Real piracy are those places which create dvd;s from downloaded material and sell it as if its legit!!!!

——————————————
When do I become a sale?
——————————————
If I hadn’t downloaded my very first anime to watch I never would have become a anime fan in the first place…..I mean with their current business model I am definitely not a sale in their books cause its not like I would get up one day head into a comic store and buy the very first anime I saw hell I didn’t even know what anime was (I thought it was all simply cartoons which I would watch on my Saturday morning TV e.g (Aladdin and Mickey Mouse) which I grew out of years before ….

So the point there was: I am only a sale when I actually become introduced and interested in anime.

Would this mean that the fansub I download was form of marketing?

Hell I would never have gotten interested in anime if I watched in on Japanese tv in raw format cause I don’t speak Japanese.

—————————–
Digital Age – Young vs. Old
—————————–
I also agree with someone above…In the digital age you need to change the business model to suit the new type of customer that exist…

What type of customer?
The younger generation of course you know the 16-25 year olds who are used to getting information within a few clicks instead of going to the library….hell many of the older generation have also adapted to the information age…

So what does this mean? It means I want my product quickly, reliably and as easily as possible.

Does DVD accomplish this?
Hell damn no. I said I want it now not while I am at my PC. Not 1 year from now or even 5 years from now.

Lets face it other than Blassreiter and Druga Japanese anime doesn’t get released to the public that quickly….and in the information age people want to watch things almost instantaneously.

Well guess what?
Fansubs are the closest thing to instantaneous (at a lag of usually 3 or 4 days for most popular shows).

Also guess what?
I actually do watch Gonzos anime when it comes out on crunchy role cause its quicker than Fansubs…..

Now those that want great quality can pay extra for it and those that just want to see the anime can watch the crappy quality.

———————————————————————————–
How does the above business model relate to the concept of a sale?
———————————————————————————–
Lets face it please who were never going to pay of anime never will they will probably end up enjoying another thing (that was never a sale and never will be).

So in the Gonzo model above, those watching the crappy quality aren’t a sale anyway because, they wouldn’t have bought the anime even if it was available for 50Cents.

But guess what? this is an extra individual that might just tell someone else about anime and maybe that other person will actually pay to watch the better quality version as it comes out on the internet.

———————————–
Why is I-Tunes popular?
———————————–
It’s a one stop shop.

Guess what?
Apple is selling their software and mp3player more than the music it self. Apple is selling the convenience of downloading the music having it organized and simply loading it onto your ipod.

———————————————
Concept of Value Added Sale?
———————————————

Guess what?
After people have watched an anime, they might actually buy the manga, or the figurines or the other merchandise. If a movie is released in the cinema people might actually watch it because you are getting something that a downloaded anime wouldn’t give you a damn big screen, great sound and an outing with friends. (don’t start with the falling cinema turnover that’s only cause Hollywood aren’t bringing out quality movies that people are interested in, but that’s a different issue)

The points anyway is that you aren’t JUST selling Anime you are selling the other value added products and services associated with anime.

Anyway
My two cents…

Thank you for your thoughtful feedback,and for allwing your readers to commnet.I want to apologize for my ’scab’ comment.That was…. somewhat out of line.

Contrary to the beliefs of some of the misinformed on here,age and education,and employment levels,can and do play a role in this situation.I used to download subbed anime
A LOT.I regret it,and will never try to claim
it was the correct thing to do,but thats in the past.Arresting these three people is part of a battle,that many outside the cicrles of the content creators,will likely never understand,so be it.

Just because the other ‘3 million’ are out breaking the laws of various countries,does not mean its ok for us to do it as well.Thats twisted logic to say the least.

Kurisu,I used to lash out like that at people that held my stance on this topic too.That was years ago,before I grew up,and went over to Japan,and lived there.Meeting others that work in the field,and saw how devestating what we are doing really is.I dont think anyone here is ‘Satan’ for not spending large portions of thier disposable income on anime dvd’s,etc.

But I have seen how peoples behaviours change as they leave school/Uni,and go out into the workforce,and work thier butts off for years.
No it does not mean everything,but its certainly a deciding role in the actions of those around us.

They usually gain a much greater respect for the work of others,no matter if its some kid waiting tables in a greasy spoon,or an artist at IG.

I belong to an Anime club,that has over 200 members.One thing we have noticed collectively
over the 9 years,we have met,are the things I put fourth here and above in my earlier comments.We had a round table discussion
about this a few years back and did a servey,it showed what I tried to explain.

Punish one,to educate one hundred does work.Go to take a trip down to any court house,and see how many are NOT being arraigned…

More and more want everything yesterday and for free,and the anonymity of an IP address
gives people the false impression,that what they wouldnt steal at the corner store,is just fine online as its all just zero’s and one’s
…and heck,besides,everyone else is doing it so that must make it ok…right…well right ??

