Fuck that author
why though? didn't they have the right to sue? (not siding with anyone just really curios what's going on ppls mind)
Lemme tell u if i was an author with a fairly popular story published that actually brings in money. I would be really unhappy if people got my work for free. Basically stealing.
Tho as a broke reader im happy about illegal sites. Always 2 sides to a story no? ┑(￣Д ￣)┍
They do have the right to sue. But I'm an illegal reader so why tf would want that lol. Also that author's work is trash I would've cared if atleast it was someone who wrote a great story or smth
cant say anything bc i read illegally anyway
they have the right to do it. i feel super bad for jujucat though, in the end we were the ones benefitting from him uploading all the chaps
yeah, 1st warning would be nice (but pian pian was the first warning tho)
there was the whole yd drama too
that's what I thought too, especially if the only income is from making webtoons/manhwas
it just really depends on the author if they want to take down their story (I'm cool with it, I respect that they had to earn for a living)
also for the uploader/translator(not just juju) they just gotta let go, do not pick a fight with the author
(I'm not trying to pick a fight to who's against my views, I'm willing to listen if you say it nicely)
honestly if they want to sue they should've started with the raw website
there was one yt short (but its about mangas) where they can't sue the original(raws) illegal manga site because apparently it was owned by the yakuzas
fuck the author long live piracy
The supporters of J and the idea that illegal scanlation (the act of translating and publishing copyrighted works without authorization) benefits the authors' work are expressing a rationalization—a justification based on perceived benefits, even if it doesn't fully align with ethical or legal principles. Let's break this down in terms of rational versus emotional thinking.
Are Illegal Readers Thinking Rationally or Emotionally?
1. Rational Thinking:
Perceived Benefit to Authors: Supporters of J may believe that illegal scanlation increases the visibility of an author's work. The logic behind this is that if people read the illegal versions, they might become fans and eventually buy the official, licensed versions. This is based on the idea of exposure—the thought that more people being introduced to a work (even through illegal means) leads to more sales in the long run.
Economics of Piracy: Some supporters may also argue that piracy can function as a marketing tool, suggesting that the exposure from illegal scanlation could bring in new audiences who later become paying customers. They might point to the idea that a small percentage of illegal readers will eventually pay for official copies once they are "hooked" by the content. In your example, even if only 50k out of a million illegal readers end up buying, that could be seen as a reasonable conversion rate by some.
"Free Exposure" Fallacy: This viewpoint rests on the assumption that the illegal readers would not have bought the work at all if they hadn't had access to the illegal versions. This is a rationalization that overlooks how piracy impacts creators' revenue and how it undermines the official distribution channels.
2. Emotional Thinking:
Belief in Fairness: Some people may feel that creators, especially those working in industries like manga, webcomics, or even Western comics, are already well-compensated, and that illegal scans do little harm in the grand scheme. This feeling could be emotional—born from a sense of injustice about how authors or companies profit from their works or a belief that consumers deserve access to the content at no cost.
Rebellious Sentiment: There can also be an emotional appeal to the "pirate" mentality, where individuals enjoy the idea of "sticking it to the system" or the publishers. For some, downloading or reading pirated content might feel like a protest against perceived corporate greed or oppressive systems. This can influence their emotional justification for participating in piracy.
Nostalgia or Community: For some readers, illegal scanlation sites may serve as a community hub where fans interact, share content, and discuss their favorite works. This fosters a sense of belonging that may emotionally override the legal or ethical concerns. The availability of fan translations can sometimes give the feeling of accessibility that official translations do not.
The Logical Flaw in the "Exposure" Argument
While the rational argument about exposure and eventual sales does make sense on the surface, it overlooks a number of important points:
1. Revenue Loss: For every person who does not pay because they’ve read it for free, there is a direct financial loss to the creators and official distributors. In a best-case scenario where 50,000 of the 1 million readers eventually buy the work, that’s still a significant amount of lost revenue for the creators in the meantime.
2. Undermining the Market: If enough readers consume content illegally, the creators or distributors may decide it is no longer financially viable to continue creating or publishing the work. This could lead to cancellation of series or less investment in future works, ultimately harming both the creators and fans.
3. Market Saturation and Devaluation: Over time, the availability of free, illegal versions of works could lead to a devaluation of the work. If too many people expect to read things for free, even if they are converted into paying customers later, it might still create long-term harm to the broader economic model of the industry.
Who is in the Wrong?
The Illegal Scanlators and Readers: Legally, they are in the wrong. No matter how much good might be argued about exposure or later purchases, the reality is that illegal scanning and distribution violate copyright laws. The right way for readers to support authors and creators is to purchase official, legal copies.
The Argument from Emotion: Many readers are likely rationalizing their actions by focusing on the emotional appeal of "access for all" or the idea that they are helping by spreading the work. While these feelings are understandable, they do not negate the harm being caused to creators and the industry.
