Module Three – Copyright

For our next task we needed to investigate  the various copyright laws in force and if our websites confirmed to these laws. We were then required to check and see if it would be ok to use the Curtin University Logo on assignments etc.

Firstly regarding my website I think I would ‘technicaly’ be in breach of copyright. Lets begin

While the AMV I used as the basis of my site is distributed under fair use, the content it uses are covered by copyright. In both Japan and the USA the creation of AMVs is generally overlooked by the copyright holders and seen as a form of free advertising. They are obvious of their existence but refuse to officially acknowledge them. This is very similar to the status that fan subbing and doujinshi have been given. The fact that many studios such as CLAMP have been quite open in their support for fan based work has also helped provide credibility. You might be interested to know that CLAMP was originally began as a group of 12 in the doujinshi scene.

Fan subbing while technically illegal has been pivotal in the licencing of anime by US Distributors which were previously deemed ‘unsuitable’ for the US market. The licensing of Azumanga Daioh by ADV and Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya by Bandai Entertainment are examples of this. Since picking up the various licences both companies have admitted to picking up the licence after witnessing their popularity in the fan sub community.

Doujinshi (Fan made comics on licenced material) like AMVs is overlooked by in the USA and actively promoted in Japan. With many conventions in the USA for example Otakon and Anime Expo having “Artist Alleys” where they are promoted, traded and sold. These alleys pale in comparison to Comiket, a convention in Japan devoted solely to doujinshi. I was quite surprised when I check the attendance figures for Comiket, over half a million attendees buying, selling and trading doujinshi.   

Convention Attendance
Comiket (Japan 2007) – 550,000 Attendees
Anime Expo (USA 2007) – 41,671 Attendees
Otakon (USA 2007) – 22,852 Attendees

Anyway, looks like my site is a bad site.

Oh, and regarding using the Curtin logo for an assignment, it looks like thats a no no. According to the Curtin website:

“Unless otherwise stated, the material published within the Curtin website is Curtin copyright.

no part of this site may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the specific written permission of Curtin first-hand and obtained.”

Currently listening to: Nightwish – Eva

~ by daleblakey on April 5, 2008.