Just the other day, the Japanese Diet passed some amendments to their copyright law aimed towards illegal downloads and Internet caches. The first bit, dealing with illegal downloading, now makes it punishable if you downloaded illegal content knowingly. For a while, uploading content has been illegal, but the goal here is to expand the people they can punish, as a hopeful deterrent to uploaders. The only problem? They haven't actually included a punishment clause in the amendment.
The other one, just to mention, is about how sites like Google and Yahoo have caches of sites they index. Previously, it was illegal to view those, because the prevailing thought was there was no way they could actually get the permission of all those people they indexed.
This push has been mostly from the music, film, and game industries, according to The Global Voice. Japan is moving itself towards the copyright situation in America, where copyright holders have a lot more avenues for protecting their works. Right now in Japan, the threat is "next to nothing" when it comes to downloading illegal material. And it's somewhat confusing as to what exactly counts as downloading and what doesn't.
From what the Global Voice article describes, the Japanese industries are trying to force people back into buying CDs, DVDs, and the like, without really being willing to embrace digital downloads. That's what I've heard from FUNimation and other distributors: they have a hell of a time trying to get digital rights to their releases. So, while the industry is trying to protect their interests legally, they're just alienating their fanbase.
While I'm not one who's all gung-ho about embracing digital downloads, I recognize that it's where things are heading. Sony is in the right mindset with the PSP Go, but that's just one company. The biggest problem is that Japanese companies haven't really taken the prices down for any of their products -- CDs at 3,000 yen, and two-episode DVDs for 5,000 yen or so. No one wants to pay those prices, and so they aren't. Maybe they'll make a radical change and actually lower their prices, start offering digital downloads, and try to welcome their potential customers in with open arms as opposed to legal coercion.
I just love how because music went into a largely download only that the big companies of the world think that EVERYTHING should be like that in the future and digital distribution will rule.
Fact is it shouldn't and if the consumer has anything to say about it it won't. The vast majority of consumers hate the idea of having no choice but to download everything. Most people like to have the physical disc.
When it comes to Anime I refuse fansubs I only watch the DVD's which is why i have a collection of over 80 series on my shelf. I much prefer the quality and being able to have the disc in my hand I know know alot of people who think the way I do.
Reibooi, if u perfer quality the dvd is NOT the wayo to go. in the last 3 year or so whenver they started doing HD anime..fansubs is basically the only way to get most of them in HD. Anyway, I don't know what to say about these amendments, I just want to be able to watch anime legally without spending a fortune.
I'm with Reibooi here: I prefer physical media, and Bandai and FUNi are making headway with Blu-ray releases. I'm sure we'll see Spice & Wolf with a Blu-ray version and whatnot in the future.
I'm all for consumer choice in the matter and I think as much should be offered digitally as possible but not necessarily to the exclusion of physical media.
I actually prefer digital media for a long of things including music and television programs. I like physical media for my video games and movies.
The lack of a digital option is a big deterrent to me.
Prices are definitely too high. You mentioned the prices in Japan but as fair at anime is concerned its not exactly cheap here. Anime can cost upwards of 60 dollars for a 26 episode season. Compare that to 33 dollars for season 7 of 24. (I will note that season 3 of the office is also 30 dollars but has half the content of 24). That's almost twice the content for about half the price. I realize that they're targeting two different audiences but that is quite a stark contrast between dollar to content minutes ratios.
As far as the copy right law changes go, its the right move, as much as consumers these days cringe at the idea of copyright laws. These laws serve an important and constructive function by allowing artists to protect their works (in the US copyright laws are actually mandated by the federal constitution). There's no doubt that illegal downloading of fansubs has hurt the industry and publishers need weapons to fight that trend. However, just zealously pursuing copyright claims is not the best strategy as the RIAA demonstrated for everyone. Rather smart judicious use of copyright laws coupled with a solid business model will produce the right results. It does you no good to shut down the avenues of illegal distribution without providing legitimate reasonably priced ways to get the content.