WRONG… I am constantly amazed at what passes for morals in todays world.

- Adults being ironically immature and taking the age high ground as if it ever meant anything.

- Wikipedia can be edited by anyone, therefore it’s obviously full of lies, because everybody who edits wikipedia is a liar and only edits wikipedia to tell lies. SERIOUSLY GUYS.

- I buy DVDs, you should too or you’re evidently satan.

- Fansubbers are all evil people who never give anything back to anime companies, especially not free exposure or the urge to buy merchandise.

_ _ _

Amatsuki was good, as ever.

Here’s an easy to understand example:

Piracy: i take a DVD/VHS whatever, make a copy and SELL it to you. I am taking advantage of some other’s work and you spend less money to have the good you could have obtained legally.

Fansub: i record something from a SAT, TV, or whatever other format. I work on it and make a sub, so that you can understand the speech and PRESENT it to you. I’m putting my own work into it and you don’t spend money to have what you couldn’t have before because nobody took care of your need.

Are there some differences, aren’t there?

The problem of the market crackdown is easy blamed on the fansub phenomenon, that isn’t even piracy to start with. The cause are pretty much all another matters. High prices, censorship, awful adaptation for younger audience, low quality, massification.

Who wants to buy anime will continue to do that regardless of fansub or piracy, but requires quality. Even who doesn’t usually buy DVDs, spend money in related articles.
I have plenty of original resin kits and gashapon, and mangas to start with, together with movies, but fewrer series on DVD.

About those poor guys who were arrested. That is the worst ever tactic to deal with the problem. Why arrest three people when there are three million people committing the same “crime”, if we can cal it a crime, of course? These nazi methods only piss of people, and arent resolutive at all. “Punish one to educate one hundred” has never worked and will continue not to work. Other people simply will avoid the problem. Is Share dangerous? Let’s change software, is Japan unsure? Let’s move to Hong Kong end so on… I feel pity for those who will suffer for everybody’s sake, but i fell pitier for japanese government who gave proof to be powerless and show they’re not able to deal with their own business

Moreover, this is a post on Amatsuki,how did we finish chatting about piracy and stuff? o.O
Wasn’t it better to move this topic to a proper section?

Anyway, if we don’t want to see a crises such as the one in the music industry we must find other ways to explore anime. Gonzo is one step ahead to prevent a eminent colapse because a new business model is a need in this era of high connectivity. People can watch a video in real-time and a full DVD can be downloaded in just a few minutes. Most of people don’t do piracy because they can’t afford, but most of them do it because is fast, reliable and easy to do. So, if you turns things more difficult you’re just helping piracy. Thats why software’s piracy don’t stop.

In the music scenery, singers and bands started to provide access to free samples of new albums. Gonzo provide a free access (youtube) for Druaga and Blasstreiser, and a paid version with better quality using bost tv and crunchy. I strongly believe that this is the new reality and those who don’t follow it will fail and go to bankrupt.

Also Mark: you raised some good points, until you came with the SCAB-reference. I had no intention at all to make it sound like such a word when I came up the title, nor did I feel like checking it for any innuendo.

Also, I think there’s another reason why the demographics between 16 and 25 are more inclined to support illegal file-sharing, in that they have generally less money than your average adult with a stable job.

This of course isn’t meant as an excuse. I’m well aware that I’m hypocritical, and the purpose of this article wasn’t to lament the fact that my source of anime has slowed down. Instead it was to highlight that the current executives need to stop biting the hand that feeds them, and instead should try to match their business model to the current situation, like others have suggested. If they don’t, then the endless amount of piracy will only continue, because most anime-fans won’t just stop downloading, just because you ask them to.

Of course the legal statutes consider both piracy and copyright infringement illegal. But there are differences between the sprirt and letter of the law. If you really want to delve into naunces, look up the evolution of accounting regulations from the 90s up to Auther Anderson / the Sarbane Oxley Act.

Getting back into fansubbing. I am also a bit older than typical American fans, albeit not as old as Mark #15. I have seen the progression of anime from early 90s and on. Yes, the digital revolution since ‘02 has morphed into rampant and uncontrolled distribution of Japanese animation, and I agree with Mark about the studio’s inability to capture revenue and profit. HOWEVER, it is irrelevant whether it is equitable for the studios to get those profit.

