Licensing and Fansubs
When anime, manga, novels, games, and other merchandise is created, the copyright laws of its country of origin immediately apply. All anime, manga and other media created in Japan are the intellectual property of their Japanese creators. In other countries, such as the United States, the intellectual property must be licensed from the original copyright holder in order for a translated version to be created.
Boys on Boys on Film tries to strike a balance between respect and appreciation of the original Japanese creators, and the desires of anime and manga fans to promote and experience unlicensed titles.
Unlicensed Japanese Media
Anime, manga, games and other media are sometimes translated by fans of the titles who speak both Japanese and English. These fans then offer the translations for free in various forms:
Fansubs: short for "fan subtitled," which refers to an anime that has been translated and subtitled by amateur fan groups. Most fansubs now are distributed in digital format over the Internet using various file-sharing programs and services.
Scanslations: a compound of "scan" and "translation," or a scanned copy of a non-English manga in which the Japanese text is replaced with an English translation. Fan groups produce these images, and most are distributed over the Internet using IRC and other file-sharing programs and services.
Fan translations: text-only translations of any media, such as novels or video game scripts, intended for use alongside the original Japanese media, instead of replacing Japanese dialogue with English.
Fansubs and scanslations are not technically legal. No one is entitled to fansubs or scanslations -- they are property of the Japanese creator. Distributing any intellectual property without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal in most countries. However, in order to promote their titles to more fans, many Japanese copyright holders will "look the other way" and will not prosecute fan groups. It is not only common courtesy, but legally required, to stop distributing copies if the copyrightholder requires it.
Boys on Boys on Film will distribute and provide links to unlicensed, fansubbed Japanese anime when this is the only way for English-speaking fans to see the title.
When Titles Are Licensed
When we speak of a title being "licensed," we mean that it has been picked up by a U.S. media company for release in the U.S. with some form of English tranlsation. For anime, this most often means the title will be released on DVD, either with an English voice dub, or English subtitles, or both. For manga, this means that the title will be released in paperback book form, with the original Japanese text replaced with an English translation. Once a title is licensed, U.S. copyright law is in effect, and any unofficial copies, such as digital versions, are illegal in the U.S.
Boys on Boys on Film, along with any reputable fansub or scanslation group, will remove the fan translated copy from circulation once it has been licensed. We will not distribute digital copies of licensed anime under any circumstances.
DVD Rips and Bootlegs
Fansubs are not the only kind of illegal copies of anime available. The Internet has made illegal copying of all kinds of intellectual property, including anime, very easy.
DVD Rips
Digitally copying anime from a licensed DVD is called "ripping" the DVD. It isn't hard to find these digital to download online, or on video sites such as YouTube. Downloading or online viewing of digital copies of licensed anime is illegal.
Bootleg DVDs
Sometimes, even when we're trying to do the right thing and purchase anime on DVD, we can be tricked by bootleg DVDs. Individuals in locations with lax copyright laws, most often Hong Kong, can make copies of Japanese anime, and subtitle it in English -- often so bad it's difficult to understand. Bootleg DVDs are illegal. Bootlegs are not always easy to spot, but you can educate yourself with these resources:
Why Is This Important?
Quite simply, when fans buy licensed copies, some of the profit is returned to the original Japanese creator. Purchasing licensed titles instead of downloading them allows English-speaking fans to express their appreciation for the anime and manga they love!
Wondering if a certain title is licensed or not? Check out Anime on DVD's Grand High Licensing List.