Comments on: Legal Doesn’t Matter: More on Scanlation Sites

By: Dodgy Des (The Con Man)

Dodgy Des (The Con Man) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:47:50 +0000

I read Manga chapters online. Why, you ask? Because if I wait for the books to be released over here in the UK, I’d be waiting months, sometimes more. So I certainly feel for the people in other Countries.
I still however buy the Manga I love when it comes out over here, providing I have the money. The Artists and Creators of these different kinds of Manga have spent all this time creating such wonderful drawings with amazing stories that I feel they should get something from it.
Don’t worry. There will be no spoilers ahead.
Let’s take the Manga Vampire Knight. Over here are 16 Volumes (I have 15). And in those total 16 Volumes I believe there are roughly 73 Chapters. In total however, I believe there is like 90 or something Chapters. If I don’t read this online I would have to wait until November this year (about 7 months) just to read the next 5 Chapters or so. Also, there are many forums on the Internet which are discussions about the latest Chapter. If I waited until all the books are out over here, read it all, then go to the discussion page, there will probably be comments from months ago and some forums may even be dead. It’ll just feel like I’ve left it too long to read and I wasn’t keeping in time with it like everyone else.
Also, when a Manga artist finishes a Chapter and releases it in Japan, it usually always gets put straight up on the Internet and translated immediately. When I read it, it just simply feels nice to be able to read it as soon as it’s released and not have to wait 6 to 12 months. Though, as I said, I will still buy them whenever they come out over here, just to support the Manga Artists and other involved.

By: 9a. Copyright, Scanlation, and the Ethics of Unfettered Reading | What is Manga?

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:43:01 +0000

[...] copyright law (which falls under tort, i.e. civil law) and criminal law. Johanna Draper Carlson, in a blog from a few years ago, tries to equate scanlation practices with not obeying the speed limit, in an effort to explain if [...]

By: Online commic suporter

Online commic suporter — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:17:39 +0000

Everybody here isn’t thinking about the rest of the world. It seems like you people only think that manga’s are being read in the US or in Japan. The whole world reads or likes manga’s but it’s not always available in every country. I’m from Belgium (nobody here probably knows where it is)and I know how difficult it is sometimes to find manga’s. We can find a limited offer in our own language (we have 2 languages)and also a limited offer in english but we have to preorder stuff and then wait weeks before we receive it. I bought Shaman king up to volume 24, but I just got sick of it because of the long waiting. If I order it online I have to pay even extra for shipping costs, especially if it has to be shipper from a foreign country! Look, I’m an artist too, I have a deviantart page, a draw almost everyday and I extremely respect the mangaka or artist(s talent. But what do I have to do then, do not read any manga’s anymore? I sometime buy manga’s when it seems interesting just to have them. But reading it online is so much easier, I can do it where I want and when I want, I don’t have to spend extra effort, time and money to find the volumes I need (and believe me, in a country like mine, it’s not always easy) and I still get my daily addiction needs. Believe me if they would make a download base with easy acces (like marvelcomics)where you pay montly a certain amount (not to much either) I think lot’s of people would seek it up. If the quality is better, you just download it once on your pc and always easy acces to read it again without internet, and you know you’re not doing something illegal, I would and lot’s of people would certainly do it. But you’d have to admit, internet is amost everywhere but manga’s aren’t. Easier acces is what they have to do, it’s their obligation to us!! We are the readers, we also buy their manga’s or comics, why do we have an obligation to them if they do not put any effort in this?

Also: some people here are complaining about the translation from japanese to english. If it takes several months or even years to translate it to english, how long do you think it would take before it gets translated to dutch? Hmmmm indeed, if I have to follow that pace, I would still be at the episodes where Naruto is a child instead of a village hero.