Conclusion:
Most supporters of illegal scanlation are rationalizing their behavior based on perceived benefits (e.g., exposure leading to future sales), but this reasoning is flawed and overlooks the significant harm done to authors and the broader industry. There is likely an emotional component as well, where these readers feel that the benefits of accessing content freely outweigh the moral or legal issues involved. While these arguments may seem reasonable on the surface, they ignore the complexities of how the creative industry works and the long-term consequences of piracy.
did some chatgpt things
In the scenario you've described, there are multiple layers of complexity around legal action, and determining who is "in the wrong" depends on various legal, ethical, and practical considerations. Let's break down your questions:
Why can't the authors sue the original illegal raw publisher (like Toonkor, NewToki, etc.)?
1. Jurisdictional Issues: Many illegal manga or webtoon publishing sites operate from countries with lax or no enforcement of intellectual property (IP) laws. These websites might be based in countries where copyright infringement is not taken seriously, or they could be using proxies or anonymous hosting services to hide their identities and locations. This makes it very difficult for authors to directly sue these publishers.
2. International Law Enforcement: Even if the authors wanted to pursue legal action against these sites, international copyright enforcement can be extremely challenging. For instance, copyright law varies from country to country, and in some regions, there might be little cooperation between governments to enforce IP laws globally. This results in some sites operating with relative impunity.
3. Website Anonymity: Websites like Toonkor or NewToki often take steps to remain anonymous, using tactics such as VPNs, offshore hosting, or dark web marketplaces. If the publishers themselves aren't directly identifiable or located in a country that doesn't enforce copyright laws, authors have limited recourse for legal action.
4. Host Site Immunity: If these illegal sites are hosted on platforms that are located in countries with weak IP protection (for example, hosting services in some parts of Southeast Asia or Russia), the hosting platform may not be held accountable. In many cases, websites may claim "safe harbor" protection, which prevents them from being held liable for content uploaded by users, unless it is directly brought to their attention.
Who is in the wrong?
1. Illegal Uploaders (J): The individual uploader, J, who illegally uploaded the author's work without permission is in the wrong legally. This is a direct violation of copyright law. Even though J might not be the original publisher, they contributed to the violation by distributing the work illegally.
2. The Publisher Sites (Toonkor, NewToki, etc.): These sites also have a significant role in the infringement. While they might not be directly responsible for creating the content, they facilitate the illegal distribution of copyrighted materials. In many jurisdictions, such sites could potentially be considered responsible for hosting and distributing content that they know is infringing, even if they claim to be simply "platforms" or "distributors."
3. The Authors (H and YD): The actions of the authors, particularly in the case of Author YD offering a bounty for personal information on J, complicate things. While the authors are rightfully upset about the illegal publication and distribution of their work, offering a bounty on an individual for personal information crosses legal and ethical lines. It can lead to potential harassment or breaches of privacy, which could backfire legally. The correct course would be to pursue legal avenues, such as reporting the infringement to platforms, issuing takedown notices, or pursuing legal action through copyright enforcement.
4. The Public and Fans: Fans who support or engage with illegal sites are also indirectly in the wrong, as they contribute to the circulation of stolen content. While they may not be as directly involved as the uploaders, they are still part of the ecosystem that enables the continued operation of these illegal sites.
Conclusion:
Legal Responsibility: J is directly responsible for uploading the content illegally. The original publishers (Toonkor, NewToki, etc.) are also responsible for hosting and distributing this stolen work, but it is often difficult to bring legal action against them due to jurisdictional issues and international copyright enforcement barriers.
Ethical and Legal Concerns with the Authors: While the authors have a right to protect their intellectual property, the bounty placed on J by author YD is problematic, as it may involve actions that are illegal (such as harassment or the violation of privacy laws).
chatgpt also
I mean there's nothing wrong with it
It's their work, they can do whatever they want
But to be fair, if illegal sites didn't exist, non of them would've been this popular
So many people read comics on these sites and then purchase their favourite ones on legal sites
I get that piracy is a part of the internet and won't disappear easily, but saying 'f*ck the author' isn't a reasonable defense. Authors put a lot of work into their creations, and they have the right to control how their work is shared. Piracy might seem harmless to some, but it undermines their ability to make a living and continue creating. Sure, actions like what YD did were wrong, but authors who want their work removed from illegal sites have every right to take action. Piracy may be common, but that doesn't make it right to ignore creators' wishes.
I wanna just say long live to this piracy
yes that's true, but it's like a hit or miss for them as there's still a significant amount of lost revenue
also if they do not earn enough they might also just cancel their work
xD illegal site are surely not going down 60% of readers are here lol
what are you guys honest thoughts on author suing an illegal translator?