Two Major Anime Leakers To Be Exposed Following First-Time US Court Order 31
For the first time, a U.S. court has ordered the exposure of identities behind anime leaker accounts on X following complaints from producers of Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer. The order was revealed by Japanese anti-piracy organization CODA (Content Overseas Distribution Association). CBR reports: The order to disclose their identities was issued on Aug. 20 and served on Aug. 30, meaning that these Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer leakers will be forced to out themselves, lest they face further legal troubles. Several CODA member companies, which include Kodansha (Attack on Titan), Toei Animation (One Piece) and more collected evidence on these accounts; CODA's report states that it has also received other inquiries about other anime and is preparing for further action. "We will continue to work with the rights holders of the victims to take strict action based on the information of the account owners that comes to light, and will demand severe punishment for these leak accounts," it concludes.
Seems about right... (Score:2)
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Aren't these leakers just taking advantage of licensing gaps? Like they're dumping content that hasn't yet been licensed for distribution in foreign markets? Or are they leaking stuff that hasn't even aired in Japan?
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Aren't these leakers just taking advantage of licensing gaps? Like they're dumping content that hasn't yet been licensed for distribution in foreign markets? Or are they leaking stuff that hasn't even aired in Japan?
They have no right to the anime so they can't do anything with it that they please. That's where the story ends.
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That's . . . not always true.
There were (and probably still are) fansub groups that dumped loads of unlicensed anime on US/UK/EU markets with English subtitles before the publishers had secured any distribution rights outside of Japan. Since there were no licensed distributors, nobody could claim damages for the unauthorized dumps. And they released full episodes for years with impunity in what was often called a "legal grey area".
Once someone picked up a US distribution license, they would pull their fan
Re:Seems about right... (Score:5, Informative)
That's a very generous interpretation of the old wild west of anime fansubs. The original rights holders absolutely could (and some did) sue for damages when they had a harder time securing a distributor or had to settle for a lesser deal when those distributors could argue that the property has less value if they aren't the sole means of distribution (legal or otherwise).
I believe most of the time they didn't bother because the cost of investigation and litigation would likely exceed the cost recovered and many of these companies also rightly considered the English speaking markets to be "emerging" and didn't want to discourage activity that might ultimately open up new markets for paying customers.
But once Anime was fairly well entrenched in the US and those distribution deals because worth considerably more money they pursued legal action more often.
None of that legitimized the "grey market" activity and it certainly doesn't mean someone can get away with it today just because they turned a blind eye before.
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For 90% of anime aren't leaks kind of silly? (Score:1)
Then again I skip all the Isekai slop that's out there and some of that might not have any source material. But I'm trying to imagine someone who would actually care if something like shield hero or God one of those random Isekais whos
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Re: For 90% of anime aren't leaks kind of silly? (Score:2)
The editors once again did an awful job with TFS. TFA shows were not talking about leaks as in spoilers, but leaks as in partial or even full episodes being released months before official first release.
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Aren't these leakers just taking advantage of licensing gaps? Like they're dumping content that hasn't yet been licensed for distribution in foreign markets?
Doesn't matter. As a producer, I own the content and the rights to distribute it. Covered by numerous international treaties. The mob ... excuse me, regional distributors, might control access to local markets. But until I negotiate with them, no gaps exist.
As consumers, you and I are effectively owned* by distributors. No one is allowed to sell us their product unless they have negotiated a cut of the revenue stream.
*And you thought Lincoln freed the slaves?
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The out-of-print content should be handled with the administration of a firm finger-wagging by the judge. As there is no longer any distribution and therefore no revenue to be lost, damages should be based on these numbers. In other words: zero.
No links to the actual 'court order'? (Score:1)
Seems a bit suspect that there's no link or even a case# mentioned.
It's 2024? (Score:1)
They've had plenty of time to fix up, but didn't, so they can reap what they sow.
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So the reseller is responsible for obeying local laws and paying all costs in that jurisdiction: The downside is, they can charge whatever they like. (Copyright piracy means the publisher makes 'less' sales and thus, must protect its resellers.)
Re: It's 2024? (Score:2)
It's 2024, why the fuck are there still people like you?
Crunchyroll and others have been simulcasting lots of subbed anime, including everything remotely popular, for years now.
You've had years to fix up your ignorance.
Fifth amendment.. Details please? (Score:2)
The article and the summary cannot be accurate. A judge can't order someone to incriminate themselves. I hope. Then again this is a new era for US law. Maybe the Bill of Rights doesn't matter.
It sure would be nice to have a link to the judge's order. It seems like journalists should cite that as a source, but they rarely do.
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IANAL but I don't think that would count as self-incrimination. They're not being ordered to admit they did it, just that they control a particular account, just as someone who matches a description in the area of a crime might be detained and ordered to produce identification but cannot be forced to admit they committed the crime.
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This is more equivalent to ordering anyone who was in the area at the time of the crime to come forward. You don't have to tell the police you were there, or to answer any questions.
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For the record (Score:1)
Not that anyone cares, but I could not watch Attack on Titan. I watchted the first episode and called it quits. There were so many, "Why did they do that?" moments that the sheer nonsense got to me.
Unpopular opinion, don't care.
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Anime is meant to be consumed by underdeveloped man-children. You must not be one of those.
Oddly enough, I do watch anime. But only certain ones. I certainly cannot rattle off names of an anime and all the characters therein. If I'm lucky I can name a character from something I watched.
It's something different to watch considering how bad movies are. Some are completely stupid and I know that going in. Others are decently crafted and fun to watch.
if they've done it right... (Score:2)