ROM/Emulation website?

As a web designer, I have been thinking about a new project, and one of my ideas was to create a website that would allow people to download ROM's and emulators to be able to play retro video games (such as Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, etc, nothing new like PS3) on your computer. I see other websites that do this and are getting away with it (despite what this says: | Nintendo - Corporate Information | Legal Information (Copyrights, Emulators, ROMs, etc.)) but I know it doesn't mean that it's right.

I'm only looking to list console games from the 80's and 90's. Should I just do it anyway?

The site owners may have permission and not mentioning this on their websites. Ask permission, its just professional courtesy to obey International law regarding copyright. I always do so on my websites.

Thanks, but I just remembered that Nintendo is still making money on some of their old games with the Virtual Console, so me putting them up for free could end up costing them money. How would I ask for permission to do this?

I think its a cool idea. But just remember that some of these sites might have their servers and ect in other countries like Russia. Who's copyright laws aren't very strict. Nintendo might not let them do this, they are just having a hard time getting a case together.

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Originally Posted by dakotahnok

I think its a cool idea. But just remember that some of these sites might have their servers and ect in other countries like Russia. Who's copyright laws aren't very strict. Nintendo might not let them do this, they are just having a hard time getting a case together.

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I checked possibly one of the biggest ROM communities (http://coolrom.com) and it looks like the site is being hosted with GoDaddy (http://whois.net/whois/coolrom.com). They don't list games from recent generations like PS2, PS3, Xbox, Wii, etc so maybe it's possible that the game companies don't care about the older games?