[Dr Kain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatoronfire4lord

For my second post, I make perhaps an equally unpopular post to saying not to worry about Purple Dricera yet.

The news of a subbed Zyuranger DVD US set has me...concerned. Hear me out.

As toku fans in the US, we have been SO LUCKY. We have a number of wonderful fangroups taking this foreign treasure, translating it for us, and providing it to us FOR FREE. I have no doubt whatsoever that Shout Factory will do an amazing job at the former. But they aren't gonna give it away for free.

No, they are going to charge a pretty penny. And having a license to provide that service for Zyuranger, any fangroup working on that show will be legally obligated to stop. TV-Nihon has already said that once this news goes on Shout's website, they will likely pull all torrents of Zyuranger they've done. Other groups will have to as well.

But we'll have official sources! You will be able to go out and buy the entire show! Yeah...for a price. That's the thing. It takes a show like Zyuranger that was available to anyone with an internet connection for free, and turns it into something that can only be experienced by someone with the cash to plunk down for an entire box set, or generous friends/family etc.

And I realize older shows like Zyuranger are inconsistently available, so having the entire series subbed is awesome. But is that where it ends? Do we just get Zyuranger? Many people have already said they hope this does well so we get other series. The closer we grow to current, the more concerned I become. What if we reach a point where Shout reaches some near-concurrent deal with Toei? Release a box set in the US near the same time as in Japan? The fansub community would just about die.

And I do say just about because I realize something becoming illegal doesn't stop everyone. But it makes you have to decide to do something "illegal" (quotation marks, in this case, for anti-emphasis) by downloading from sources knowingly violating a license. If you're the kind of person that downloads the latest Hollywood movies, this isn't going to bother you. Somebody will rip those things, get torrents online, etc. But right now, this stuff is free AND legal.

So ending this accidental essay of a post, I'm conflicted. I love the legitimacy that comes with an official DVD release in the United States, and the overall toku fan in me wants it do well. I just worry about what it means for fansubs, and the community of American toku fans that has formed thanks in large part to fansubbers.

(Disclaimer: Writer of this post is not a fansubber or member of any fansubbing group. Just a dude that appreciates him some fansubs.)

OH no, how dare people charge a price to buy DVDs. How dare we have to pay to support a show we love.

Sorry, but all I hear is someone waawaa about having to put money forth to support a show. I went out and bought the Region 2 DVDs for $500 for the entire series. The whole series from Shout will most likely come to $40-50, so please, don't give me your crocodile tears about how unfair it is to spend money on something. Hell, I already said I'm going to buy additional copies to use as prizes.

Finally, how is this any different than anime? Hell, anime has less of a fansubber market since every new series is now streamed legally subtitled as it airs.

[ComicGuy89]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

OH no, how dare people charge a price to buy DVDs. How dare we have to pay to support a show we love.

Sorry, but all I hear is someone waawaa about having to put money forth to support a show. I went out and bought the Region 2 DVDs for $500 for the entire series. The whole series from Shout will most likely come to $40-50, so please, don't give me your crocodile tears about how unfair it is to spend money on something. Hell, I already said I'm going to buy additional copies to use as prizes.

Finally, how is this any different than anime? Hell, anime has less of a fansubber market since every new series is now streamed legally subtitled as it airs.

For my part, I'm just worried that this licensing does not extend internationally. Often it's USA-only, so other places have difficulty getting it. Even worse if you're not one of the big markets of US, Canada, Europe, Australia.

It's really not entirely about the money. I mean some of it is, but for me, at least, the main issue is that often times a US producer will assume their English speaking market is US-only, shut down unofficial avenues, leaving places that are non-US to dry. For example, Sailor Moon Crystal is subbed legally only in select countries. What if you're not from one of them, like some European countries?

Of course, I'm still happy that they're getting the license, because it means more official releases for at least the American market, which may expand to other markets too (though unless Village Roadshow here changes their distribution mentality soon, that may not happen here). At any rate, fansubbers probably won't die out for those who still don't have an official, affordable alternative.

[Dr Kain]

The beauty about DVDs is they can always be imported.

[ComicGuy89]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

The beauty about DVDs is they can always be imported.

They can, and if there was a Sentai series they released that I planned on watching, or loved, I most likely will anyway.

But, isn't that breaking another rule anyway? You're not supposed to import DVDs, that's why they have region locks in place. If I import those Power Rangers sets from Shout Factory, for example, I am stepping and infringing on the license of Village Roadshow, who is the distributor here. I am overriding the intended DRM on the US discs. There's always the "not for sale outside the USA" bit.

The point is that this is still disrespecting the licenses of those involved. Of course, I'll also need to figure out how to get it to run on my PC.

[Electric Turahk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electric Turahk

Yep, overall kinda sad.

And for once I used Twitter yet my question is going unanswered so guess I'll ask here too...

Did anyone ask about reissuing the Gokaigers in the US?

So.... No?

[ComicGuy89]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electric Turahk

So.... No?

I can't provide first hand information but it seems no.

[WhiteRanger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComicGuy89

They can, and if there was a Sentai series they released that I planned on watching, or loved, I most likely will anyway.

But, isn't that breaking another rule anyway? You're not supposed to import DVDs, that's why they have region locks in place. If I import those Power Rangers sets from Shout Factory, for example, I am stepping and infringing on the license of Village Roadshow, who is the distributor here. I am overriding the intended DRM on the US discs. There's always the "not for sale outside the USA" bit.

The point is that this is still disrespecting the licenses of those involved. Of course, I'll also need to figure out how to get it to run on my PC.

Not really my DVD player a region free DVD player that I bought in a electronic store who gave us the code for it. If it as breaking a rule amazon.com wod not let you buy from them to ship it to your contry or amazon.co.uk selling it on there site and telling you it's from the us

[ComicGuy89]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRanger

Not really my DVD player a region free DVD player that I bought in a electronic store who gave us the code for it. If it as breaking a rule amazon.com wod not let you buy from them to ship it to your contry or amazon.co.uk selling it on there site and telling you it's from the us

It's not wrong to have a region-free DVD player. Most people here have them. But the licensors don't like it. They did not intend to sell the DVDs outside the USA.

[WhiteRanger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComicGuy89

It's not wrong to have a region-free DVD player. Most people here have them. But the licensors don't like it. They did not intend to sell the DVDs outside the USA.

Yea but I think they lighten up more now cause they are still getting money from us. Heck most DVD from funimation are region 1,2 and 4 and some there blu ray are region A and B heck even WB blu rays are region free.

[ComicGuy89]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRanger

Yea but I think they lighten up more now cause they are still getting money from us. Heck most DVD from funimation are region 1,2 and 4 and some there blu ray are region A and B heck even WB blu rays are region free.

Yup, sometimes they do, and that's awesome. To be honest, most of the time companies turn a blind eye to these things even though they are against it officially. Kind of like fansubs, which are tolerated because it induces spending on merchandise.