Comment

[Ieyasu]

I just noticed a small peculiarity in the rules.

Despite the fact that the majority of anime series currently being viewed by members of the forum are only obtainable via Bittorent/IRC/Whatever and understandable via fansub, it is forbidden to mention fansubs of any sort on the site. I mean come on, there's a whole thread devoted to discussing this season's new releases, and unless you live in Japan and speak Japanese pretty damn well there isn't any other way you're gonna see these shows.

Considering it is allowed to discuss series that were undoubtably obtained in this way, isn't it a tad hypocritical to ban mentioning where you got them?

[soundchazer]

This is fairly easy to answer. What you do in your own time is your own problem. AA will not provide you the tools to download anything illegal, and the reality is fansubs are not legal.

It is not hyopcritical, it is being smart. Once we started allowing links to fansubs, the days of AA would be numbered. I don't think Kain or Mugs want warrants and angry e-mails from U.S. distributors. In fact, we do this partially to encourage people to rent or buy the legal DVDs once they become available.

[Ieyasu]

Linking is one thing, mentioning is another.

Are we not even allowed to talk about them?

[soundchazer]

Not really, because you will give people who otherwise might not be aware of them the tools to find them.

[Ieyasu]

Not really, because you will make people who otherwise might not be aware of them the tools to find them.

Hmm.

Alrighty *shrug*

[Tyrdium]

I think the rule is more that you're not allowed to mention specifics. As in, you can't say "I watch Fansubbers R Us subs", but you can say "I watch fansubs". One gives information on where to get them, the other doesn't.

Mods: Yes? No?

[Mana]

Normally, we don't mind discussions of fansubs as a concept. We have had many threads discussing Fansubs vs DVDs and the like. It can make for good discussion. Once links and connections start being made, however, AA starts to walk a fine legal line, so we do moderate such discussions heavily. Generally, specific names of programs, files, and websites are not allowed, but as long as things are talked about on a very broad spectrum, it's normally okay.

Of course, like many rules, this is one that depends on the specifics of the given situation.

[Roark]

That is the important distinction. It's allowable to talk about fansubs, not fanubbers. The difference is a short google search.

Part of the reason is the plausible deniability factor. We can't deny that these things exist, obviously, but we can stop people from obtaining them. The other hard part is liscensing and its rapid pace. What may be fine to talk about one day will become off limits the next. That's something the mods shouldn't be burdened with.

This is very much a wink-wink, nudge-nudge situation. Most of us know where and how to get fansubs. We're just covering our asses by not allowing discussions on the specifics of where to obtain them (including mentioning which group is doing what).

So, a thread about the nature and architecture of BitTorrent or how to d/l a Linux distro using it is allowable. Discussion of how to use it to obtain fansubs is not.