Legality of anime download sites

[KingGheedora]

Why aren't these sites being sued? Narutofan.com, for example, charges people to download anime videos. They also have manga that you can download for free. Shouldn't this be illegal?

 

[xeemzor]

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
Why aren't these sites being sued? Narutofan.com, for example, charges people to download anime videos. They also have manga that you can download for free. Shouldn't this be illegal?

Not all anime has a company with distribution rights, or even a copyright, in the US.

 

[George P Burdell]

I believe Naruto is copyrighted in the United States, but I may be wrong.

 

[xeemzor]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
I believe Naruto is copyrighted in the United States, but I may be wrong.

It has too, since I'm pretty sure I have seen it on Cartoon Network.

 

[KingGheedora]

You can also buy naruto manga in book stores in the US. So anyone know if these anime sites are legal?

 

[Sphexi]

First rule about Naruto club, we don't talk about Naruto club!

 

[Maleficus]

It's illegal.

Even anime that isn't licensed in the US is still technically illegal.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
I believe Naruto is copyrighted in the United States, but I may be wrong.

Only certain episodes. US companies generally buy the copyrights once the Japanese DVDs come out (and then they assign a minimum wage voice cast to dub the voices, edit out any content considered too violent or riske for kids, and release as their own).

If the website doesn't have distribution rights then it is copyright infringement, but for all you know they've struck a deal with the copyright holders.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: Maleficus
It's illegal.

Even anime that isn't licensed in the US is still technically illegal.

Indeed, you are breaking the copyright on Japanese intellectual property (and I'm sure there is some sort of international agreement that establishes these things, but I honestly have no idea what it would even fall under).

Of course, I wouldn't be worried about a Japanese company suing American anime downloaders... only the fansub sites have anything to worry about, and they generally don't receive copyright infringement letters until a series gets licensed.

 

[IEC]

Japanese studios don't seem to mind fansubs spreading their name as long as their work isn't being distributed in X country/language anyways. Might even be good for them by bringing more people to the genre and increase sales when they do come out in a localized/subbed version.

I hate dubs of anything though. Original language is almost always superior.

 

[nsafreak]

Originally posted by: Spartan Niner
Japanese studios don't seem to mind fansubs spreading their name as long as their work isn't being distributed in X country/language anyways. Might even be good for them by bringing more people to the genre and increase sales when they do come out in a localized/subbed version.

I hate dubs of anything though. Original language is almost always superior.

That depends. I agree that the majority of the time the original language is superior but there are a few anime series that I can think of that I think sound equal/superior to the native language one. And yes I have the original language (japanese usually) DVDs of said animes along with subs. The ones that spring to mind first for me are Bleach, Yu Yu Hakushoe (sp?) and Tenchi Muyo.

 

[xeemzor]

Originally posted by: Spartan Niner
Japanese studios don't seem to mind fansubs spreading their name as long as their work isn't being distributed in X country/language anyways. Might even be good for them by bringing more people to the genre and increase sales when they do come out in a localized/subbed version.

I hate dubs of anything though. Original language is almost always superior.

So true. The only dubs I ever liked were for cowboy bebop.