December 7: A day that will live in infamy

Tsushima Masaki · Post by **Tsushima Masaki** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 6:30 pm

I'm not sure where I should put this but since it has to do with anime and fansubbing... I'll post the link here.

The letter that may change the world of fansubbing

The nuts and bolts of it is that a JAPANESE anime company sent a cease and desist notice to AnimeSuki. How will this impact the way the fansub world works? Will other Japanese companies follow suit? Was this a conspiracy instigated by American Licensing companies? Yes, so many questions, so many people panicking, so many people not panicking.

All I have to say is... I NEED A CUSHY DESK JOB FAST, because I need to buy anime. Now if only some companies could turn the QC up several notches.

Here's a related article about Japanese citizens facing sentences for aiding piracy.

So what does everyone else think? I was shocked at first... but... well I don't know. I'll just have to wait and see.

Post by **Taurec** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 7:20 pm

Well this will bite them in the ass ... they just haven't realised it.

there is no way in hell i would pay for a anime if i wasn't 100% sure it's worth my hard earned cash.

Avlor · Post by **Avlor** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:58 pm

Ditto what Tau said. I do buy the truely worth while anime and manga series as I can afford them. This makes me sad. Fansubs are such an awesome way to advertize - FOR FREE ADVERTIZEMENT.

Circle · Post by **Circle** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:59 pm

I'm a pirate, through and through.

Only times when I'll offer small payments for DVD and manga is if I really feel I should pay my past dues. As to date, that's 2 anime DVDs and 7 vols of manga.

I feel more guilty about spending my parents' money than stealing from people I don't know.

WF's not gonna stop School Rumble so I'm still happy =).

mika · Post by **mika** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:17 am

Taurec wrote: there is no way in hell i would pay for a anime if i wasn't 100% sure it's worth my hard earned cash.

ditto

Noir · Post by **Noir** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:54 am

I have very little money to spend on anime and manga I make sure if i am going to buy anime and manga that is worth my money

I agree with Avlor and Taurec

I Hope this is not the beging of the end of fansubs

Arx-7 Arbalest · Post by **Arx-7 Arbalest** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 3:48 pm

well normally i would watch part of a series and then see whether to get the dvd..

cultnirvana · Post by **cultnirvana** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 6:17 pm

Arx-7 Arbalest wrote:well normally i would watch part of a series and then see whether to get the dvd..

Same as me. I mean, if you love anime then you should support it by putting some money back into it.

But if they get rid of fansubs, more people will buy bootlegs, many of which are produced under what most would consider slave labour conditions and put money back into illegal organisations.

But has anyone noticed that a number of fansub sites are either down today?

Mal · Post by **Mal** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 9:29 pm

Taurec wrote:Well this will bite them in the ass ... they just haven't realised it.

I'm going to have to disagree here. This is a Japanese company, so unless you buy the Japanese/R2 DVDs of a series, the people this is going to bite in the ass aren't the Japanese companies like Media Factory, but the companies that release anime domestically where you live. Because really, once the licensers pay the licensing fee, it's not like the Japanese companies are going to see a significant amount of more money from people over seas.

While it may effect Japanese sales a bit, there it's more of an issue akin to downloading already licensed stuff overseas. There's not really much of a grey area there. After all, they can watch these shows as they air on television in Japan to decide whether or not they like them, so that's not a valid excuse on their end.

That said, this kinda sucks. I really do hope other companies don't follow Media Factory's example.

Post by **Taurec** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 9:56 pm

I know most of the anime is strictly for R2 release but i'm not talking soley about Media Factory Inc

Some of the R1 production companies gave financial support while creating anime that also was destined for R1 release.

So if a R1 based production company for example would license one of the MFI titles .. they have the risk to lose cash on that venture and with a growing R1 market it's not a wise course of action.
Especially not now that it seems that japanese anime companies could need some extra cash.

Noir · Post by **Noir** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 6:59 pm

I here that some fansubers are fighting back ANN link http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/

Circle · Post by **Circle** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 8:45 pm

These announcements just make School Rumble and WF more famous and more demanded. :p

I wish there are more groups doing School Rumble though.

Rhysande · Post by **Rhysande** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 11:35 pm

I hope that companies such as Media Factory, Inc. will come to realize that it is because I have seen an anime series, in part or in full, that I decide to make my purchase when the series is licenced and distributed. As Av said, the fansubs are a wonderful free source of advertizement, especially for those of us who hate the dubbed versions that are aired on television. Don't most people decide to make their DVD purchases in this way? They see a movie in the theater, rent it at a local video store, or watch a series on television, then buy the DVD if they think it was something they would be willing to watch again. Look at the sales of series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Star Trek, Babylon 5, Farscape and others. Fans of these series may have recorded the show when it was broadcast, but they are still purchasing the DVDs.

I am very willing to do my part to support the anime industry, but I would prefer to see what I am getting before I plunk down my cash - especially when some of the series are priced at $10.00/episode. Making purchases based upon the reviews of others is too risky when tastes vary as widely as they do. As for renting an anime series first, my local Blockbuster still has the same first six episodes of Initial D and has never bothered to get much else in because the local demand is not large enough.

@ Tau: Would you mind explaining the meaning of the terms R1 and R2? I am unfamiliar with them.

Circle wrote:I feel more guilty about spending my parents' money than stealing from people I don't know.

Mere words cannot express how much this statement disturbs me. I do applaud the fact that you are conscientcious about being dependent upon your parents' support and spending your parents' money. As a parent of two college students, however, I have to say that I would far rather have my children sponge a little more off me than do something that could get them into legal trouble. A couple hundred dollars a year for anime is a drop in the bucket compared to tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

Noir · Post by **Noir** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:33 am

i am just going to acpect this the way it is right now and move on

HELLFIRE · Post by **HELLFIRE** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:54 am

Considering the US' almost protectionist moves on it's own music and movie
industries -- DMCA v. DVD-Jon for example -- I'm geniunely surprised
it took this long for other countries to follow suit and start making moves
against the 'grey-areas' of the internet.

This isn't the place to get into the 'fansubs are (il)legal' discussion, but
remember that legally, MF does have the right to do this considering
it's THEIR property that is being warez here... for free or otherwise.
It will be intersting to see whether other anime studios follow suit, and
whether this will result in an animefan backlash.

..also, I think this should act as a wakeup call to media companies
worldwide that their old model of timed-release is FAST going out
the window and should be scrapped ASAP

@ Tau: Would you mind explaining the meaning of the terms R1 and R2? I am unfamiliar with them.

This refers to the DVD Region Coding scheme: the little logo on the back of
DVD cases that has the globe and a number on it. There's a full listing
and a fuller explanation here

Regards