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This is never a debate among ROM hackers really, but I just want to discuss this because it's an interesting question:
We all know we're "stealing" copyrighted material in the form of Pokemon (and, for the Fire Emblem community, for example, they are "stealing" assets from FE games), so I have a question. If it is true that there is there a sort of honor-among-thieves type of ordeal where we implicitly acknowledge we can't steal another creator's work despite them "stealing" themselves? In other words, what's stopping me from modifying Pokemon Snakewood or Pokemon Light Platinum or Pokemon Life of Guardians? Most people would say that's in "poor taste" yet isn't it in "poor taste" to infringe upon copyright laws?
This popped up on the Fire Emblem ROM Hacking community a few years ago, when some ROM Hackers noticed Fe7if was stealing artwork/assets from content creators on the Western side of things.
What are your guys' thoughts? Is this a legitimate question? Is there a double standard in place?