Comcast Targets Unlicensed Anime Torrenters
Found on Slashdot on Monday, 19 November 2007
According to a thread on the forums of AnimeSuki, a popular anime bittorent index site, Comcast has begun sending DCMA letters to customers downloading unlicensed fan-subtitled anime shows via bittorrent. By 'unlicensed', they mean that no english language company has the rights to it. The letters are claiming that the copyright holder or an authorized agent are making the infringement claims, though usually these requests are also sent to the site itself rather that individual downloaders.
Now that's quite strange, since the distribution of fansubs has always been tolerated by the japanese animation studios. There exists a mutual agreement to end distribution once the anime has been licensed, and the majority of fansubbers respects this. Quite contrary to to the article, some studios are even thankful for the work of fansubbers: for example "at A-Kon 15 in the summer of 2005, an ADV founder admitted that they thought Azumanga Daioh would not be initially popular in America. ADV subsequently decided to license this title after witnessing its popularity in the fansub community". Additionally, "in the promotional video announcing the American license of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Kadokawa Pictures USA and Bandai Entertainment specifically thanked fansub watchers and asked them to purchase the official release". Plus, for a lot of series this is the only way to get some attention in countries outside Japan. And let's be honest: fansubs provide a by far better quality than official releases, which usually come with crappy and emotionless dubs. Also, let's not forget that all this might just be another Comcast plan to scare users; if that's true and they sent out DMCA notices without a legal basis, I can see the next lawsuit coming. You might think they learned from their network throttling stunt.