As everyone has made their point, I would like to say that I live in the UK, and am even farther away from getting any manga whatsoever! I only watch anime and read manga online because it would literally take YEARS to reach the UK, and I know that it is illegal, but there really is no way for me to get any manga or anime; of course I buy the manga and anime to the best of my ability, but if I only relied on what was in this country, unofortunately, I couldn't call myself an anime fan.
In the old mangas, especially in the earlier years, the font and size was practically impossible to read! At least the likes of crunchyroll and onemanga have a policy of taking it off their sites if it is been translated from Japanese to English professionally, but otherwise, from your stance, it's the companies fault for creating it so small for you to have to go to these sites in the first place! :D
I think since you actually buy them first it's fine, but i don't much care if it's legal in the first place.....sorry, i'm being brutally honest. I'm poor, so i look for any possible way to save money, and if that means illegaly reading manga(the lifeblood of all that is) online, so be it if it leaves me food money.
as for your question, i'm not sure, but it should be legal for you since you DID pay to read them.
As much as I would not want to admit it, I think it is illegal. Well, in your case, I think it would be legal since you bought your manga in the first place, then you're reading it. So you've done your job of buying the manga. ^^
Now, scanlations, probably are illegal, but let's face it, you can't possibly tell me that you've never read one manga online that you don't have. It's kind of the same thing as downloading music and watching anime.
The way I look at it with anime is that if it's not on DVD yet, then it's ok. Like I love to watch my anime online the day after it was shown in Japan. If you watch it on TV, you're not paying to watch it yet. So I think it's the same with uploading it online. Mangas are also the same thing. Maybe if it was not a full manga itself yet and it's only in a compilation magazine (Ciao, Corocoro, shonen gangan, etc).
I think it indeed is illegal, but we still do it anyways. I think it really is working for "trial" because if there is a really good series, then we will buy it to show support. ;3 I think scanlations or scans are also kind of like borrowing a manga from your friend. I do that at school a lot with my friends. We would manga swap, or (since I have tons more) I would let them borrow mine. So they don't pay for it, and still they read it. Do you think this is illegal? That's my stance. XP
It seems most people here agree that in a legal view, scanlations are illegal.
So, I guess that means I'm a bootlegger or a pirate. Whatever you'd call the people who read manga online. *clueless*
Often times I buy volumes of the manga that I read online to support it, or just to read on. I like to check out the English translations of some of my favorite series. However, there are also instances where I read series, and don't buy the volumes. I don't have that much money to spare on almost 10 bucks a pop per book. Especially on books you can read within thirty minutes usually.
Most of the manga I tend to read online are the little one-shots, or the smaller series (less then ten chapters) that aren't going to be translated and distributed by an English publisher.
I believe it's okay if you buy the manga and then read it online. But hey, that's only my opinion.
Hmm, that's a good point. The point you bring up is the same thing I bring up with ROMs and emulators for video games. If you own the game then I think it's ok to download the ROM. Which I never play anyways because I'm not so good with using the keyboard to play anyway. Oh, wait I want to keep it on topic. I completely understand what you mean with the manga that have those really small fonts. I've noticed that Tokyopop manga have more of these speech bubbles with small font than Shonen Jump manga do. I thought I was the only one, who found that to be a problem. Every time I would tell my friends they would say they had no trouble with it.
Yes, in any vein, reading manga scans online is just as illegal as watching anime through whatever medium you chose to do so.
It does take away money from companies and authors in the long run. Though manga scans, like anime episode downloads, were originally intended as a "try before you buy" kind of deal, the essence of that has long since been lost.
There's no way to justify doing it, but many fans do and will continue looking at manga and anime online as long as it's made available. So, even though you do pay for the English version when it's made available, you're still essentially stealing from the original publishing company in Japan and the manga creator, so it's still wrong.
"I adore children. A little salt, a squeeze of lemon--perfect." -Harry Dresden
Hmmm, this is a hard one.
It's illegal yes, but I don't see why you shouldn't do it. It's bad if you don't go buy it before or after you read it. It's like watch anime on youtube or veoh, it's not right (sad to say I've done it.) If you read manga scans online or watch anime on the net, you take money away from the mangaka and companies that sell it. It may not seem like such a bad thing. You just look around and see that anime and manga are safely rooted in to the American culture, it's not going anywhere. But then you have to look at companies that it did kill (not that I keep up with all the names.)
The way I see it, if you buy it, you can watch it or read it online.
