Funi Files Lawsuit

[GumGumBattleAxe]

It surprises me that their lawsuit is about THIS, and yet I can't help but not be surprised by it…one piece has been heavily pirated in the past and it makes sense that they'd sue people and slap huge fines on them in order to squeeze out whatever money they want from the franchise, but really? 481? Subtitled? Not...any of the dubbed episodes that one can probably find?

Psssh....I dunno how I feel about that. They post subtitled episodes and dubbed episodes on their website where folks can view them for free. Why get bent out of shape when they're doing THAT, and charging 30-50 bucks a pop on a DVD release?

Was this particular fansub being done for profit or to make money? If not, this seems to me like them hastily and shabbily taking a stand.

[Demon Rin]

@MikeyDPirate:

From the article, it sounds like they want to get winnings for damages of $150,00 all together. So if I am reading this right then it means they want a total of $150,00 all together.

So once the math is done they are only asking for around $112.19 bucks per person. Which is about two One Piece DVD sets. haha

If this is correct then Funi really are heavy hitters. haha

Honestly, I'm having a hard time paying my bills right now, but If I had a 112 dollar fine I had to pay for anything, we could swing it easily right now.

Hell, my brother just had to pay 160 bucks the other day for lightly rear-ending someone.

This is equivalent to a slap on the wrist, but a symbolic one saying that FUNi are serious about going after fan-subbers now. I see this mostly as a deterrent.

@Strings:

The FUNI white knights strike again?

Hmmm

Ok seriously?

Whether you wana believe it or not, downloading One Piece is illegal. It was even illegal before FUNi licensed it, that was just before there was anyone in the US who had the rights to go after you, Toei always did.

A while ago, my internet was temporarily canceled and I had to get it turned back on. The reason: I downloaded a movie and Cox does that when they get a complain from a movie studio.
I didn't bitch and moan at the company, I was stupid for downloading that movie in a track-able way. I know DAMN Well what I did was illegal.

Fansubs ARE Illegal. Fucking Deal with it. Don't feel like just because you don't like FUNimation's stream for your own various reasons, you are somehow entitled. You never were, it was always illegal, like I said, Toei just never had the means to go after fansubbers in the US no matter how much they wanted to.

Now that Toei has told FUNi to go after fansubbers, this is what we get.
It really is more like Toei is going after you than FUNi, because right now FUNi is basically acting on Toei's behalf.

[frog261642]

@Flux:

Oh so now it's okay to use proxies to dupe websites into giving content to people who by Funi's definition, shouldn't be getting it ?

What happened to Mr. Morals?

Well first off, I don't have any morals.
Unless what you consider I say to be morality, in which case I'm sorry that you got the wrong impression.

Just simply, when I first read that, I read it as "I can watch funimations shows if I just change my servers." Though upon further inspection that wasn't the case.

But I believe that if that TRULY is the only way you can get it, then go for it. You can't get it any other way. If you really want the dub, I suppose you have the right.

However, this is once again a problem of pirating the actual subs. Which are streamed for everyone to see when they first come out. In which case you have no excuse. I feel I have been over this enough times already.

[JulieYBM]

Short of these episodes never being released on home video by Toei (hah!) these episodes will eventually be released on an official format that one may import. It is the fault of the indvidual if they refuse to wait for that day and decide to illegally obtain said episode.

[Md-Martin]

Bit surprised that law action is taking place about this, but I think Rin said it best. Fansubs are illegal. Even before the Funi dub/subs it was illegal, albeit we felt we needed to back than, as there wasn't a proper dub. The same goes for country's that don't get the privilege of episodes subbed an hour after they premiered in Japan, or episodes in English with a faithful, and great dub.

But to those in the country, It seems very stupid to be using fansubs at this point. We get a very nice sub every week, an hour after it premiers in Japan. I guess I understand the reasons of fansubs, because they are "More accurate, and proof read" but the Simulcast hasn't had that many problems. Yes, there have been some problems, and I don't agree with certain translations of things(Such as leaving Haki untranslated) However for the most part, it's pretty damn good, and much better than before, which we would have to wait days after the episode aired to get subs(And the faster released subs had more problems than the simulcast) and enjoy the episode.

