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Hey, Answerman! - Licentious Licensing

RyanSaotome wrote:

The simulcast is just like a TV airing. I don't see why everyone NEEDS to be able to own everything when its easily viewable at any time through the simulcasts. Having it be a "premium option" for the most hardcore fans, like in Japan, is probably the way the Japanese companies would make the most money.

You do realize that all streaming media have expiration dates. So if you want something to be truly "viewable at any time", you need to own a physical copy of some sort.

farix wrote:

RyanSaotome wrote: The simulcast is just like a TV airing. I don't see why everyone NEEDS to be able to own everything when its easily viewable at any time through the simulcasts. Having it be a "premium option" for the most hardcore fans, like in Japan, is probably the way the Japanese companies would make the most money. You do realize that all streaming media have expiration dates. So if you want something to be truly "viewable at any time", you need to own a physical copy of some sort.

Not sure how that contradicts what Ryan said. Unless you record it, after you watch TV once the show is not on air, it's not on air.

farix wrote:

RyanSaotome wrote: The simulcast is just like a TV airing. I don't see why everyone NEEDS to be able to own everything when its easily viewable at any time through the simulcasts. Having it be a "premium option" for the most hardcore fans, like in Japan, is probably the way the Japanese companies would make the most money. You do realize that all streaming media have expiration dates. So if you want something to be truly "viewable at any time", you need to own a physical copy of some sort.

Not sure how that contradicts what Ryan said. Unless you record it, after you watch TV once the show is not on air, it's not on air.

Neither do TVs. You have to stick a DVR in the middle either way.

B) That depends entirely on the DVR and A) Fullscreen button.

The simulcast is just like a TV airing. I don't see why everyone NEEDS to be able to own everything when its easily viewable at any time through the simulcasts. Having it be a "premium option" for the most hardcore fans, like in Japan, is probably the way the Japanese companies would make the most money.

Polycell wrote:

B) That depends entirely on the DVR and A) Fullscreen button.

A*: the distribution company which converts 4:3 content to 16:9 as to prevent phone calls from people who complain they're not getting "high definition".

Even this thread makes the mistake as thinking ratio and resolution are related. They're not. Film does not have a resolution.

Its the North American thought process when it comes to consumption. Not all shows out there is worthy of a purchase in the mind of every single fan, but the option to own it at a fair price IS something that they think they should be entitled to. Great example: the Aniplex DRRR!! BD box. Sure, not everyone is a huge enough fan to spend what they are asking (the one lump sum of $100+ really pisses the average fan off) but even though they have probably never even considered purchasing it prior to the announcement, they think it should be cheaper.

It's like this: "I'm not interested in DRRR!! at the moment and honestly may never be, but the price Aniplex is asking is appalling. I will never pay that." < they feel strongly about this even though they were never taken into consideration by Aniplex as part of the demographic they are aiming these boxes at. There are free, legal ways of viewing the show but they always seem to ignore it. OWNING is the only option in many NA consumers mind, even if they have zero interest in the title.

The series will not be streamed forever, and who knows when Crunchyroll will pull the series from their listings. So how are fans going to watch the series once the streams are taken down?

I may not be interesting in buying Durarara!! now, but 5 years down the road, who knows. Nor does that mean a friend of my who is willing to buy Durarara!! now, but not at the $100+ price point.

But there is no legal way to record a stream.

farix wrote:

The series will not be streamed forever, and who knows when Crunchyroll will pull the series from their listings. So how are fans going to watch the series once the streams are taken down?

Watch it during the time CR has it up? A series also won't be on TV forever either.

Quote:

I may not be interesting in buying Durarara!! now, but 5 years down the road, who knows. Nor does that mean a friend of my who is willing to buy Durarara!! now, but not at the $100+ price point.

You also realize that physical media won't be in print forever either. Sure, some stuff you'll be able to find for cheap 2nd hand, but how about the shows that command handsome sums of money?

The series will not be streamed forever, and who knows when Crunchyroll will pull the series from their listings. So how are fans going to watch the series once the streams are taken down? Resort to pirating fansubs or other bootlegs? That would defeat everything the studios have taken to combat fansub. For a series to survive after its initial run, it needs to be available in some form of purchasable media.

BTW, in order to be a consumer, you have to purchase something first. It's part of the definition in an economic system.

farix wrote:

But there is no legal way to record a stream.

I have to wonder what the legal status would be if one were not violating the DMCA.

I am curious if there is indeed any existing law or court precedent that would define that as illegal. I suspect that if it ever became a court case, it would likely be declared a violation of copyright, as the same arguments made in the Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc. case that set the precedent for VCR and later device recordings would not apply to streaming.