FUNimation's "licensing" pwnage....

[angelx03]

Seriously, this has to be a rather peculiar way to "license" series.

Funimation Enforces Intelectual Property Rights (2005-12-07 17:42:17)
Funimation recently informed fansub group (omitted, go to ANN if you're curious), "We own or control various exclusive copyrights and trademarks related to the animated motion pictures, including but not limited to, the series known as “Speed Grapher,” “Trinity Blood,” “FullMetal Alchemist,” “Dragon Ball,” “Solty Rei” a.k.a. “Origin,” “Detective Conan” a.k.a. “Case Closed,” and “Tsubasa”." This was after Funimation had contacted the registrar for ****** domain name, resulting in the registrar, Joker.com, freezing the domain name. Solty Rei and Tsubasa have not yet been announced for release by Funimation.

Oh yeah, this does include Gonzo's Black Cat..

New Funimation "licenses"
It has come to the attention of the AnimeSuki staff that Funimation has send a Cease & Desist letter to **** and a certain large anime fansub torrent site requesting them to remove Solty Rei, Tsubasa Chronicle and Black Cat. While we consider it an odd move to announce a license in this way, this news is compelling enough to mark these series as licensed in our database as a precaution.

I'm not too surprised that FUNi is interested in those newer Gonzo titles, but I never expected them to be interested in Tsubasa Chronicles (well it is a CLAMP and a Bee Train title though I expected ADV or Bandai to have better chances with it).

[Otohiko]

What's with Funi going around giving roundhouse kicks to the subbers?

Forgive me if I find that a little extreme; though I suppose it's a way to make sure fansubbers keep their word insofar as stopping distribution

[Unpronounceable_Symbol]

I almost wonder if someone at FUNi messed up and gave the wrong list of titles to the Rabid Lawyer Team, resulting in said Team sending C&Ds over series that hadn't been announced or finalized yet.

I wonder how FUNi is going to roll with this one, though. I wouldn't count on all those series being in the clear for R1 release yet.

[greenrider85]

okay this is a little off the subject but i heard that funimation is going to do the english dub version of bleach..

[Harlock7876]

Silly Funimation. That's the MPAA's job!

[RamonesFan2020204]

Yeah, way to go FUNi!!!!!! Show 'em who's boss!

[KingSchwill]

I was wondering what happened to my Solty Rei
Well screw time to toss those discs if I can't have a series done by one group exclusively I won't have it at all

[AquaSky]

Funimation really has no business with such good licenses anyhow. They ought to leave them to the quality companies and stick to kiddy shows.

[cholinms]

Funimation isn't just kiddy shows anymore. And they've deen doing a decentjob with a lot of their new stuff, too. But, back on topic. I do think it kind of odd that they would single out that paticular torrent site. That site has a very established policy of removing torrents when they become licenced. I don't think they've even had one mistake where a title was left available after it's licence date. Just seems like more of the Copy Police trying to stamp out any kind of free download. I'm wiatingfor the day when they try to enforce those rules on an organization like this one. Making people pay the copy right holders a royalty for using there exclusive footage. It's getting so bad these days that I'm waiting for them to start charging you for each time you veiw copy righted material.

[Heero_Yuy84]

If some of the execs had their way, they probably would. Remember, we ARE looking at the same types of people that wanted a cut of the profits as royalties any time a used CD was resold.