[Badass SnoCone]

@frog261642:

However, this is once again a problem of pirating the actual subs. Which are streamed for everyone to see when they first come out. In which case you have no excuse. I feel I have been over this enough times already.

Do you not understand that Flux lives in the UK and is not able to watch the Funi stream? Did that just go over your head when someone else mentioned it before?

[frog261642]

@Strings:

The FUNI white knights strike again?

Hmmm

The hell man? White Knights?
Are you people really so butt-hurt that someone is getting sued over this?

Look. They aren't suing someone because they took the dub and made it so other countries could view it. I believe they are okay with this.
THEY ARE SUING SOMEONE FOR STREAMING THE EPISODE WHILE THIERS WENT UP

And sorry to Strings if you didn't mean anything by this comment. Its just irritating me that so many people are angry about this matter when they seem to be unaware of what FUNI is suing for.

And to Flux, I really hope that you know there are many countries that have One Piece dubbed in their native language. So you COULD pay for it the legal way in your own country. The few countries that I'm aware of without One Piece are Mexico as well as Afghanistan(including its neighboring countries). So unless you live there, just by the freaking DVD'S!!!! Seriously dude! You just don't want to pay for it, and you think you have the right to view it for free because you know english.

[frog261642]

@Badass:

Do you not understand that Flux lives in the UK and is not able to watch the Funi stream? Did that just go over your head when someone else mentioned it before?

Did I not just go over the fact that

1. IT IS NOT ABOUT THAT
   and
2. The UK is getting their own dub. And if I'm not mistaken they have their own simulcast.

[GumGumBattleAxe]

@frog261642:

Well first off, I don't have any morals.

I bet you're really proud of that fact too.

@mdmartin101:

But to those in the country, It seems very stupid to be using fansubs at this point. We get a very nice sub every week, an hour after it premiers in Japan. I guess I understand the reasons of fansubs, because they are "More accurate, and proof read" but the Simulcast hasn't had that many problems. Yes, there have been some problems, and I don't agree with certain translations of things(Such as leaving Haki untranslated) However for the most part, it's pretty damn good, and much better than before, which we would have to wait days after the episode aired to get subs(And the faster released subs had more problems than the simulcast) and enjoy the episode.

exactly right. it confounds me why people would want to do that for these episodes given the characteristics you gave. I mean, you can just go to the URL any time. Unless of course you can't get to it. Even so, would you really at the end of the day wanna go to illegal means to get it? You can read plot summaries online, or read the manga, or ANYTHING ELSE…

[iMustang]

My problem with funimation's stream is that it… well, sucks. Buffer-while-playing players are very inconvenient and lead to unnecessary stops during the episodes sometimes. If they allowed their player to be the traditional kind where you pause and load the video, I'd use it all the time.

Hopefully, like the article says, they're just targeting the distributers and not the downloaders.

[Flux]

@frog261642:

2. The UK is getting their own dub. And if I'm not mistaken they have their own simulcast.

Dude what are you smoking? We don't have our own dub. You are mistaken, we do not have our own simulcast. We get no merchandise. We have basically no anime on TV at all.

The only thing we continually get are anime DVDs of Viz-dubbed Series, and Tankobon translated by Viz.

We get nothing from Funi; it's annoying cus Funi is, in my opinion the best Dubber around. And yet hearing your favourite anime is getting dubbed by Funi is like a death toll for UK Fans.

[frog261642]

@iMustang:

My problem with funimation's stream is that it… well, sucks. Buffer-while-playing players are very inconvenient and lead to unnecessary stops during the episodes sometimes. If they allowed their player to be the traditional kind where you pause and load the video, I'd use it all the time.

Hopefully, like the article says, they're just targeting the distributers and not the downloaders.

