Fansubbers Under Fire

CNet is running a story about new developments in the fansubbing world. The article provides some background, and then discusses Media Factory's recent letters to fansubbers demanding removal of their shows. Historically the studios have turned a blind eye towards the work of the fansubbers, and the assumption has always been they they secretly approve since the fans work is amazing market research. I've bought countless DVDs based entirely on the work of fansubbers, so I hope that this isn't the beginning of the end.

Comments

CmdrTaco supports Piracy?

[REBloomfield]

I've bought countless DVDs based entirely on the work of fansubbers

Isn't this a really bad idea, considering this is a major news outlet and your day job? Could OSDN be considered to be condoning piracy?

Re:Turning a blind eye?

[gowen]

honest fansubbers have discontinued work and pulled masters on series that have been commercially released

Do they then go around and gather in all the copies they illegally distributed?

No? Then that's shutting the stable door after the horse has already gone, isn't it?

Re:Ahh!

[gowen]

it's not like you're whiter than white either,

No, but when I break the law, I don't try and justify it to the world with some spurious "moral principle" and astonishingly bad analogies.

These things do not belong to you. You did not create them. They are not yours to redistribute, either legally or morally.

Re:Suggestion for fansubbers

[screwdriver_j]

Absulutely not acceptable solution. You force me to buy DVD with every anime I want to see (maybe just once). Do you think I buy every movie I watch in the cinema? The whole problem with US and Europe distributors is in fact that from core anime fans point of view they are simple not needed and could simply cease to exist. Official translations are usually made different way because they are targeting other group of people (kids or parents looking for some stuff for kids). Distributors cut out every piece of japanise culture and replace it with some local stuff. Lets imagine they do it more friendly for anime freaks. But what for? Why would anyone pay for translation that is available for free thanks to free fansubing groups? Why would anyone pay the costs of distribution itself if cost-free distribution network is already here? I believe many fans of anime and manga would gladly pay some fee to japanese producers. But not a single cent for distributors because their added value is worth nothing. My suggestion is different - let's make a network where I pay 30-70USD fee monthly for a right to download and watch any anime I want. Producers can share money depending on popularity of downloads. We can make several products of this type, for example for 30USD you get access to all anime older then 2 years and for 70 you get them all. The idea might look strange at first and there is a lot of technical issues to solve but I think it's a good direction.

Re:Ahh!

[mr i want to go home]

I don't know who you are in real life, but you're a stooge and an idiot.

Re:No Story

[Deadguy2322]

Hey, Kartsux, what the fuck is it with all you sausage-fingered dildos who always bitch about scratching their CDs and DVDs anytime copy protection is mentioned? I have 200 DVDs, and the only ones to ever get damaged had exteremly rare accidents happen to them. Same goes for audio CDs and CD-ROM discs. Why the fuck can't you asshats get some co-ordination when away from your beloved keyboaard and mouse I hear you shitheads rant about in every console gaming article and just TAKE CARE OF YOU FUCKING POSESSIONS!!!!! P.S. Optical discs can be repaired, you fucknaught!