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INTEREST: Broccoli Warns Against Uta-Pri Doujin Goods

Cptn_Taylor wrote:

This thread once again shows just how f-u-c-k-i-n-g entitled anime/manga fans are. From fansubs to doujishi's. Get this straight, making a doujinshi and selling it at Comiket is a privilege the copyright holder grants the fans. It's nothing more than that. As such it can be revoked at the copyright holder's request. And when fan made products start eating into the legitimate market you can expect the copyright holder to clamp down on the fans that make said products.

Well sadly for you, there's seem to be evidence that piracy doesn't harm the market at all. After seeing that, it makes me question if Japan's "piracy hurt anime/manga" logic is under fire, and I think it is.

If I was Broccoli? I would just copy the designs and works of the fans selling them using better paper and materials for their fan created works. Just to see if the fans can win in court which they won't.

Hoppy800 wrote:

A better idea is just for the doujin creators to pay a small amount in royalties to Broccoli, 2% of the profits from sales maximum. All Broccoli wants is a piece of the pie and they could get their fair share if this happened.

I don't think it's the book doujins that are taking the profits away, cause I will hazard a guess most of theose are H anyway. No I think it's more the buttons, jewellery, solid merchandise like that.

sunflower wrote:

Why would people buy fake merchandise if the official merchandise met their needs? Broccoli needs to take all the ideas from the fake stuff that's selling and copy it themselves. What will the fans do, sue? Broccoli has every right to protect their product, but they need to do it in a smart way. Being asses (kind of like Funimation and DMI have done at times) only serves to alienate fans, including those who may actually buy from them.

1) Character merchandise from supporting and even some main characters may not exist on official channels. This is a huge problem for me since quite a few series have characters I like but don't get official figures.

2) Quality, sometimes the merchandise that's official are of not so desirable or bad quality and the merchandise from a doujin circle has better quality. It still happens but was more of an issue around 2002-2003 where figures weren't of the best quality.

3) Preference, the best chance to get a figure or dakimakura (especially 18+ ones) that suits your fetish is from a doujin circle.

As a reaction to Broccoli's cease and desist threats, @lune_de_minuit_ followed up with this tweet:

I didn't receive this, but...... I'm scared...... Hmmm. Should I stop making [merchandise]?...... No. I can't lose to Broccoli. We're a not-for-profit group, aren't we? If Broccoli won't make it, there are people who will. If 2-D stops, there'll be an effect on 1-D as well...... is what I said.

Hoppy800 wrote:

sunflower wrote: Why would people buy fake merchandise if the official merchandise met their needs? Broccoli needs to take all the ideas from the fake stuff that's selling and copy it themselves. What will the fans do, sue? Broccoli has every right to protect their product, but they need to do it in a smart way. Being asses (kind of like Funimation and DMI have done at times) only serves to alienate fans, including those who may actually buy from them. 1) Character merchandise from supporting and even some main characters may not exist on official channels. This is a huge problem for me since quite a few series have characters I like but don't get official figures. 2) Quality, sometimes the merchandise that's official are of not so desirable or bad quality and the merchandise from a doujin circle has better quality. It still happens but was more of an issue around 2002-2003 where figures weren't of the best quality. 3) Preference, the best chance to get a figure or dakimakura (especially 18+ ones) that suits your fetish is from a doujin circle.

1) My first sentence wasn't standalone. Hence the second, suggesting Broccoli copy the popular fan merchandise.

2) I've never seen fan merchandise of better quality than official merchandise. It may happen on occasion, but it would be rare. Most fan stuff is obviously made by amateurs.

3) See #1.

mdo7 wrote:

Well sadly for you, there's seem to be evidence that piracy doesn't harm the market at all. After seeing that, it makes me question if Japan's "piracy hurt anime/manga" logic is under fire, and I think it is.

It doesn't matter if piracy hurts the legitimate market or not. What fans fail to understand is that making doujinshi using commercial characters is not a right. You are not entitled to use said characters.
If you want to make doujinshi without any tethers make up your own characters. Companies may turn a blind eye because it suits them, but the ultimate decision wether to allow or disallow doujinshi is up to the company not to the fans. Even if companies allow the making of douhinshi there are very strict conditions attached : such as you cannot sell them like a commercial product would. You can only make few copies and sell them at specific markets (Comiket & co).
And this is even more true for products such as fan model kits, and other types of fan made merchandises that rely on a commercial brand to sell.

I would respect a fan that is concious of what he is doing (even if it's illegal) instead of trying to rationalize an illegal behaviour.

Cptn_Taylor wrote:

mdo7 wrote: Well sadly for you, there's seem to be evidence that piracy doesn't harm the market at all. After seeing that, it makes me question if Japan's "piracy hurt anime/manga" logic is under fire, and I think it is. It doesn't matter if piracy hurts the legitimate market or not. What fans fail to understand is that making doujinshi using commercial characters is not a right. You are not entitled to use said characters. If you want to make doujinshi without any tethers make up your own characters. Companies may turn a blind eye because it suits them, but the ultimate decision wether to allow or disallow doujinshi is up to the company not to the fans. Even if companies allow the making of douhinshi there are very strict conditions attached : such as you cannot sell them like a commercial product would. You can only make few copies and sell them at specific markets (Comiket & co). And this is even more true for products such as fan model kits, and other types of fan made merchandises that rely on a commercial brand to sell. I would respect a fan that is concious of what he is doing (even if it's illegal) instead of trying to rationalize an illegal behaviour.

But Japanese firms tend to be a little power hungry when it comes to merchandise, no wonder why a lot of stuff are overpriced over there, my major criticism of Japan.

At least some of the stuff on the list is justifiable like pizza, but movie ticket prices are outrageous by any countries' standards.

At least some of the stuff on the list is justifiable like pizza, but movie ticket prices are outrageous by any countries' standards.

Are you kidding me (not being mean or insulting you)? I can buy a large pepperoni pizza for $5 at my local Caesar Pizza store. the $31 dollar for a pizza blows my mind when I saw the price. I'll agreed with you on the price of the movie ticket, ridiculously overpriced!!!

Hoppy800 wrote:

At least some of the stuff on the list is justifiable like pizza, but movie ticket prices are outrageous by any countries' standards.

Are you kidding me (not being mean or insulting you)? I can buy a large pepperoni pizza for $5 at my local Caesar Pizza store. the $31 dollar for a pizza blows my mind when I saw the price. I'll agreed with you on the price of the movie ticket, ridiculously overpriced!!!

There's more ridiculously overpriced stuff in Japan when i look around more and more.

Buying 3D IMAX tickets or whatever extra gimmicks offered will land you nearly at the same price. Japan's movie tickets have always been high, but our inflation will make us reach it soon enough.

That's factoring in delivery costs, please use your reading skills next time. To order a single large pizza for delivery here costs at least $15, and then you have to tip them on top of that. And you guys needs to can it with the "Japan alone is so expensive!" I wouldn't want to live in most northern European cities either with their costs of living.

This thread once again shows just how f-u-c-k-i-n-g entitled anime/manga fans are.
From fansubs to doujishi's. Get this straight, making a doujinshi and selling it at Comiket is a privilege the copyright holder grants the fans.
It's nothing more than that. As such it can be revoked at the copyright holder's request. And when fan made products start eating into the legitimate market you can expect the copyright holder to clamp down on the fans that make said products.

*long story made short*