You do realize they don't have enough of a budget to make a good video player right? They are trying to make money, to put toward making more One Piece as well as distributing it in other countries. AND if they make enough money, they can fix their video player.

Plus, it sounds like a computer problem. Because mine runs just fine. As well as many others. So that is terrible excuse.

[GumGumBattleAxe]

@frog261642:

Plus, it sounds like a computer problem. Because mine runs just fine. As well as many others. So that is terrible excuse.

yeah, mine is good as well. im quite comfortable with it. hulu's is a little annoying, but hey.

[Badass SnoCone]

@frog261642:

2. The UK is getting their own dub. And if I'm not mistaken they have their own simulcast.

….

Don't you just love it when people start making things up?

[Zach Logan]

Wow, all the idiot AP members are coming out of the woodwork.

[enel16]

Hey it's worse off in Australia, we get nothing.. Well, we did get those eps before America did. Feels good man.

And wow can't believe they actually did something, really unlucky for the guy.

[GumGumBattleAxe]

@Zach:

Wow, all the idiot AP members are coming out of the woodwork.

repeat that on the podcast. seriously.

[frog261642]

@Flux:

Dude what are you smoking. We don't have our own dub. We get no merchandise. We have basically no anime on TV at all.

The only thinsg we get are DVDs of Viz-dubbed Series, and Tankobon translated by Viz.

/TeeHee/ Funny you should ask…

Anyways...if you're really wanting to view the episodes, view them when they first come out. Is it really that hard? Is your schedule so hectic that you can't sit down to view One Piece as it comes out?

Funimation is doing their best. And I think they are unaware of the epidemic of the UK. (Yes epidemic) They are suing this guy to take a stand against pirating. To send out a message. That is what this is about.

I honestly don't know what else to say other than, Hulu sucks and Funi wants to make money from this. And I'm sure Funimation can try to work something out. I really don't know...

[frog261642]

@Zach:

Wow, all the idiot AP members are coming out of the woodwork.

Ignoring that.

Any word on weather its fake or real?

[Md-Martin]

@frog261642:

/TeeHee/ Funny you should ask…

Anyways...if you're really wanting to view the episodes, view them when they first come out. Is it really that hard? Is your schedule so hectic that you can't sit down to view One Piece as it comes out?

Funimation is doing their best. And I think they are unaware of the epidemic of the UK. (Yes epidemic) They are suing this guy to take a stand against pirating. To send out a message. That is what this is about.

I honestly don't know what else to say other than, Hulu sucks and Funi wants to make money from this. And I'm sure Funimation can try to work something out. I really don't know...

View the episodes when they come out? I don't think you understand, they are NOT GETTING EPISODES!

I garentee that if you were watching One Piece when there was no dub, or just the 4kids dub, you would be watching fansubs. Don't be preaching to Flux to wait for all of the licensing to happen, for it to be released, or another dub be created, for him to watch episodes that will take YEARS to be released. When you do not have to wait years to watch episodes, get back to Flux.

[Badass SnoCone]

@frog261642:

Ignoring that.

Any word on weather its fake or real?

We have to wait until a picture of Chopper holding a sign that says "April Fools~!" is added to all the articles before we know if it's fake or real.

[PirateBeck]

@frog261642:

Did I not just go over the fact that

1. IT IS NOT ABOUT THAT
   and
2. The UK is getting their own dub. And if I'm not mistaken they have their own simulcast.

Hey frog261642,

I don't post on here often anymore but I have to ask you just one single question.
Is it really that hard to find information about the UK situation?

I rest my case.

Also, the ANN article was updated with a hash of the torrent in question. If you google that hash, you'll discover the torrent itself was the yibis fansub of that episode, encoded at 720p and the torrent itself included an .avi and .mp4. Somebody should probably inform about that.

-PirateBeck

[iMustang]

@frog261642:

You do realize they don't have enough of a budget to make a good video player right? They are trying to make money, to put toward making more One Piece as well as distributing it in other countries. AND if they make enough money, they can fix their video player.