The fact is the japanese studio will never be able to capture those artifical profit. The tech genie is out and the business model with DVD as underlying linchpin is obsolete. The Japanese studios are fighting the ridiulous battles Sony/EMS fought on digital music circa 90s, and the more litigations the music studios file against hapless (but “criminal”) end-users, the more it pissed off the general mass. When Ipod and Itune were released, what happened? How come Steve Job and Mac are now the indisputed leader in digital music and have sold billions of $$$ in itune? How come Zune suck so bad it is consider a cruel joke? How much the music studios are now desperately trying to catch up on Mac with little success?

In truth, the CD/DVD business model is now relegated into an auxillary source of revenue. Since the dawn of time, entertainers make bulk of their revenues on live performance and merchandises. As for anime, toy, figurines, console games, manga, light novel, etc will be the future for the studio’s survival. Will IP infringement continue? Of course, but the studios have to abandon the notion that they can capture all the THEORATICAL profit that’s floating around in the net.

I personally admire those who bought all the licensed DVD. But don’t be so sanctimonious and demand that everyone have to buy DVDs or else they be damned for eternity. I bought thousand $$ of manga / legit anime figures / games. I also contribute to the welfare of the anime industry. And YES, I have ~5 terabit of dvd rip.

One more point - There are millions of Chinese / Korean population in Japan, and the anime culture in China and Korea is as entrenched, if not more so, than the United States. Among the Chinese anime community, there are more than a few brave souls who will insure an endless supply of HD raw regardless of what the Japanese polices and bureaucrats can come up with.

copyright infringement -> copying without permission - which is not theft

piracy -> copying (without permission) OR stealing goods AND selling them for profit

Mark, you’re so full of shit, it’s not funny anymore. I guess you’re just too old to understand the world of today, so I’m not even going to bother explaining anything. It’s just funny how much you know about the current status of fansubbing even though you’re not watching them… I guess we both know who you are working for.

Other than that, you have a point. I disagree on a few levels, of course, but I think more people would take you seriously if you didn’t read like a Hillary Clinton supporter on a bad day. ^_^

I buy almost all of the anime I have here in my home (hundreds of dvd’s) YES its expensive,as is ANY hobby.

No one ever said it would be cheap.You try working hard for years on something like Stranja,pouring your heart and soul and money and sweat and blood and tears into it,only to see the ‘community’ stab you in the back and give it away for free.More and more great series are not being licensed because the distrib’s know that more and more people will just download it,promsiing to themsleves to buy it later,but most wont.Years ago,it would be insane and unheard of to see a series like Bakamatsu NOT get a full and proper license(YES god forbid,including a decent DUB),now what have we got ?? Two years out,and I am still waiting,cash in hand to buy the 6 or 7 dvd’s at 25 to 35 a crack.But,I cant because the ‘community’ (thieves,and hypocrits who have none to little respect for the hard work of others) in its infinite wisdom has helped ruin that possiblity.Any market for it was swallowed whole by the people that downloaded all those terabytes of files) More proof of this is in the fact that DVD sales are dropping like a rock,year after year,as more and more people,get clued into the torrents and megaupload,etc…as well as have the ability to get cheap high speed internet.

I am likely older then most(39),have a job,a home,a family,and have worked hard for many years.I understand what it means to put a tremendous amount of work into something,and want to see payback from it.I have been watching this scene develop into the Monster it is for two decades plus.It needs to be killed.I dont need to download more then 2 or 3 eps to know if a series is worth my cash,most honest folks dont.Places like Boxtorrents and DAnime,and all the others
need to die.

There are better ways to prom ote lesser known series like Kaiba,and giving all 13 away for free via URESHI,ETC,is NOT IT !

That many subbers are now offering HD res files is a insult on more then a few levels to the artists,and the companies making this beautiful art possible.

These companies are in business,they are not a charity,they employ many,but every year that number drops.

I hope to see more of this type of crackdown go on.Its out and out theft,PERIOD,and needs to see more intervention from the law.

Some people in any community only learn the hard way,and if that means throwing them in prison and letting them out with a criminal record,then so be it.

WTF ever happened to personal responsibility in todays world !!?!? Can’t do the time,DONT do the crime,period.Sharing this stuff,is quite plainly illegal. Obviously many in the scene have no clear concept of it.

I was trying to figure who to adress this to,untill I noticed the name of your BLOG…..S C A B….

Where I come from,that has a very bad connotation.Its starting to make sense
now,given your attitude towards others
hard work.I guess though,that I should
not be surspised at the feedback on stuff
like this,given the lack of almost any
moral compass in todays younger people.

I have discussed this with many,and age plays a huge role in the average epinion.Under 16-25 seems shocked/surprised at the crackdown,and call it ‘wrong’,those of a slightly older age group think for the most part very,very differently on it.

Signed: Just Woke,up spelling mistakes and all….

Care to elaborate? Because last time I checked piracy was just another word for copyright infrigement of software.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringement_of_software