Sam Pettus (known as
The Scribe, the author of a tons of console listings and documentations), just sent us a message announcing is departure:
"As of today, I am discontinuing all of my emulation-related documents with the sole exception of the "Emulation: Right or Wrong?" article, aka the Emulation FAQ. This includes but is not limited to the SNES Chart, the SNES Software Source, the Genesis Game Guide, the Sega 8-bit Chart, and any updates I may have promised or contemplated on previously released or similar works such as the N64 Chart, the Sony PSX Chart, and the Comprehensive Sega 8-bit Software Guide, or anything else along these lines that I might have forgotten. This is not because one or more of the original vendors and/or their agents has "leaned" on me in any way, so to speak, but my continuing research into the legality of emulation has convinced me that to maintain these documents does not qualify for "fair use" protection under US 17 CFR 107. In accordance with such, I am promptly disposing of my emulation libraries and will no longer maintain my documents. I also deny permission for anyone else to resume and/or
maintain my documents in their current or a derivative form.
I have a real-world job and a real-world life to consider. Since it is almost inconceivable that I could legitimately purchase copies or obtain legitimate access to every single title that I have documented in the Nintendo, Sega, and Sony software libraries, it would be improper for me to continue reporting on them. It would be quite difficult as things stand for me to prove that this qualifies as "fair use," and I do not have deep enough pockets to do so. As such, even though it pains me to do this, I must discontinuing my active involvement in the emulation community. "Emulation: Right or Wrong?" will be my swan song for the emu scene, after which I shall move on. The water's just too deep for my liking."
I must admit his message is a bit disappointing, as his documents were still being updated a few days ago. For those who are wondering about what are the precise reasons for such a decision, Sam will be explaining them on his "Emulation: Right or Wrong" FAQ, which is being worked on.
While Sam is doing more researches about the legality of emulation and the work done on his documentations (which apparently worried him), he asked us to remove his listings and FAQs from the site. Until then, and if you are definitively abandonning them, I wish you the best for your other projects, Sam.
