BitTorrent Anime Downloaders Identified, $3500 Bill in the Mail

^^^^^

You're either joking or extremely ignorant (I'm a Singaporean). I'll take it that you're joking to avoid unnecessary conflict.

^ yeah. See its the natural evolution of a product. They have to be able to produce and distribute to keep up with demand. If they dont, do to limiting factors. Then other people will pick up the slack.

I myself, am not really in favor of DVD's for the most part! (because 1 they take physical storage space, and 2 because they often charge $10-20 dollars for a DVD with 5 episodes on it.)

Id much rather have a massive collection of anime stored on my PC and in a portable media hand held.

It's starting to go that route, actually. You can buy anime episodes from certain Anime producers' sites (Such as ADV) and there is anime available on iTunes. It's just not prominent (yet) and you can't get everything you would want to. Personally my media of choice is still DVD.

same as music sharing I suppose. Back in the hey day everyone used to download and share music. Before the government went postal on people. Im still waiting for the day when they come out with a similar distribution system as itunes / or mp3 seller of your choice, for anime.

I'm wondering if anyone WILL pick up Zetsubou-sensei, considering the jokes don't all translate right even in subs...

Anyway, isn't the news post referring to anime licensed for release in Singapore? While I don't agree with the method they used, I think they're justified in fining people who are downloading anime they have the rights to. It doesn't sound like this affects unlicensed titles.

Really, I'd feel to the same if the US anime companies went that route. I've run into far too many people whose 'collections' consist entirely of downloaded anime. People seem to have it in their heads that there's nothing wrong with it, whether it's licensed or not these days.

I lol'd actually.

Hmm. But if I stopped downloading SZS how long would it take them to Sub it? Then I would have to hack my DVD player to play it. Or I would have to listen to shitty dubs. And how long would I have to wait? a year? 2? 3? I dont want to wait that long. You know what I guess Im just a rebel :P MUHAHAHA (<- evil badguy laugh) because Im gunna keep downloading unlisenced anime until they come up with a more reasonable way of distribution, and subbing.

New article came out in the newspaper today. They said that they have not claimed damages but it was the downloaders who claimed settlement. And apparently they are anti-odex t-shirts up for sale on the web. Haven't seen one yet. Looks interesting though.

Wow, I wonder if something like that is possible in the Netherlands..

Malaysia/Thailand in general has some crazy laws... most offenses that require a fine or a few days in jail here in the States or europe is equivalent to death or near life (99years) in prison. So dont really take their laws to seriosuly.


...that is unless you want to travel there of course.

While I believe what Odex is doing is quite misguided and probably not the smartest idea (seriously, suing potential customers will just piss off potential and current buyers), they do have all the right to do what they're doing, at least in the laws of singapore. probably wouldn't get away with getting identities of IPs here in america w/o a warrant though.

however, I just wanna clear up a common misconception. even if the anime you download is not licensed in your area, it's still technically illegal to do it by international statute known as the Berne Convention. of course, there's not much enforcement for this convention, but hey.

I am pretty sure none of you remember the issues that came up when VHS and BetaMax cassette tapes came on the market. (You know, those bulky black, occasionally other, coloured chunks of plastic that contained magnetic film that recorded image and sound-this ends my sarcastic recap)The movie companies were outraged that people could be 'stealing' their works to view in their homes instead of paying the money to go to the theater and view their works proper. Turns out, they learned that they make money off of that as well. Most movies make more money on rentals and sales than the theater. Then new technology comes out and its the same kind of thing and like tapes there is the ability for people to copy each others stuff. But those in control learned to use technology for themselves and came up with media that can't be copied. Of course more technology cemerges and that is over-come yet again. There will always be someone else who learns to copy what they like no matter what those in control try. Technology advances and with every step legal issue ensue.

This is the same kind of legal fluff. But its like the lawyers are going after the car salesman that sold the car that was used in a robbery. The service providers don't want blame so they give up the IP's of the 'perpetrators'. Got to have someone to blame.

Its a sad sight too b/c like YourMessageHere said, in this case most of us wouldn't have bought something had we not experienced it first through fansubs.
This is the reason I dropped law. Its aggravating and never has a final answer.

I remember sitting in a museum and replicating a masters painting I saw on the wall. No one came to arrest me or charge me extra. I had a copy of some else's work and I didn't give them any money for my copy. It wasn't the same as owning the real one but it was close enough for my taste(yes I am THAT good as an artist ^_-)
It seems media should be the same way but according to the law its not. Personally, I think an intellectual property that can be duplicated without disturbing the original shouldn't be a problem. Hell, its like really good advertising for the product. You still don't have the real thing but you probably want it more if you really like what you have. If I legitimately purchase a video, I only get it because of the packaging anyway. If its something shiny and solid in my hand then it was worth the money. If its a bunch of 1's and 0's then its not quite worth it.

Can we please stop calling duplication without permission "stealing" and "theft"? Stealing = removing something without permission and denying posession of it to the original owner. Torrents do not do this. Nothing stops any licensee from continuing to sell anime if it is torrented.

Plus, the whole reason why there are, and continue to be, fansubs, is that it's not a cut and dried issue. No-one denies the Japanese firms have a right of ownership *in Japan*. But outside Japan, the position is different; if there is no-one to get permission from before duplicating any given programme in your area, is it still a crime?

And I'm sure I speak for a great many people when I say that I wouldn't own or even know about any of the many legitimately bought, genuine, licensed retail DVDs that I do if i'd not seen the series first as fansubs. Odex are shitting where they eat.

Well thats one moar reason not to go to Singapore [breaks out his notebook]

Reasons not to go to Singapore
Ladyboys
Thieves
Religious Cults (lots of human sacrificing going on)
Tourists getting senteced in jail for many years for violating one law (i.e. Littering)
[adds]Bittorrent users get banned[/adds]

Reasons to go to Singapore:
BJ Bars
Kick Boxing tournaments
ladys that are not boys

Like I said, if those companies would offer subbed anime, in the orginal format as it aired. I would buy it.

They only "don't matter" because the Japanese companies don't act on them.
So in the end, while it's very unlikely for someone to get in trouble for DLing unlicensed anime, it's still violation of international copyright law.

So you're in the clear for DLing unlicensed anime simply because the Japanese companies aren't taking legal action. Which means you (and I, and others) will continue doing such with no repercussions, for the time being.

Its not that they dont matter, its just that Im living in a part of the world where there right to ownership hasnt been recongnized yet.

(FYI I would be all to happy to purchase anime from them but! Oh no...region codes for the lose...oh and thats right they dont sub the animes...)

So the Japanese companies rights to ownership don't matter? That's hilarious.

Fansubs are not illegal until the anime becomes liscenced. At least that is how I have always acted on it. As soon as an anime is licisenced I delete my copies of it. As far as I know I can't be busted for that.