News
Mikako-san Manga Gets Simultaneous Print/Web Release
posted on by Egan Loo
The Japanese publisher Kodansha has announced that it is launching Machiko Kyō's weekly Mikako-san manga simultaneously in its Morning magazine and on its website on Thursday. Not only can fans read the web version without charges, but they can also copy and repost the web version anywhere — as long as it is credited, not sold, and not altered.
At Kyō's request, Kodansha is releasing the manga under a Creative Commons (by, nc, nd) license, a relatively new form of copyright license that grants its audiences more rights than most other licenses. People can freely share the images, as long as they properly attribute the work ("by"), offer it only for noncommercial use ("nc"), and leave it unchanged ("nd"). The website specifically encourages people to post the manga on their blogs, social networking sites, and elsewhere. The print version appears in this year's ninth issue of Morning magazine.
Kyō's manga work became popular through her online diary, "Sennen Gahō." This earlier web manga earned Jury Recommended Work recognitions at the Japan Media Arts Festival Awards in 2006 and 2007, and was printed in book form by Ohta Publishing Co.
Source: Sankei News
Image by Machiko Kyō © 2009 Kodansha Ltd. Some rights reserved.
Update: Kodansha previously experimented with web distribution by posting three entire issues of its Morning 2 magazine online late last year. It has also posted all but two titles from the first issue of its new Good! Afternoon magazine earlier this month.
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