Its important for publishers of all media to turn their fans/consumers into customers, but wantonly pissing them off with draconian legal proceedings isn't the best way to do that. I think people generally understand that creators/publishers should be able to protect their IP, but there's no need to be jerks about it.
The customer is, generally, always right, because at the end of the day its their money you need.
Perhaps I'll go watch Jack Bauer kick some ass now, even though I don't really care for 24.
I've gotten my DVD collection to look damn good on my PS3 thanks to the upcoverting power in that box. Most say it's the best way to watch anime next to actually getting on a real blu ray. The upcoverting gets the quality damn near blu ray quality at times and i can almost not tell the difference.
Aside from things like the quality of fansubs being slightly better i would still prefer the sets you can buy on DVD i would never have gotten all the incredible extras that have come with all the Code Geass limited boxsets or the extras in the haruhi boxes back when those came out. You can't download those you know.
@Reibooi: I love having the DVDs, but, for somethings, fansubs are the only choice. Though, I follow a set of rules. If it is licensed, or guarnteed to be licensed within the year, I wait for the DVD. But the more obscure, ones that would cause controversy or wont be out in the US for atleast 2 years, I download the fansubs.
I think it's inevitable that all media at some point are going to go digital, even if it doesn't happen until years in the future. I personally prefer digital just because it gives me quick access to my library without having switch out discs all the time.
I'll go ahead and say that this has been the direction that a large part of the anime fanbase has chosen. The producers and distributors are eventually just going to have to realize that and catch up. Simulcasts from places like crunchyroll, funimation, and even Hulu seem like great ideas.
That said, I don't see why physical media has to be thrown out just because digital is available. With most new movies I can choose to either buy them at at store, or buy them on iTunes (or Playstation Network).
More and more DVDs these days are also starting to come with digital copies which I think is great. It gives you the best of both worlds.
That want to force people to buy dvds and cds? don't make me laugh; dvds and cds have the most ridiculous prices ever. Besides they can't force no one to pay money for something they don't really want. People will always find a way to get what they want, for cheaper and better. You can call it "not supporting the industry", but I'm not gonna support a bunch of bullies who want to leech me out of money.
btw I get dvds when they are on big sale, paying retail is nuts.
First and foremost, I'm a collector. I enjoy having a a shelf to point at and say "Look upon all I have acquired over the years!". Plus, I love nothing more than loaning stuff out to people to have them come back and tell me what they've been missing by not watching a particular series or anime in general. Sharing is caring... =)
However, prices are a big deterrent for me. Plus, I've been burned too many times buying shows as the individual discs are released. Nothing pisses me off more than loving the series until the very last episode, then the ending hits and ruins it. I'm left with a series I hate and upwards of $125 blown... Awesome. Fate/Stay Night, I'm looking at you... >=(
Fansubs have driven me to by many, many series, however. To name a few: Gurren Lagann, Haruhi, Fullmetal Alchemist, and as soon as Lucky Star gets a box set, that too. Not to mention Spice and Wolf when that comes out. Just today I bought the first half of Eureka 7 for $35. I watched the fansubs of that LOOOONG ago, but, prices being what they are, I had to wait 3 years for a box set to come out, and that is bar none my favorite anime I've yet to see. As much as I love it, I just simply could not justify buying 12 individual volumes at $21.99 a piece.
The anime industry, and honestly entertainment industries in general, need to accept the fact that the internet has completely changed how the game is played. With the economy like it is, try-before-you-buy is the only sensible way to go, and 25 bucks for 4 episodes is not an option for a lot of people. Funimation has realized this and I applaud them for it. I'd say it's just a matter of time before the rest follow suit.
15 comments
Fact is it shouldn't and if the consumer has anything to say about it it won't. The vast majority of consumers hate the idea of having no choice but to download everything. Most people like to have the physical disc.
When it comes to Anime I refuse fansubs I only watch the DVD's which is why i have a collection of over 80 series on my shelf. I much prefer the quality and being able to have the disc in my hand I know know alot of people who think the way I do.