Plus, it sounds like a computer problem. Because mine runs just fine. As well as many others. So that is terrible excuse.

@Badass:

….

Don't you just love it when people start making things up?

This

Prove that's their plan. Even low budget sites can get a traditional player, and they're certainly not hurting for money. If they were they wouldn't be picking up new series constantly. And it's not a computer problem it's a connection problem; at my own house the connection is fine. At other's, not so much. So if I wanna watch episodes with my friends I pretty much have to download them, plus yeah I like watching it in HD.

Perhaps it's best for the thread if you just stop posting…

[enel16]

@frog261642:

Ignoring that.

Any word on weather its fake or real?

I wouldn't ignore it… I just wouldn't.

It seems to be real, still think it's crazy unlucky for the guy.

[Flux]

@frog261642:

That is what this is about.

I know damn well what this is about, but if somewhere in the middle you should go off ignorantly spouting blaise makeshift facts, I'ma correct you.

@frog261642:

Ignoring that.

You actually didn't ignore it, you addressed it because my passive-agressive metre's gonna explode!

@enel16:

I wouldn't ignore it… I just wouldn't.

It seems to be real, still think it's crazy unlucky for the guy.

He meant he was 'ignoring' the comment about him being an 'idiot.'

[Kaiolino]

2011 posters…..

[enel16]

@Flux:

He meant he was 'ignoring' the comment about him being an 'idiot.'

Yea I know, I just thought it would be best for him to not ignore his idiocy

[frog261642]

@mdmartin101:

View the episodes when they come out? I don't think you understand, they are NOT GETTING EPISODES!

I garentee that if you were watching One Piece when there was no dub, or just the 4kids dub, you would be watching fansubs. Don't be preaching to Flux to wait for all of the licensing to happen, for it to be released, or another dub be created, for him to watch episodes that will take YEARS to be released. When you do not have to wait years to watch episodes, get back to Flux.

Certainly not. I wasn't implying that at all. I apologize to Flux for barking mad at him. It just fills me with 4chan rage when people like to watch the fansubs from the original.

Again, I'm sure that funimation isn't thinking of the fact that the UK can't get the episodes. Merely, that people in the US are watching the fansubs and their own subs with no payment what so ever. It was to send out a message to the people in the US to not watch the fansubs.

[Badass SnoCone]

@enel16:

Hey it's worse off in Australia, we get nothing.. Well, we did get those eps before America did. Feels good man.

And wow can't believe they actually did something, really unlucky for the guy.

Actually it's worse in the UK than in Australia. The Funi DVDs are being released in Australia. There are about 6 of them out in Australia already and I think they come out about every 2 months.

[enel16]

@Badass:

Actually it's worse in the UK than in Australia. The Funi DVDs are being released in Australia. There are about 6 of them out in Australia already and I think they come out about every 2 months.

Oh wow they don't get them at all, I stand corrected, we have it alot better then the UK. We get a set once per month until we catch up to the American release

[frog261642]

@Flux:

He meant he was 'ignoring' the comment about him being an 'idiot.'

:wassat: Yes. I gave false facts merely taking from my friend. Again I'm sorry.
But as for the lawsuit, can you really blame funimation? I can't, but then again I live in the US.

[Flux]

Also I'm grateful for the whole 'what would you do were you in Flux's shoes' thing, but I'd just like to reiterate at this point that I didn't download this episode; nor do I download others.

@frog261642:

:wassat: Yes. I gave false facts merely taking from my friend. Again I'm sorry.

As long as you don't do the same again, we'll have no problems.

[frog261642]

@Flux:

Also I'm grateful for the whole 'what would you do were you in Flux's shoes' thing, but I'd just like to reiterate at this point that I didn't download this episode; nor do I download others.

But you…and the...
.-. Wonderful.

Well sorry Im ignorant to your situation I'm out.

[firecrouch]

I thought the Australian release is every month

[kenjisalk]

Well it's heartening that the simulcast is worth legally throwing down with torrenters over, but its still anyone's guess as to what this might mean about the dub/dvds otherwise (probably nothing).