Since the online translation are not the official translation, i doubt that all the copyright rules apply, especially if they give credit to the original creators. I admit I have read the online manga; it is interesting to see how many different ways something can be transtlated.
which is why, i, personally, after i read a manga online, i go and buy it to the best of my ability. (it drives my parents insane). most of the manga that i read online has yet to be released in the U.S. so that's my rational, but it's still illegal. but, i think people lump it in the same category as music, so everyone turns a blind eye.
for those that upload it, i think they're committing a bigger crime than the ones reading it. not that i'm not grateful for some, but, you do know the copyright laws, and ur doing it without being forced, and i'm pretty sure there's something that always says "cannot be reproduced" or something. i know it's like that for anime videos online...
but, like i said, i still read stuff online, i guess people should advocate (which at least www.onemanga does, is advocate going out and buying the manga and support the artist) going out and buying the manga.
I think that this is a legal gray area. Some manga aren't available outside of Japan, and scans are the only way to read them (if you don't speak Japanese). And the manga industry seems to be doing just fine from a solely economic standpoint. I don't think scanlations could possibly hurt them that much.
On a side note, does anyone else ever wonder how much of the money you spend on a volume of manga actually goes to the person who created? Because the bookstore takes the largest portion of profits, then the publishing company, then any other middlemen, then the author. They probably get less than a dollar a book...
Vagrant AI (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 11/14/08 | Reply
I suppose from a very rigid legal standpoint, yes, reading the scanlations would still be considered illegal.
However, I doubt you would find many that would fault you for doing that, considering you actually do buy the manga first.
So, basically, my opinion is, if you've paid the cash for the legal option then it's okay.
Last edited by Miss Anonymous at 2:21:15 AM EST on November 14, 2008.
jeweloflife
Afrofantastic (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 11/21/08 | Reply
I read and watch them online. Only buy my favorite titles. My comment was so insightful. -sarcasm-
Outlaw Melfina
Otakuite+ | Posted 11/21/08 | Reply
As everyone has made their point, I would like to say that I live in the UK, and am even farther away from getting any manga whatsoever! I only watch anime and read manga online because it would literally take YEARS to reach the UK, and I know that it is illegal, but there really is no way for me to get any manga or anime; of course I buy the manga and anime to the best of my ability, but if I only relied on what was in this country, unofortunately, I couldn't call myself an anime fan.
In the old mangas, especially in the earlier years, the font and size was practically impossible to read! At least the likes of crunchyroll and onemanga have a policy of taking it off their sites if it is been translated from Japanese to English professionally, but otherwise, from your stance, it's the companies fault for creating it so small for you to have to go to these sites in the first place! :D
demondog ninja
Senior Otaku+ | Posted 11/20/08 | Reply
I think since you actually buy them first it's fine, but i don't much care if it's legal in the first place.....sorry, i'm being brutally honest. I'm poor, so i look for any possible way to save money, and if that means illegaly reading manga(the lifeblood of all that is) online, so be it if it leaves me food money.
as for your question, i'm not sure, but it should be legal for you since you DID pay to read them.
animegirly2
Otaku Eternal | Posted 11/20/08 | Reply
As much as I would not want to admit it, I think it is illegal. Well, in your case, I think it would be legal since you bought your manga in the first place, then you're reading it. So you've done your job of buying the manga. ^^
Now, scanlations, probably are illegal, but let's face it, you can't possibly tell me that you've never read one manga online that you don't have. It's kind of the same thing as downloading music and watching anime.
The way I look at it with anime is that if it's not on DVD yet, then it's ok. Like I love to watch my anime online the day after it was shown in Japan. If you watch it on TV, you're not paying to watch it yet. So I think it's the same with uploading it online. Mangas are also the same thing. Maybe if it was not a full manga itself yet and it's only in a compilation magazine (Ciao, Corocoro, shonen gangan, etc).
I think it indeed is illegal, but we still do it anyways. I think it really is working for "trial" because if there is a really good series, then we will buy it to show support. ;3 I think scanlations or scans are also kind of like borrowing a manga from your friend. I do that at school a lot with my friends. We would manga swap, or (since I have tons more) I would let them borrow mine. So they don't pay for it, and still they read it. Do you think this is illegal? That's my stance. XP
mewmewpudding
Otaku Eternal | Posted 11/19/08 | Reply
A very debatable topic, for certain.
It seems most people here agree that in a legal view, scanlations are illegal.
