They are damn lucky that BFC wasn't as heartless as those so called
"anime-fans-for-the-greater-good" and respond with a lawsuit.
I believe the forum page of today's Home Section, someone commented
that the Japanese animation industry is booming and not ailing
despite filesharing of their anime. In the article, it quotes the
2006 issue of Reason Magazine, saying, that the Japanese animation
industry reached an astonishing $80 billion in 2004, which was 10
times what they were, in 2003.
These fansubs have helped promoted otherwise unknown titles of
Japanse animation to popularity.
The comment by the author was made in response to Mr Go's statement
that the Japanese animation industries banded together for
crackdown action to prevent a possible collapse, like the South
Korean ones.
I think most anime fans know the real reason behind South Korean
animation industry collapse. Fansubs couldn't save them simply cos
the Korean language is not as well proliferated as the Japanese
language, hence lesser fansubs, and lower market penetration. It
was not due to piracy that forced them to shut down.
My personal opinions regarding this remain the same. Odex is doing
this because their profits, NOT the Japanese animation industry's
has been hurt by fansubs. Now, if they had been providing quality
products, and released them quickly via the internet in
pay-per-download fashion, I would FULLY support their attempt to
sue "illegal downloaders." Anime fans today DON'T WANT to
wait months for a VCD/DVD to be released with crappy subtitling.
They want their fix of their fav anime as soon as its
out.
Also, Odex failed to understand that its these fansubs that have
brought awareness & popularity to THEIR products.
Without the fansubs and anime fans who downloaded (may i add, well
subbed) animes, Odex would have no business to be in at all.
Positive experience from these fansubs have brought about awareness
to the new animes by recommendations and reviews.
Dear Odex, stop antagonizing all the anime fans that are supposed
to form your customer base. You have to match the fansubs in
quality, and speed before most anime fans would support your
enforcement action.
