Hajime no Ippo 76 changed my life. (not really) Fansubs

[Adv1sor]

Are fansubs right or wrong?

I am going by the rule that, if the anime can be purchased in the US, then you shouldn't download or stream it online. If not, then it's fare game. (Can you steal something that's not for sale?)

I just finished the series, Hajime no Ippo. I went to look for the next season and found that there was another episode, 76, that was not inlcuded in the US DVDs.

Now I am reconsidering my position on what I will and will not download.

US dvds often have the background music changed and will change the scripts to "americanize" the story. Sometimes they leave out entire scenes and now I find that they even leave out entire episodes. US DVDs do not provide Japanese cultural tips and usually don't sub signs or other printed material shown in the show.

I say it is wrong to buy a US DVD and post it on the internet and it is wrong to download such material.

But what about fan subs? What they are offering is not for sale, not even when the anime is licensed and distributed in the US.

I realize that, if everyone watched fan subs and never bought any DVDs the US distributors would go away. But don't the companies that make anime make most of their money off the televised programs?

Your thoughts?

[76]

I did--er, oh.

I have to agree that 'you can't steal something that's not for sale'.

Oxygen isn't for sale.

And you can't find it on the moon.

Does that make Astronauts thieves!?

My more serious thoughts: Buy the anime if you can. If you can't, get it the way you can.

Life's too short to do without because some company wants to be fickle about intellectual property.

[Adv1sor]

76, I won't judge but, for me, I can't use money, or the lack thereof, as an argument to justify the downloads.

Let's look at the question another way.

Is it stealing to listen to a song on utube when you know the person who uploaded the song doesn't own the copyright?