One Manga is closing down

[Columbine]

Originally Posted by SSJup81

Interesting way of putting it, but seems that those who do the scanlations don't do it for profit, so they're not really getting much out of it either.

You're kidding right? Ok, the diddly little LJ rings and whatever don't earn anything, but big sites like OneManga can make a mint off of ad-space sales.

[RobinMask]

Originally Posted by Columbine

You're kidding right? Ok, the diddly little LJ rings and whatever don't earn anything, but big sites like OneManga can make a mint off of ad-space sales.

I didn't actually realise this until you just pointed it out, in retrospect it should have been obvious to me that they make money from the ads, but I never really paid attention. In that case I can perhaps see why some users like MMM get so frustrated, it's essentially stealing. Places like OneManga are useing artists work to get money when the artists get nothing in return.

I still think it's somewhat unfair that readers abroad have to wait years to read their manga compared to those in Japan who get it instantly, but stealing isn't okay either . . . perhaps the artists or companies could create legal sites where people can pay to read or something? That case everyone would win.

[magicalgirlj]

Originally Posted by RobinMask

It is a sad thing that the site's closing down, it was an excellent site. I don't really understand why it's closing down though to be honest, I mean since onemanga and mangafox have taken down their manga dozens of other links have popped up with 'ah, but you can go here instead and still read it!' . . . if people can still easily find it online then it seems silly to try and stop them from reading it, and not particulary fair to make one or two sites close but not any of the others

It's because scans are ruining the inustry, people would rather read scans then buy manga. The only scans I read are Elfen Lied and Dragon Half. I would buy them if they were licensed

[dogsbody70]

this is off topic but is relevant because its the same with the music industry because of all the illegal downloads.

If the creators and all those involved do not get paid for their work, then you would end up with losing such things Like Manga and music altogether.

Many young people do not seem to understand that these sites that provide something for free and it does not reimburse the companies that produce then generally they will die out.

Is there not a way to order directly from Japan?

We buy many things from JAPAn so why not Manga etc?

[MMM]

Originally Posted by SSJup81

Interesting way of putting it, but seems that those who do the scanlations don't do it for profit, so they're not really getting much out of it either.

You raise a good point here, and one worth exploring.

There are essentially three players in this "business plan" but only one of them really gains anything.

1) You have the creators, artists and publishers. They create and publish a title that is meant to be purchased by fans.

2) A scanlator group buys the book, then scans the pages into digital form. They then translate the book, and send it to manga "sharing" site, like One Manga.

3) The manga "sharing" site then makes it available to the public. The site stays alive using advertising.

Groups 1 and 2 basically get screwed. I don't need to explain how the creators and publishers get screwed in this business plan, but I will explain how the scanlator groups basically whore themselves for no gain.

You can imagine One Manga as basically a pimp, and as a scanlator group as a runaway teen on the streets in the big city. The pimp tells the runaway "Yeah, do scans for me and you'll get famous. You will prove you are a good translator for manga and the big (legit) publishers will be hunting you down to hire you to translate for them."

The scanlator groups fall for this BS because they see the site has a lot of big legit advertisers (who may not even know they are advertising on a site that peddles pirated goods) so they put their blood sweat and tears into scanning and translating the latest and most popular titles, or what they think might be the next be thing under the delusion that the legit industry is going to take notice and hire them for money.

The problem is that there are more legit translators then there are projects to do, and publishers HATE manga "sharing" sites and do NOT hire scanlators to do legit jobs. On One Manga's forums now the staff there asks fans of manga to contact the publishers and ask them to form a union and work together. Are they delusional? Maybe...or it is a smart strategy to keep looking legitimate. Make it the publishers' fault for not "working with" the pirates.

[manganimefan227]

`s NOT a glamorous or high paid job

Interesting, care to elaborate? (As far as how much they make) I've always wondered if writing and drawing a manga, like Masashi Kishimoto, would be enough to live on.


And to those who may have this senario:

If a manga/anime was never lisenced in America, you should have never had the access to watch/read it online, and chances are, if you heard of it from a fellow American, they should not have heard it either and so on . . .

[SSJup81]

Originally Posted by RobinMask

I didn't actually realise this until you just pointed it out, in retrospect it should have been obvious to me that they make money from the ads, but I never really paid attention. In that case I can perhaps see why some users like MMM get so frustrated, it's essentially stealing. Places like OneManga are useing artists work to get money when the artists get nothing in return.

Same here. I didn't think of that either, so in that sense, I understand. I always forget about websites using ads and all that. Guess that's because I've never run a website or a webpage or a message board.

I still think it's somewhat unfair that readers abroad have to wait years to read their manga compared to those in Japan who get it instantly, but stealing isn't okay either . . . perhaps the artists or companies could create legal sites where people can pay to read or something? That case everyone would win.

I'm not as bothered by that (waiting), it bothers me when a series I want to read never gets a license period for me to buy. More obscure series won't get a license and older series won't either, not that I can find said series scanlated anyway, but it would be nice for some of the series I'm interested in could get licenses. For example, I mentioned Q.E.D. I was first introduced to the series through its drama (didn't see all of it, just an ep) and became interested in its manga, but the US doesn't have a license for it. I only read a couple of chapters of it, and still waiting for it to get a license, but I doubt it'll happen, unless it got licensed recently and I missed the news since I've been here. I don't think detective series are very popular in the west.

I'm very happy, though, that some of the Legend of Zelda manga series are licensed now, so I can collect those.

[JasonTakeshi]

Originally Posted by MMM

My answer could have been read two ways.

It is no secret that I have contracted translations for manga publishers and anime distributors. I do not work full time for the anime and manga industry, but I do have friends who do.

However, I don't want any connection with the industry to make my factual assertions about piracy to be construed as any less valid. If anything that makes them more valid, as I know people who have lost jobs due to (in part) of the prevalence of piracy. I am not asking for sympathy of them, but understanding that scanlation sites are stealing and illegal. One Manga was one of the biggest (if not the biggest), and its destruction is hopefully one of many. There was a sense there that due to sheer numbers what they were doing was "OK". I know many users here have fallen under that misguided spell.

Understand that what they did was not OK. It was stopped because it is illegal, damaging and, in the end, taught poor values about the value of manga.

1 down, 2 raised.

It won't stop. Atleast not for now.

Edit: I've presented some ideas about anti-scanlation but they were all ignored.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by manganimefan227

Interesting, care to elaborate? (As far as how much they make) I've always wondered if writing and drawing a manga, like Masashi Kishimoto, would be enough to live on.


And to those who may have this senario:

If a manga/anime was never lisenced in America, you should have never had the access to watch/read it online, and chances are, if you heard of it from a fellow American, they should not have heard it either and so on . . .

No, it is not a high paying or particularly glamorous lifestyle. It's almost worse when one gets popular, as there is more pressure for more pages a week/month from the publisher, and assistants have to be hired to help draw, shade, etc.

In this modern online world we hear about new titles instantly. It wasn't like that 15 years ago before Internet. There are plenty of manga I have picked up in Japan by artists I like that haven't been licensed in the US, so I can't read them in English. That's life! I can just suggest them to American manga publishers and hope for the best.

Gotta run now, but Jason I will get to your points later tonight.

[MMM]

Jason, in the forums at One Manga it was written that 30+ manga scanlation sites have shut down in recent days.

Scanlation is different than, say, porn where you just copy-paste. Scanlation takes an effort. One Manga and many of these sites have been up for years. Finally the publishers in Japan and the US are unifying to knock these illegal sites off the block.


You said you made some suggestions about fighting piracy. I am not seeing them here. Please help me out.