News
FBI Shuts Down Comics Scan Site (Updated)
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
The FBI has served a warrant to the owner of the comic scan website HTMLcomics.com, shut down the website, and confiscated its servers over alleged criminal copyright infringement. According to a press release from the law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, the FBI conducted the investigation with a consortium of comic book publishers and their legal counsels, including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Bongo Comics, Archie Comics, Conan Properties Int'l LLC, Mirage Studios Inc., and United Media.
The press release also stated that the website had posted more than 5,700 comic series for viewing without authorization. According to the law firm, the site received an average of 1.6 million visits each day before it was shut down. Titles hosted on the website included Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, The Simpsons, Futurama, Avengers, Incredible Hulk, Wolverine, Dilbert, Peanuts, Catwoman, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Hellboy, Star Wars, 300, Predator, The Mask, Iron Man and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
[Via Robot 6]
Update: Comic creator Colleen Doran discussed her legal dealings with the website in a Wednesday blog entry. Science fiction novelist and comic writer Harlan Ellison also reported on Wednesday that he and four others reported the website to "friends of friends." Thanks, Paploo.
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history