits is in scope provided that such a mode of distribution is distinct from official licensing. For example, Net Yaroze software is in scope, but GP2X software is out of scope.
+  * Software created for microcomputers is generally not in scope - on such platforms, commercial and hobbyist developers were generally on equal footing, so it's much trickier to reason about scope.
   * ROM hacks, as not wholly original works, are not in scope. There are other, better spaces dedicated to indexing them. (However, original fan games are in scope.)
   * Tools which are homebrew, but serve the sole purpose of interacting with the world of licensed software - for example, save editors - are in a grey area.
@@ Line 27: / Line 28: @@
 While it is Polybrew's goal to document as many homebrew works as possible, it is not Polybrew's goal to make them available for download.
-In general, homebrew which is known to have been distributed //gratis// is likely to be available to download via Polybrew. However, official download sites are preferred. Conversely, commercial homebrew (currently being sold and/or never made available //gratis//) will not be made available to download via Polybrew, even if unauthorized download sources exist for such files.
+If an official download source exists for a given homebrew program, it should always be linked first.
+Absent an official download location, homebrew which is known to have been distributed //gratis// and is not known to contain infringing material is likely to be available to download via links to platforms like the Internet Archive.
+Conversely, commercial homebrew (currently being sold and/or never made available //gratis//) will not be made available to download via Polybrew, even if unauthorized download sources exist for such files.