If, at least, Nintendo decided to use an outside NES ROM file format (instead of developing their own), it makes you wonder if they took any similar shortcuts on the actual emulation software.
Has anyone tried to do an analysis of the Virtual Console emulator to see if there are any open source license violations?
Assuming Nintendo did dump their own cart internally, then why use a 'pirate' file format from 1996? Why not spend a day or two developing a format that helps encapsulate VC needs, instead of an ancient format from the days of DOS?
It makes me wonder if they use that format because they are also using someone else's emulator internally.
We've seen game companies do it time and time again -- packaging someone else's ROM dump of their game (arguable on legality/morality) and someone else's open-source emulator (totally illegal and immoral without following the license provisions) and selling the game at retail.