I mean, I'd like games to be available, but I don't see archive.org's legal basis for providing it. I mean, the stuff is copyrighted. Lack of commercial availability doesn't change that.
Yeah, some abandonware sites might try to just fly under the radar, and some rightsholders might just not care, might not be much value there. But once you're in a situation where a publisher is fighting a legal battle with you, you're clearly not trying that route.
You can argue that copyright law should be revised. Maybe copyright on video games should be shorter or something. Maybe there should be some provision that if a product isn't offered for sale for longer than a certain period of time, copyright goes away. But I don't think that this is the route to get that done.
Legal doesnt mean correct. Slavery used to be legal.
Copyright is a broken system that gives giant corporations the power to hold art ransom. There is no argument that holds up against art being preserved.
So no, copyright might have had use in the past but by now it is morally sound to pirate.
Maybe copyright on video games should be shorter or something. Maybe there should be some provision that if a product isn't offered for sale for longer than a certain period of time, copyright goes away. But I don't think that this is the route to get that done.
This person is playing devils advocate imo. Either they are very interested in law and facts and not much in justice or they‘re low level trolling. I cant say and I dont want to accuse them so I‘ll go with the former.
It is completely obvious imo that the IP scam is going rampant and companies are finding new ways to abuse customers every day, although the governments worldwide are pushing back (finally).
Still, stating it like this shows they could not care less and the lack of compassion with people who feel strongly about freedom and equality rubs me the wrong way.