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NEWS: Funimation Provides Statement on Lawsuit with A.D. Vision

I'm still struggling to understand how "ADV" can owe Funimation 8 million dollars that they didn't owe Sojitz but that Sojitz somehow sold to Funi, and how ADV's child companies can suddenly owe Funi money when they aren't legally related and Funi didn't do anything to recover that alleged debt over the past almost a decade. It'd be like your old neighborhood library showing up and being like "Yeah, remember that book you didn't return when you were six? Well, with all incurred fines and inflation, you now owe us twelve-thousand dollars." That's abandoned debt, folks.

If you ask me, it sounds like Sojitz managed to swindle the vast majority of the American anime industry, and has now put them at each others throats, simply to cut a quick buck.

As for "Funi is a monopoly", apparently, ADV's defense plan is to go tit-for-tat with ridiculous legal claims. Certainly, driving Sentai into the dust would put Funi in virtual control of anime localization, but I don't know of any evidence linking Funi to the demise of nearly every other previous anime localization company, and I think proving that they've done so would be next to impossible.











The idiocy of the whole thing is that either way, I can't see either company winning. Both are going to spend huge sums in a legal battle that ultimately won't
make them a dime.

Quote:

Rather, these claims were brought in a transparent attempt to gain leverage in the case because the defendants lack any defense to Funimation's original claims.

Except ADV has multiple defenses and stated them in the first case. Oh Funimation, you silly company you.

ADV's defense for those who forgot:

1) The Statue of limitations was up before Funimation filed the complaint
2) Sentai, Section 23, et al are not ADV
3) None of these companies ever entered into a contract with Funimation except for the completion of the dubs on certain ARMs titles, which did not include anything about debt or payments like this.

Lynx Amali wrote:

Eh. Gonna need my bowl of popcorn for this one. The definition of monopoly: Quote: The exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service. Funi isn't a monopolist by any means of the word. Just because they have more licenses makes them a monopolist? Give me a break. Just hoping Sentai doesn't get hit that bad by this. I tend to think of ADV and Sentai as completely different entities in my mind despite knowing that's they are essentially one and the same. After all, they release some of the titles I actually want.

Again it's not about whether or not Funimation is currently a monopoly. But rather that they (ADV's words) "engaged in anticompetitive or predatory conduct" to "maintain willfully, or to gain" an attempt on a monopoly while violating texas business and commercial codes. Pretty much what matters is not whether Funimation is a true monopoly, but rather if they tried to gain a large market share through illegal business practices and conspiring with other companies. They never say Funimation is currently a monopoly, only that it tired or is trying to become one. The final outcome is almost irrelevant. And seeing how ADV supposedly has evidence that FUNimation tried to take over ADV's debt twice, I'd say that makes their claims at least worth hearing.

Not sure why people keep being so sure things aren't going to go well for Sentai, ADV and the rest of them in these cases. How can you tell that from the information available? Honestly anything can happen still.

If Crunchyroll was smart they would stay the heck out of it.

And um I'm a little confused as to why you think CR is conspiring with Sentai to get shows licensed, I mean how exactly does it benefited CR get if a show is licensed anyways? Do they get some part of the money or something? Maybe Justin will cover that in one of his future articles.

Saying it's a conspiracy is a bit much, but there does seem to be some sort of relationship between Crunchyroll and Sentai. The benefit to CR is that it allows it to compete with Funico, which was suppose to shake up the entire industry but has pretty much done nothing but botch a few simulcasts up until now. It would make sense that the Japanese would prefer to license a simulcast to a company that would guarantee, or at least strongly indicate, that there would be a physical release (and perhaps mechandising) at some point.

Working with Sentai would give CR a better chance at scoring titles that would have gone to Funimation otherwise, and benefits Sentai as well. Since they aren't springing for the entire cost of the digital rights, and simulcast, they are likely saving money. It also allows them to offer things that Funimation can't or wont and give them a leg up in negotiating.

So far, Sentai has only simulcast shows, whether on TAN or CR, that it has licensed full rights to. Funimation often only licenses simulcast and streaming rights. Since Sentai is willing to release some series sub-only, it gives them a bit of an advantage as they can guarantee a release for just about everything, while Funi cannot.

Funimation is moving the suit to Federal court because that'll make it much easier to get a settlement.

Seems like the people who're really going to pay will be us, if we're lucky it won't have such a devastating effect on either one of the companies when this is over.

GrilledEelHamatsu wrote:

Funimation is moving the suit to Federal court because that'll make it much easier to get a settlement.

Actually only the defendants can remove the case to Federal Court, not the plaintiffs. So this was Sentai/ADV's decision.

dengart wrote:

GrilledEelHamatsu wrote: Funimation is moving the suit to Federal court because that'll make it much easier to get a settlement. Actually only the defendants can remove the case to Federal Court, not the plaintiffs. So this was Sentai/ADV's decision.

If it was A.D. Vision's decision to move the suit to Federal court,then its so ADV can argue that ARM was unethitical to both them and convince a Federal judge that ADV & Funimation can go forward with a lawsuit against ARM for "Breach-of-Contract" and "Ehtics Violation". Federal means a foreign investor can be taken to court.

For a Plantiff,let alone a small business company, Federal is usually unfavorible. A Settlement is the best option.

And everyone, ignore the trolls saying Funimation will win and Section23 will go.under.

The case is now Federal. Meaning ARM(the not-so-nice-people who started this mess) can now be supeoned to appear in Federal Court and that Funimation could vouch for a settlement.

Based on the way that the other companies manage their money and license and release shows, it's like Funimation is going to be the last man standing rather than simply a monopoly.