By: Hajiwee

Hajiwee — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:23:11 +0000

I agree that scanlations are bad and whatnot for the industry but I feel that the publishers are making too big a fuss blaming all the decline in sales in scanlations and not considering the fact that we’re in a state of an economic crisis where people has less money then ever before and as some people say manga is a luxury so when people have no money people ain’t gonna buy your books. It is also because of the economic crisis we are in that publishers are trying to earn every penny they can which is understandable. However they fail to comprehend that by letting scanlations run when it just started as a way of publicity when the publishers were earning big bucks when we weren’t in an economic slump, led to it’s popularity as scanlations are faster and most of the times within acceptable accurate translation range. And because of that manga became internationally popular even in many places where even a bookstore is rare. And so of course they would find it difficult to remove scanlation sites now as such actions would deprive many people internationally and further deter people from buying printed versions as in such a dangerous point in the economy people are more careful with their money and only want to spend it on worthwhile products, and as the saying goes “you can’t judge a book by it’s cover” so you can’t expect people to buy a manga without knowing whats it about how’s the art. That’s another reason why scanlations are popular. However scanlation sites have crossed the line by making it profitable and not paying the creators for the profit they earn. The worst thing about scanlations are that they are often where new fans of manga are horned these new fans have no idea of what manga is worth or where they come from just that it’s there online. Which is down right insulting to creators. But at this point it is impossible and inhumane to remove scanlation sites as it is the only source of manga for the kids and poor. One thing that’s possible to solve all these problems is very simple actually, that’s to create a another legal scanlation site that’s better than mangafox where users have to create a free account which could be used to track and record that they a reading a manga which could be used to catch people who copy and post on other websites. the site could include ads which generate revenue to pay the creators for their work and include a link to amazon to allow easy access to ways to buy the legal printed versions which includes even the less well known manga where creators can handle their own publication and printing and put them online to sell which could help promote sales for manga and popularity for less well known manga. But I feel that this awesome method will not be adopted any time soon as if adopted the site would have to non-profitable where all profits from ads must go to creators which would make the site a non-profitable online library So that it would be able to compete with sites like mangafox. This means that the site will not make any money which defeats the purpose which publishers are striving to achieve “earn more money by forcing people to buy their printings by removing the free source.”. However I believe that creators would be fine with this site as it’s the same as the library and they earn what they deserve directly. But unfortunately publishers who have the capability and resources to make this happen will not do it as they do not profit from it. As shown by their declination of mangahelper’s suggestion of a similar non-profitable site.

By: Pirates and Their Reasons Part of the Future of Comics » Comics Worth Reading

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:08:57 +0000

[...] I’m curious to see how this all turns out. He’s against the act, as many (but not all) comic professionals who make their income from the direct market are, but a later Twitter comment — where he says, “It seems self-evident to me a huge part of comics’ piracy problem is US eco[nomic] inequality & 20-40% youth unemployment rate” — suggests to me that he is, at least, looking at the big picture. He’s probably already aware of the Underground example, but I thought readers here might be interested in seeing another collection of viewpoints, given the wide-ranging discussion that’s taken place here in the past. [...]

By: Opposing Viewpoints on Comic “Piracy”, Starting With Colleen Doran » Comics Worth Reading

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 02:16:58 +0000

[...] People who file-share don’t hate you, artist. They aren’t even thinking about you. They’re thinking “here’s something I’d like to read/hear/view, and it’s easy, so I [...]

By: Briana Chadek

Briana Chadek — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:36:44 +0000

Well I do agree that it is unfair for the publisher and sellers of the book if we aren’t buying there books from them and all that but they don’t understand that right know we are going though a bad economy and some people are not rich and cant afford to buy manga every two weeks because My family doesnt even make 11,000 dollars per month!!! You also got to think if these writers of manga want us to buy manga from the book stores they need to get those books that are all over theh internet to the stores because if you go on these manga internet sites you can see that they have more mangas on sites then they do in stores!! I read manga on the internet because it gets me off the stresses of the world I LOVE TO READ!!!!! I read off the Internet because its worth while and fun and you have alot more selection of books to choose from. Its kind of funny that people are trying to get rid of manga sites but they dont understand we have been told from a young age that reading is good for you and that you should read more and know its like your trying to say if you want to read you have to pay. WE should have the right to read and have fun reading. if your going to be keeping us from reading then you are pretty ridiculous. Reading is apart of life and we should be able to read for free JUST LIKE A LIBRARY!!!

By: MangaFox Scanlation Site Still Running » Manga Worth Reading

MangaFox Scanlation Site Still Running » Manga Worth Reading — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 20:11:45 +0000

[...] of heart over intellectual property or losing the business, money is what talks. And as long as the demand continues, there’s plenty of audience for them. [...]

By: LolaDaRogue

LolaDaRogue — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:46:13 +0000

I have to be honest, I never knew this was illegal! I always figured that it was fine because you didn’t own or download the mangas, you can only see them online (kind of like music and project playlist or a public library). I thought if it was illegal, you’d see something against it like all the anti-pirating stuff for movies and music. I feel really really stupid now, especially since I’m completely against the whole torrenting thing.

Holy crap. :(

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:23:28 +0000

Lowering wages for those professionals who do translations (when that’s already happened) doesn’t strike me as a smart strategy if you believe in a fair wage for good work. Just because someone is willing to work for free doesn’t mean you should let them do it.

By: Jabun the Wanderer

Jabun the Wanderer — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:29:17 +0000

Hi, I DID have a huge multipage rant for you guys that was pretty much me agreeing about how no one is going to pay twenty bucks for something they can get for free, and then suggesting how the manga providers could lower their prices without cutting their profits too badly even with the economy bathing in the porcelain whirlpool of feces. my idea was that they could lower their prices by opening up more advertising space between panels, as well as hiring the very people whom they are trying to run out of town to do the translation work, instead of the big-time translators like say 4Kids, who has a reputation for metaphorically raping every potentially well-made anime and manga that they get their hands on. since these people are willing to do the translations for free, they would obviously be willing to work for less than those who will only tranlate the stories and subplots if you fork over wads of cash.

