Frank Cifaldi condemns the remote game-research access decision
Frank CifaldiFounder and director of the Video Game History Foundation
Cifaldi says the decision favors a weak industry argument over citizens' needs.
“This fails the needs of citizens in favor of a weak sauce argument from the industry, and it's really disappointing.”
Original post
Where this statement fits
Copyright Office rejects a remote research-access exemption for preserved video games
The 2024 copyright review rejected a proposed exemption for remote research access to preserved video games. Preservation advocates argue that screened access is needed for scholarship. ESA supports the decision and argues that the proposal did not adequately protect copyright interests.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Frank Cifaldi's post comments on rejecting expanded controlled remote research access to preserved video games. The post was published in October 2024.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Cifaldi says he is proud of the effort by his organization and its partners to change copyright law and cannot see what more they could have done.
After the quotation
The accompanying quoted VGHF post links to the foundation's statement.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to the decision to refuse remote research access, Cifaldi says it fails citizens in favor of a weak industry argument.
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More from this case
Read the full caseKendra Albert criticizes the evidence assessment in the game-preservation decision
“I do believe we made the best case we could that scholarly access to video games *that are not commercially available* does not harm the market. I do not believe that this evidence was seriously engaged with by the Copyright Office.”Read statement
VGHF criticizes the Copyright Office's decision on remote research access
Video Game History Foundation
“Unfortunately, lobbying efforts by rightsholder groups continue to hold back progress.”Read statement
ESA welcomes the Copyright Office's 2024 video-game preservation decision
Entertainment Software Association
“the U.S. Copyright Office confirms that the current level of video game preservation is appropriate”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Frank Cifaldi condemns the remote game-research access decision". First published: 2026-10-21. Last updated: 2026-10-21. https://disputeindex.com/events/6373-cifaldi-says-the-decision-favors-a-weak-industry