[Silence]

blooo hoo hoo FUNimation is SOOO meaaaan

sure is entitlement up in here

Demon Rin is 100% right.

[Fire-Fist]

@PirateBeck:

Also, the ANN article was updated with a hash of the torrent in question. If you google that hash, you'll discover the torrent itself was the yibis fansub of that episode, encoded at 720p and the torrent itself included an .avi and .mp4. Somebody should probably inform about that.

they already know about it http://www.yibis.com/index.php/topic,1964.0.html

[Kaba Kaba Fruit]

I'm not surprised that FUNimation would be doing this.

For U.S. viewers, yeah, there's no excuse there. But outside the U.S? This will only continue until simulcasts are available.

[Zach Logan]

So I bought the case so I can give it a good read over, and here are some facts and information inclosed (I AM NOT A LAWYER, just a student and a nerd):

• It's definitely real, everything checks out, and there's an actual list of 1,337 does with IP addresses and dates noted. All defendants are in the U.S. as previously noted.
• FUNimation seeks injunctive relief, basically all I can tell from the complaint made by them. I don't see any monetary relief sought other than attorney's fees, which mind you, probably add up to a pretty penny. It also mentions "plaintiff's costs," and I'm not sure what that includes.
• The One Piece episode name is mentioned a total of five times in this five page document, and there is no mention of Toei or any other organization.
• Specifically mentioned are three torrent sites and the hash tag previously mentioned. I believe they are the primary defendant in this investigation, but that's just an assumption on my part.

Any questions, folks?

[frog261642]

@Zach:

So I bought the case so I can give it a good read over, and here are some facts and information inclosed (I AM NOT A LAWYER, just a student and a nerd):

• It's definitely real, everything checks out, and there's an actual list of 1,337 does with IP addresses and dates noted. All defendants are in the U.S. as previously noted.
• FUNimation seeks injunctive relief, basically all I can tell from the complaint made by them. I don't see any monetary relief sought other than attorney's fees, which mind you, probably add up to a pretty penny. It also mentions "plaintiff's costs," and I'm not sure what that includes.
• The One Piece episode name is mentioned a total of five times in this five page document, and there is no mention of Toei or any other organization.
• Specifically mentioned are three torrent sites and the hash tag previously mentioned. I believe they are the primary defendant in this investigation, but that's just an assumption on my part.

Any questions, folks?

Don't wanna ask to many. But one thing on my mind is from what department specifically of funimation is suing? Is it the people who sub and stream the episodes or is it another part within funimation like the financial department or legal department (if they have one).

IDK why I'm saying department. But I assume you know what I mean.
I suppose this isn't of relevance. But to me as a fan of funimation it is.

[Zach Logan]

@frog261642:

Don't wanna ask to many. But one thing on my mind is from what department specifically of funimation is suing? Is it the people who sub and stream the episodes or is it another part within funimation like the financial department or legal department (if they have one).

IDK why I'm saying department. But I assume you know what I mean.
I suppose this isn't of relevance. But to me as a fan of funimation it is.

Funimation Entertainment, LLC filed it. There are no independent nomenclatures within the company. They're still a relatively small company.

[firecrouch]

@frog261642:

Don't wanna ask to many. But one thing on my mind is from what department specifically of funimation is suing? Is it the people who sub and stream the episodes or is it another part within funimation like the financial department or legal department (if they have one).

IDK why I'm saying department. But I assume you know what I mean.
I suppose this isn't of relevance. But to me as a fan of funimation it is.

The legal department is the legal department I'd say. FUNimation has a whole team (how many people are in it I don't know) in-charge of anti-piracy efforts from what I've heard.

EDIT: Oops, should've just let Zach answer that one.

[dan2026]

I honestly don't see how this lawsuit is going to make any impact on fansub distribution at all.
Its a massive exercise in futility.

This whole think smells like a bad Funimation publicity stunt to me.

[Kaiolino]

Yeah, it will only make people dislike FUNi and other licensors even more.

