[Quasar]

Weekly Shonen Jump or WSJ makes a move to take down online manga and unauthorized copies since it is illegal. First FUNimation and now this.

In this year's 20th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine on Monday, the editors are publishing an open letter about unauthorized online copies of manga. The editors say that unauthorized copying and uploading are against the wishes of the manga creators. They also emphasize that "the unauthorized online copies do harm to the manga culture, the manga creators' rights, and above all, the manga creators' spirits." They acknowledge that the amount of unauthorized copying has become so overwhelming that they are unable to deal with all of it.

The editors ask their readers to realize that all unauthorized copying and uploading is illegal. They add that manga creators and Shueisha will be dealing severely with unauthorized copies on the Internet, and the editors ask for the readers' support.

In another development, the raw-paradise.com website, which hosted scanned copies of manga magazines without permission, currently redirects to Shueisha's website.

Link: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[Zakness]

I don't think people can go on without there weekly dose of manga.

[goozilla]

I like how they claim to do shit that will never happen.

[Stix]

why can't they just stop trying to beat the internet

[goozilla]

They obviously want to show that they're internet tough guys.

[Daldaren]

the unauthorized online copies do harm to the manga culture, the manga creators' rights, and above all, the manga creators' spirits.

Orly.. so.. More people having access to your artwork.. your stories.. fantasies.. etc.. Is a negative thing for the 'spirit' of the mangaka? Sounds like someones just in it for the money. And bad.

[Quasar]

Originally Posted by Daldaren

Orly.. so.. More people having access to your artwork.. your stories.. fantasies.. etc.. Is a negative thing for the 'spirit' of the mangaka? Sounds like someones just in it for the money. And bad.

I agree, but seriously, those online manga scanlations make their manga's so popular to begin with, but now that I think about it, internet is so broad that they might not even pull this off. They can take down a few sites and that's it.

[Gamer_144]

... did you guys know that in many instances, the internet actually INCREASES their manga sales... yeah, like what quasar said, its about popularity that brings up sales. I learned this in my business classes =D

[Lawlzcakez]

Originally Posted by Gamer_144

... did you guys know that in many instances, the internet actually INCREASES their manga sales... yeah, like what quasar said, its about popularity that brings up sales. I learned this in my business classes =D

Well, it's kind of obvious that popularity boosts sales -- I mean, if no one knows about it, then it's not going to generate a decent amount of revenue.

However, as for PIRACY increasing sales, that's a no. Sure, piracy does help in terms of popularity (no doubt yet again), but the majority who pirate don't buy what they've pirated (really, are you going to buy all of those volumes of your favorite manga when you have the scans on your PC?) -- and that's a pretty big loss for the writers / developer / the people in charge of the product.

Hell, if you go to the last one of this one website that talks about PC-gaming piracy ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ]), you'll notice that it'll provide some solutions -- maybe manga companies can make rather similar ones so that the majority WILL buy their manga (but seeing as how they've yet to incorporate such solutions because of their greediness, it'll never happen).

P.S. No need to call me a hater of piracy, as I NEED my daily dosage of the latest anime and manga And companies like FUNimation? Screw them and their overpriced crap.

[Gamer_144]

Originally Posted by Lawlzcakez

Well, it's kind of obvious that popularity boosts sales -- I mean, if no one knows about it, then it's not going to generate a decent amount of revenue.

However, as for PIRACY increasing sales, that's a no. Sure, piracy does help in terms of popularity (no doubt yet again), but the majority who pirate don't buy what they've pirated (really, are you going to buy all of those volumes of your favorite manga when you have the scans on your PC?) -- and that's a pretty big loss for the writers / developer / the people in charge of the product.

Hell, if you go to the last one of this one website that talks about PC-gaming piracy ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ]), you'll notice that it'll provide some solutions -- maybe manga companies can make rather similar ones so that the majority WILL buy their manga (but seeing as how they've yet to incorporate such solutions because of their greediness, it'll never happen).

P.S. No need to call me a hater of piracy, as I NEED my daily dosage of the latest anime and manga And companies like FUNimation? Screw them and their overpriced crap.

Some very good points, and I can understand your point of view. If manga series were cheaper to buy, like 3-5 dollars a volume, than I'd be buying like 3 volumes a week, but sadly I doubt that would happen cuz of Viz Media jacking up the prices for major profit.