An abandonware (or "abandoned software" in French) is a game for which the publishers or legitimate producers no longer provide the sale or the after-sales service for a long time. These games being abandoned, they are no longer a lucrative source for their authors.
A site offering abandonware games must be completely free, that is to say that no monetary contribution is necessary to download a game.
The webmaster of an abandonware site must undertake to withdraw a game if he discovers that he has committed an error in judgment in considering it to be abandoned, or in the event that a person having rights to the game him would request it.
The games remain the full property of their authors for a period of 70 years.