Comments on: Manga Publishers Combine To Form Scan-Fighting Manga Coalition

By: Lissa

Lissa — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:04:03 +0000

The big problem with scanlations is that they're an alternative to buying in general. A lot of people use the reason that they read them because a title hasn't been released in English, implying they're reading it merely for the translation, and yet they don't buy the Japanese edition. This means they're reading scanlations for the manga as a whole in substitute for buying.

Also it's a sad cycle of 'I wish it was published'. If everyone who read manga illegally, purchased it legally instead then we'd see a hugely different manga industry. If people bought everything then manga publishers would license and publish SO much more because they could afford to and the market would've proven itself there. Vicious cycle really, people don't buy because companies don't license but companies can't license if people don't buy.

By: Lissa

Lissa — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:49:55 +0000

Very true. It's one thing that so many people search for illegal means to read manga, but even more depressing that those looking for legal means are presented with the illegal ones first!

By: Lissa

Lissa — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:48:57 +0000

Ephidel beat me to the punch but suggests two great sites for legal online yaoi 24/7! You can read free previews of most of their series and then pay pennies to read them. Tokyopop's website (http://www.tokyopop.com/Robofish/tp_article/2534461.html) also has free chapter previews of tons of their titles, including their boys' love series (published under the BLU imprint). You can also purchase tons of boys' love titles to read on Kindle (which also includes Kindle apps you have on your computer instead of purchasing the device) including lots from Digital Manga, Yaoi Press and the now defunct Deux Press. Hope that helps some :D

And in regards to Viewfinder, most of the series was already released years ago before BeBeautiful went bankrupt. Viewfinder was then stuck in licensing limbo – believe me, more than one company was trying to get it re-released in English far sooner than now!

By: Ephidel

Ephidel — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:24:51 +0000

Emanga and Netcomics both have 'legal' english translations of BL manga. Both offer free samples (not entirely sure what 'amount' of a series emanga has, but netcomics is the first chapter). Digital's emanga site employs a points sytem where points are paid for and each title generally has a 200-300 point rental fee. Rental is 72 hours, and two rentals makes it a 'permanent' purchase. (Points can be purchased using credit card (visa or mastercard) at varying rates. 500 for $5.50, 1000 for $10.00, 2000 points + 100 bonus for $20.00, 5000 points + 500 bonus for $50.00) Netcomics uses 'e cash' which is equivalent to real money ($1 of ecash is the same as $1 usd) and charges 25cents per chapter for 48 hours and can be paid using amex, visa or mastercard. And as far as Viewfinder goes, I'd like to think it isn't really a standard example with its license history (sure it still took years, but the first time around it didn't take nearly as many :p).

By: FrostQueen

FrostQueen — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:54:57 +0000

You are right, I one hundred percent agree with you, but where can I go to find 'legal' English translations of yaoi online? Is there a list of legal sites somewhere? To top it off, because I like yaoi, I am in a 'third' class category where it comes the finding manga or anime, making it hard to find at all, let alone an English version! I also like reading it online, which I do a lot. Someone needs to remind these companies, that they would not have a market at all if it were not for the scanners. I have bought manga in the last year, that I would never have known to exist, because I found it online. I also buy a lot; if I like it I collect it, when it comes out I go to Amazon or your site. However, a perfect example of the current situation is it took years for Viewfinder to make it to English print!

By: Ephidel

Ephidel — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:36:09 +0000

The problem with the scanlation aggregator sites is that you don't need to type ’such-and-such-a-series-volume-1-for-free’ into google to find them. In many cases they'll swamp your searches if you just type in "such and such"

(And in most cases it gets worse if you happen to type in "such and such Manga" instead)

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 07:58:59 +0000

Good article I can see your point but I can also see the point of those that release sereis that haven't been released in the U.S. For instance I would love to buy a copy of Bitter Virgin but for whatever reason it's never gotten a release in the U.S. that I know of.

so even though I would legally buy it if I could it's never gotten a release here. So my only recourse if I want to read it is a scanalation of it which I don't really like but it's not getting published here.

Or another example I looked for six months to try and find a legally published copy of Shiroi Heya no Futari and I just couldn't find it.

So while I hope the big publishers can shut down the most egregious offenders. There are times when I feel if some of the more obscure volumes got published or republished. I wouldn't have this problem and have to resort to reading a scanalation of something I would buy legally.