As seen in this topic.

[Kaba Kaba Fruit]

@dan2026:

I honestly don't see how this lawsuit is going to make any impact on fansub distribution at all.
Its a massive exercise in futility.

This whole think smells like a bad Funimation publicity stunt to me.

Exactly! I can't see what difference it's going to make either unless FUNimation deploys whistleblowers all over the web to report the first signs of a new fansub put up. They're not going to gain anything more out of this than a "big brother" label.

Of course, I've been overly cautious with FUNimation since 2006 so I'm not really surprised at this bit of news.

[enel16]

@firecrouch:

I thought the Australian release is every month

It is, until we catch up

[Fire-Fist]

@Zach:

So I bought the case so I can give it a good read over, and here are some facts and information inclosed (I AM NOT A LAWYER, just a student and a nerd):

• It's definitely real, everything checks out, and there's an actual list of 1,337 does with IP addresses and dates noted. All defendants are in the U.S. as previously noted.
• FUNimation seeks injunctive relief, basically all I can tell from the complaint made by them. I don't see any monetary relief sought other than attorney's fees, which mind you, probably add up to a pretty penny. It also mentions "plaintiff's costs," and I'm not sure what that includes.
• The One Piece episode name is mentioned a total of five times in this five page document, and there is no mention of Toei or any other organization.
• Specifically mentioned are three torrent sites and the hash tag previously mentioned. I believe they are the primary defendant in this investigation, but that's just an assumption on my part.

Any questions, folks?

other than the hash tag. Is yibis or their tracker mentioned?

[Zach Logan]

@Fire-Fist:

other than the hash tag. Is yibis or their tracker mentioned?

The trackers are mentioned, and only the hash tag is mentioned.

For those making the argument that FUNimation is acting like big brother, you're being beyond ridiculous. This is a completely fair lawsuit over a property which they own. For all those -in the United States- who believe they have a right to the property, or who believe that FUNimation doesn't have a right to sue, you have a lot to learn about legality and the way the world works. Seriously, what the hell?

[Hiroy]

@Envy:

I have no sympathy for people who live in America and still download the newest One Piece episodes. I have no sympathy at all. So go for it FUNimation! These people have no excuse at all.

This is the worst attempt at a backlash I ever seen on this entire forum, and I don't even watch or support the anime anymore.

[Demon Rin]

@Kaiolino:

Yeah, it will only make people dislike FUNi and other licensors even more.

As seen in this topic.

Which is stupid.

"Oh, they're actually defending their own intellectual property? THE FIENDS!"

Seriously, if someone owned a store and KNEW the neighborhood kids came in every day and stole candy bars from the candy section, would he be in the wrong for trying to stop them?! Even if EVERY kid in the neighborhood does it, and there is no logical way to stop them all, is it really so wrong for him to TRY?!

I KNOW you guys hate FUNimation and seeing the occasional small little typo makes your blood boil more than mine does when I see "Nakama" in an English fansub, but you guys have to realize something.

Fansubs ARE Illegal.
This. Is. a. Fact.

As much as you don't like it, you have to acknowledge this.
Blaming FUNi for going after fansubbers is stupid. Especially because they aren't the only ones at play here. FUNi may be the ones filing the lawsuit, but Toei ALSO don't like piracy, as evidenced by that whole debacle with the Simulcast leak back when that happened.
You can bet your ass that even if Toei don't directly have their hands in the cookie jar this time, they at least greatly encourage and WANT FUNi to do things like this.

Money goes into producing One Piece. Every time you buy One Piece, money goes back to the people involved.
FUNi PAYS Toei a sum to put the show up. Every time I buy a DVD or watch the Simulcast on their site, they get money. If FUNi makes money, they pay Toei a HEFTY Sum to renew the license, and then they get money.

Everyone wants to keep making money for all the hard work they're doing.

Stop acting like this stuff is supposed to be free, you are not entitled to anime any more than I am entitled to walk into wherever the hell you work and demand you do your job for me for free.