Comments on: FUNimation, Gonzo, and The Relationship Between Them http://www.nigorimasen.com/2007/09/30/funimation-gonzo-and-the-relationship-between-them/ Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:25:56 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: CalAggie http://www.nigorimasen.com/2007/09/30/funimation-gonzo-and-the-relationship-between-them/#comment-108842 CalAggie Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:38:05 +0000 http://anime.crumplednapkin.net/2007/09/30/funimation-gonzo-and-the-relationship-between-them/#comment-108842 Gregory: I am not an expert in copyright law but I believe that in the cases where Funimation has sent cease-and-desist notices to fansubbing groups including this latest one involving Soul Eater, the company has acted as agent in a power of attorney between it and the studios that want to protect their copyrighted works. Since many of the Japanese studios do not have a physical presence in the United States, they utilize Funimation's in order to enforce their international copyrights. Even though news of the latest instance of such notices irritates me slightly, I disagree that the actions can be described as "corporate bullying". Remember that fansubbers are essentially distributing digital copies of previously broadcast content with subtitles attached and thus engaging in infringement of copyright in the process in spite of any altruistic intentions they may have. Gregory: I am not an expert in copyright law but I believe that in the cases where Funimation has sent cease-and-desist notices to fansubbing groups including this latest one involving Soul Eater, the company has acted as agent in a power of attorney between it and the studios that want to protect their copyrighted works. Since many of the Japanese studios do not have a physical presence in the United States, they utilize Funimation’s in order to enforce their international copyrights.

Even though news of the latest instance of such notices irritates me slightly, I disagree that the actions can be described as “corporate bullying”. Remember that fansubbers are essentially distributing digital copies of previously broadcast content with subtitles attached and thus engaging in infringement of copyright in the process in spite of any altruistic intentions they may have.

]]> By: Gregory Kornblum http://www.nigorimasen.com/2007/09/30/funimation-gonzo-and-the-relationship-between-them/#comment-108830 Gregory Kornblum Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:41:32 +0000 http://anime.crumplednapkin.net/2007/09/30/funimation-gonzo-and-the-relationship-between-them/#comment-108830 Actually I sent a correspondence to the EFF asking for assistance after find out Tadashi, a subber for Soul Eater, was sent one. Technically Funimation has absolutely no legal right to “act on behalf” of any copyright holder in such a manner whether it is done sue to a business relationship or a license to distribute. This an illlegal attempt at threatening these groups/people and is done this way so they do not have to invest the money involved that would allow the actual copyright holders to do this themselves. Of course the subbers are going to stop because it is something they do for no payment at all so even the cost of getting it thrown out of court on the basis of the statements I have just made makes dropping it an easy decision and that is what Funimation is going for because even they know they don’t have a legal leg to stand on. Hopefully the EFF will pull through as they have been battling the RIAA and MPAA for awhile and a small fry like Funimation would run with their tale between their legs if EFF gets involved. So I ask you, the community to also inform the EFF of this corporate bullying by asking for their helps as I did by sending your requests to information@eff.org and hopefully if they get enough they will take action. Actually I sent a correspondence to the EFF asking for assistance after find out Tadashi, a subber for Soul Eater, was sent one. Technically Funimation has absolutely no legal right to “act on behalf” of any copyright holder in such a manner whether it is done sue to a business relationship or a license to distribute. This an illlegal attempt at threatening these groups/people and is done this way so they do not have to invest the money involved that would allow the actual copyright holders to do this themselves. Of course the subbers are going to stop because it is something they do for no payment at all so even the cost of getting it thrown out of court on the basis of the statements I have just made makes dropping it an easy decision and that is what Funimation is going for because even they know they don’t have a legal leg to stand on. Hopefully the EFF will pull through as they have been battling the RIAA and MPAA for awhile and a small fry like Funimation would run with their tale between their legs if EFF gets involved.
So I ask you, the community to also inform the EFF of this corporate bullying by asking for their helps as I did by sending your requests to information@eff.org and hopefully if they get enough they will take action.

]]> By: Him http://www.nigorimasen.com/2007/09/30/funimation-gonzo-and-the-relationship-between-them/#comment-4412 Him Mon, 01 Oct 2007 06:56:51 +0000 http://anime.crumplednapkin.net/2007/09/30/funimation-gonzo-and-the-relationship-between-them/#comment-4412 You know what? I hope ADV gets RxJ just for thematicly ironic lawls. You know what? I hope ADV gets RxJ just for thematicly ironic lawls.

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