So, I guess that means I'm a bootlegger or a pirate. Whatever you'd call the people who read manga online. *clueless*
Often times I buy volumes of the manga that I read online to support it, or just to read on. I like to check out the English translations of some of my favorite series. However, there are also instances where I read series, and don't buy the volumes. I don't have that much money to spare on almost 10 bucks a pop per book. Especially on books you can read within thirty minutes usually.
Most of the manga I tend to read online are the little one-shots, or the smaller series (less then ten chapters) that aren't going to be translated and distributed by an English publisher.
I believe it's okay if you buy the manga and then read it online. But hey, that's only my opinion.
xaos
Burning Spirit (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 11/15/08 | Reply
Hmm, that's a good point. The point you bring up is the same thing I bring up with ROMs and emulators for video games. If you own the game then I think it's ok to download the ROM. Which I never play anyways because I'm not so good with using the keyboard to play anyway. Oh, wait I want to keep it on topic. I completely understand what you mean with the manga that have those really small fonts. I've noticed that Tokyopop manga have more of these speech bubbles with small font than Shonen Jump manga do. I thought I was the only one, who found that to be a problem. Every time I would tell my friends they would say they had no trouble with it.
I'm actually quite glad I found this article.
Kei
Hell-bound Heroine (Ceiling Cat) | Posted 11/15/08 | Reply
Yes, in any vein, reading manga scans online is just as illegal as watching anime through whatever medium you chose to do so.
It does take away money from companies and authors in the long run. Though manga scans, like anime episode downloads, were originally intended as a "try before you buy" kind of deal, the essence of that has long since been lost.
There's no way to justify doing it, but many fans do and will continue looking at manga and anime online as long as it's made available. So, even though you do pay for the English version when it's made available, you're still essentially stealing from the original publishing company in Japan and the manga creator, so it's still wrong.
"I adore children. A little salt, a squeeze of lemon--perfect." -Harry Dresden
Cosmic Moon
Something clever (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 11/15/08 | Reply
Hmmm, this is a hard one.
It's illegal yes, but I don't see why you shouldn't do it. It's bad if you don't go buy it before or after you read it. It's like watch anime on youtube or veoh, it's not right (sad to say I've done it.) If you read manga scans online or watch anime on the net, you take money away from the mangaka and companies that sell it. It may not seem like such a bad thing. You just look around and see that anime and manga are safely rooted in to the American culture, it's not going anywhere. But then you have to look at companies that it did kill (not that I keep up with all the names.)
The way I see it, if you buy it, you can watch it or read it online.
Lost Is Now Foundstararnold
Otaku Eternal | Posted 11/15/08 | Reply
Very interesting debatable topic!
a15luna
Otakuite | Posted 11/15/08 | Reply
Since the online translation are not the official translation, i doubt that all the copyright rules apply, especially if they give credit to the original creators. I admit I have read the online manga; it is interesting to see how many different ways something can be transtlated.
haseo luver92
Otaku Legend | Posted 11/15/08 | Reply
as much as i hate to admit it,
yes, it's illegal.
which is why, i, personally, after i read a manga online, i go and buy it to the best of my ability. (it drives my parents insane). most of the manga that i read online has yet to be released in the U.S. so that's my rational, but it's still illegal. but, i think people lump it in the same category as music, so everyone turns a blind eye.
for those that upload it, i think they're committing a bigger crime than the ones reading it. not that i'm not grateful for some, but, you do know the copyright laws, and ur doing it without being forced, and i'm pretty sure there's something that always says "cannot be reproduced" or something. i know it's like that for anime videos online...
but, like i said, i still read stuff online, i guess people should advocate (which at least www.onemanga does, is advocate going out and buying the manga and support the artist) going out and buying the manga.
haseo
Cezieni
Otakuite++ | Posted 11/15/08 | Reply
I think that this is a legal gray area. Some manga aren't available outside of Japan, and scans are the only way to read them (if you don't speak Japanese). And the manga industry seems to be doing just fine from a solely economic standpoint. I don't think scanlations could possibly hurt them that much.
On a side note, does anyone else ever wonder how much of the money you spend on a volume of manga actually goes to the person who created? Because the bookstore takes the largest portion of profits, then the publishing company, then any other middlemen, then the author. They probably get less than a dollar a book...
Miss Anonymous
Vagrant AI (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 11/14/08 | Reply
I suppose from a very rigid legal standpoint, yes, reading the scanlations would still be considered illegal.
However, I doubt you would find many that would fault you for doing that, considering you actually do buy the manga first.
So, basically, my opinion is, if you've paid the cash for the legal option then it's okay.
Last edited by Miss Anonymous at 2:21:15 AM EST on November 14, 2008.