these online “scanlators” also have another thing over the professional translators in that they do this job because they are passionate about their work instead of being ruled by the almoghty dollar. In essence, these people would honestly want to do a better job because they would have more respect for the hard work and dedication that the artist has put into the manga themself. In other words, while the artist and the scanlator are on opposing sides, they both have an equal ammount of respect of the product, as well as the scanlator having a high ammount of respect for the author and illustrators. they just happen to show this through the most basic form of flattery. (mimicry for thos not familiar with the addage)

By: Saya

Saya — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:13:39 +0000

I like to read before I buy. I refuse to buy online ANYTHING that is a ‘opinion’ related item (Jewelery, books unless they’re HIGHLY recommended or by an author I trust, clothing, etc). Some things should be ‘tried on’ before they’re purchased. Considering a lot of the publishers want to SHRINK WRAP comics, the only way I’d be able to do that is to go to the Library. They don’t have many of the comics I like, and many I love aren’t even translated yet (Heaven knows, I craved the weekly updates of Inuyasha when it was in publication, and I HATE the American version of Sailor Moon), and since I can’t read Japanese (much less afford to pay shipping for comics FROM JAPAN) I guess I’m just screwed. You know, if they charged a reasonable fee, maybe I WOULD wait for the English publications. But 10-20 dollars for something that costs 200-500 yen in Japan is highway robbery. >.>; So sufi and die.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:26:31 +0000

Wow, that’s a lot for a Pokemon comic! I admire your initiative in hunting down a legal way to get the material, but I can understand why a free alternative would be tempting.

By: Shiny Noctowl

Shiny Noctowl — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:04:48 +0000

In America, Viz has only published the first 7 volumes of Pokémon Adventures (or pokespe, as it’s popularly called). I can get these volumes from my library without having to pay anything. However, pokespe currently has over 30 volumes, and the rest are only published in English by the Singaporean publisher Chuang Yi. Because Chuang Yi doesn’t ship outside of southeast Asia, I have to use eBay to buy pokespe volumes 8+. With shipping and the extra bit of money the seller adds on for his “trouble”, they cost about US$20 per volume!

By: Publishers Threaten Manga Scanlation Sites » Manga Worth Reading

Publishers Threaten Manga Scanlation Sites » Manga Worth Reading — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:12:54 +0000

[...] a book”, especially for titles they may not love or be uncertain about. In other words, reasons for reading free online manga may differ per person. (Disclaimer: I have reviewed a scanlated series before, [...]

By: Lively Internet debate: Bloody pirates! | Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources – Covering Comic Book News and Entertainment

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:32:06 +0000

[...] provided her readers with a primer on copyright. At Comics Worth Reading, Johanna Draper Carlson responded that the way things are now, there are plenty of incentives for readers to use pirate sites and [...]

By: Manga Xanadu » Blog Archive » This Week in Manga 3/20-3/26/10

Manga Xanadu » Blog Archive » This Week in Manga 3/20-3/26/10 — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 19:44:37 +0000

[...] she explains why a aggregator site like Onemanga is illegal. Johanna Draper Carlson replies with a post that readers of scanlations know perfectly well what they’re doing is illegal, and just [...]

By: Another frustrated consumer

Another frustrated consumer — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:16:24 +0000

First off – the first comment on this entry is totally spot-on. There’s a ton of manga out there that has no official translation and no prospect of one forthcoming. The same goes for plenty of anime. This is a seriously dire problem here in Australia, where even those works which have been translated in the USA simply don’t get released here (or are delayed by months and in some cases, years). It’s also hideously overpriced; one volume of manga here costs about $20, even though the same volume might be $7 on Amazon – the problem lies in the shipping costs, so even that turns out to be unviable.

Secondly, what’s with manga publishers in the west putting no effort whatsoever into the presentation of their carefully translated products? I’ve bought manga volumes published in French, a language I have only the most minimal grasp of (albeit much better than my grasp of Japanese, haha) simply because their publications are *beautiful*. I’m talking slipcovers, foil embossings, coloured page edgings, the works. By comparison, volumes published in the USA look about as quality as a crossword book or telephone directory. If the publishers made their products look like something you’d wanna spend money on, they might find people doing just that. Seriously, even just hiring better graphic designers for colour choices and whatnot would help. I’m looking at you, xxxHolic.

By: More Thoughts on Free Online Manga Distribution » Manga Worth Reading

More Thoughts on Free Online Manga Distribution » Manga Worth Reading — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:59:08 +0000

[...] up on my post pondering what users get from scanlation sites and many of the issues surrounding posting and reading free manga online, there have been some [...]

By: Guest editorial: Dear Manga, You Are Broken « MangaBlog

Guest editorial: Dear Manga, You Are Broken « MangaBlog — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:11:10 +0000

[...] few days ago, Johanna Draper Carlson on Comics Worth Reading made the claim that “Legal doesn’t matter” in regards to scanlations. When it comes to the relationship between a reader and the unauthorized [...]