Otaku and Fansubs: Anime and Copyright
66
Of otaku and fansubs A critical look at anime online in light of current issues in copyright law BILETA 2007 University of Hertfordshire 17 April 2007 JS Hatcher jordan at opencontentlawyer dot com
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Presentation for BILETA 2007 on copyright and anime fansubs.
Transcript of Otaku and Fansubs: Anime and Copyright
Of otaku and fansubs A critical look at anime onlinein light of current issues in copyright law BILETA 2007
University of Hertfordshire17 April 2007
JS Hatcherjordan at opencontentlawyer dot com
What is anime?
What is a fansub?
fan + subtitled = fansub
Fan community
“Sailor Moon is like a gateway drug”
- Janet Varela, referring to her daughter’s new obsession with anime
fans = otaku
some controversy
History
010101010111110010101010000111010101 ‘digisubs’
• Mid-80’s origin• Universities• Birth of anime
distributors• Fansubs helped
form the market• Digital copies• Move to completely
Fansub production• Similarities to open
source• Distributed work• Highly skilled
Between dojinshi and p2p
v.
v.
v.
Legal aspects
Article 9Relation to the Berne Convention1. Members shall comply with Articles 1
through 21 of the Berne Convention (1971) and the Appendix thereto. However, Members shall not have rights or obligations under this Agreement in respect of the rights conferred under Article 6bis of that Convention or of the rights derived therefrom.
Translation• adaptations (UK)
– CDPA s. 21 (3)(a)(i).
• derivative works (US)– 17 U.S.C. § 106 (2)
ReproductionDistribution
Rights in national law
Moral rights• Prevent false attribution
– CDPA 1988 s 84 (UK)
• Derogatory treatment– CDPA 1988 s 80 (UK)
• Right to identification– CDPA 1988 s 77 (UK)
False attribution?Passing off?
Fair use / dealing
Factors to consider• Transformativeness?• Amount and substantiality• Effect on market
– Anime = big biz• Translation only + Amazon.co.jp• Fansubs better?
Fair Dealing
Not likely an exception • Not criticism or review• Doesn't fit into other areas
“‘Rights which cannot be realised are worse than useless; they are
traps of delay, expense and heartache”
Karl N. Llewellyn, Bramble Bush: On our law and its study
Fansubs v. licensedQualitative differences
Fansub ethics
Justifications
• Promotional aspects• Fansub replacement• Try before you buy• Show never licensed outside of Jp• Digisubs too much
Ethics cont.
• Stop once released in Japan• Stop once announced in N.A.
– Avidly follow licensing deals
• Compliance appears high in relation to other p2p areas
Anime industry approach
Anime v. MPAA/RIAA
• Don’t seem to use notice and take down (DMCA)
• Announce licenses– informal letters
• No lawsuits• PR at cons
Industry benefits?
Potential fansub benefits
• In the beginning…• Build non-English language fanbase• Build audience (similar to TV)• Identify shows to license
– yaoi, yuri, and shojo
Final thoughts
• Held captive?– Negative reaction from fans
• But could step up enforcement in line with fansub ethics
Thanks!
Paper availablehttp://www.law.ed.ac.uk/AHRB/script-ed/vol2-4/hatcher.asp
JS Hatcherjordan at opencontentlawyer dot com
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