Otaku and Fansubs: Anime and Copyright

Of otaku and fansubs A critical look at anime onlinein light of current issues in copyright law BILETA 2007

University of Hertfordshire17 April 2007

JS Hatcherjordan at opencontentlawyer dot com

What is anime?

What is a fansub?

fan + subtitled = fansub

Fan community

“Sailor Moon is like a gateway drug”

- Janet Varela, referring to her daughter’s new obsession with anime

fans = otaku

some controversy

History

010101010111110010101010000111010101 ‘digisubs’

• Mid-80’s origin• Universities• Birth of anime

distributors• Fansubs helped

form the market• Digital copies• Move to completely

Fansub production• Similarities to open

source• Distributed work• Highly skilled

Between dojinshi and p2p

v.

v.

v.

Legal aspects

Article 9Relation to the Berne Convention1. Members shall comply with Articles 1

through 21 of the Berne Convention (1971) and the Appendix thereto. However, Members shall not have rights or obligations under this Agreement in respect of the rights conferred under Article 6bis of that Convention or of the rights derived therefrom.

Translation• adaptations (UK)

– CDPA s. 21 (3)(a)(i).

• derivative works (US)– 17 U.S.C. § 106 (2)

ReproductionDistribution

Rights in national law

Moral rights• Prevent false attribution

– CDPA 1988 s 84 (UK)

• Derogatory treatment– CDPA 1988 s 80 (UK)

• Right to identification– CDPA 1988 s 77 (UK)

False attribution?Passing off?

Fair use / dealing

Factors to consider• Transformativeness?• Amount and substantiality• Effect on market

– Anime = big biz• Translation only + Amazon.co.jp• Fansubs better?

Fair Dealing

Not likely an exception • Not criticism or review• Doesn't fit into other areas

“‘Rights which cannot be realised are worse than useless; they are

traps of delay, expense and heartache”

Karl N. Llewellyn, Bramble Bush: On our law and its study

Fansubs v. licensedQualitative differences

Fansub ethics

Justifications

• Promotional aspects• Fansub replacement• Try before you buy• Show never licensed outside of Jp• Digisubs too much

Ethics cont.

• Stop once released in Japan• Stop once announced in N.A.

– Avidly follow licensing deals

• Compliance appears high in relation to other p2p areas

Anime industry approach

Anime v. MPAA/RIAA

• Don’t seem to use notice and take down (DMCA)

• Announce licenses– informal letters

• No lawsuits• PR at cons

Industry benefits?

Potential fansub benefits

• In the beginning…• Build non-English language fanbase• Build audience (similar to TV)• Identify shows to license

– yaoi, yuri, and shojo

Final thoughts

• Held captive?– Negative reaction from fans

• But could step up enforcement in line with fansub ethics

Thanks!

Paper availablehttp://www.law.ed.ac.uk/AHRB/script-ed/vol2-4/hatcher.asp

JS Hatcherjordan at opencontentlawyer dot com

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