[Mimuey]

I'm sorry if this topic has apparently nothing to do with Gakuen Alice... but I really am confused about some things concerning scanlations:

Okay, there are groups in the internet who upload the scans and make a translation and so on ... I don't know where they get the scans from ( I think directly from magazines like "LaLa"), but these scans and translations are made and uploaded by them - that means they are the "owners" of it and no one is allowed to "steal" it. (Hope I didn't get it wrong...)

Here is my question:
When does it become illegal?
Would it be illegal, if I buy a manga magazine, translate the series and upload the scanlation in the internet (because I'm not a scanlating group, or a member of one)?
---> won't ever happen, because I can't read chinese or japanese...


(My English is not so good, so.. sorry If I made some terrible mistakes ^^'')

[TheRandomChocolate]

To be honest, I'm confused myself BUT I think if you translate it yourself and then upload it, then it is not illegal but you might want to ask the mods or Secret. Wing(s).

[yami_no_tenshi1563]

It gets illegal when the raw (the japanese scans) are not theirs and not allowed for other people's use except for the group and they still use it without credit so in short they stole it. For translations for example I translaetd something you get it then say it was you or someone else that did it then you'll call the real translator a faker. Third there are even some poeple who steal the scans themselves and just change the credits.

In short it's stealing when you take something that's not yours or use something you're not allowed to use then credit yourself is this clear enough?

[seeliespright]

Technically, the entire process is illegal, as the original Japanese magazines and tankoubon scanned are copyright in Japan. But Japanese publishers are not particularly concerned about such theft because they feel that in the end, it brings more readers to their series, and results in more purchases of their magazines and tankoubon.

Publishers in America are much more sensitive about copyright material (as are all mass-media producers: music, film, etc.) because of the thrust of capitalism and their fear of losing money. So, most scanlation studios drop projects after they have been licensed in America because 1. an official publisher has started translating the series into English, so they don't need to 2. American publishers could come after them and shut down their work.

For manga on the Internet being scanlated, the fans who scan, translate, and edit chapters want to be credited for their work, so it is considered theft when someone takes their work without crediting or without their permission. Technically, however, they do not hold copyright, save the translators who (I'm almost certain) have copyright over their translation.

[TheRandomChocolate]

I thought it was illegal anyway... I mean they don't let you read it on One Manga anymore.

[Sgblade15]

yeah, onemanga doesn't let you read it anymore cause tokyopop doesn't want to lose money from people not buying the book, especially since it was such a big hit in Japan. But to me personally, when I read it on the site, I would still wanna buy it
I think Viz kinda figured that out and lets them, since none of Viz licensed manga has been taken out of onemanga, or at least the majority, i mean, even naruto is still on there even though its been licensed and people still do buy them
...Though I ended up buying the japanese version instead of the Tokyopop one, nothing againstt them, just wanted to practice ^-^

[akamepeace]

yeah...even if ive read the chapters already...i'll still go to barnes&noble to buy the book since i like to compare the translation and editing stuff hehe...
so...eventhough it's illegal..people wont care....everyone has their own will....

[crunchykat]

yeah, for example, vizmedia has banned the gakuen alice in onemanga.com... it was because of profit reasons... but i was also thinking that if it was banned in onemanga, how come they don't ban it in mangafox? don't get me wong guys, i was just curious. i really wish that they won't prohibit the scanlations of manga...

[akamepeace]

its tokyopop...
well..i think maybe tokyopop still doesnt know bout this site..
or maybe they just fed up on stopping people...
or maybe they've just realized that thing like this give them more profit...hehe

[silverfire15]

Originally Posted by akamepeace

its tokyopop...
well..i think maybe tokyopop still doesnt know bout this site..
or maybe they just fed up on stopping people...
or maybe they've just realized that thing like this give them more profit...hehe

yeah~
I agree with you xD
it would be a waste of their time cause they can't really track all of the people who scanlate this manga~

I mean, come on, they can't possible roam the earth just to put us in prison?