Abandonware

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Abandonware is a term for software, typically computer or video games, that are no longer for sale by conventional means, or supported by the creator. In many cases the abandoned software was distributed by websites, such as warez, for free. The use of the "abandonware" term is controversial, as distributing out of print software and games is still considered software piracy, and their copyright is not actually abandoned. Some publishers actively file Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedowns of abandonware and defend its copyright, while others do not. Meanwhile, some video game historians believe that this distribution is justified to preserve history given the lack of viable alternatives.

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