Terminology question

[simon_winter]

I see a lot of talk around the boards about people's DBZ fansubs/bootlegs. My question is what's the difference? On a fundamental level I know what each is, and I understand the anger towards bootlegs, but it seems "fansubs" aren't as wrath-inducing. Aren't they really the same thing? And in the an era of DBZ stuff being so readily available aren't both, I don't know, pretty shadey at this point?

Anyway, I just ask so I can understand more of the conversation around here more easily and where people are coming from. Thanks.

[MajinVejitaXV]

All fansubs are bootlegs, but not all bootlegs are fansubs. In any instance, you are right in assuming that anything in regards to DBZ would be shadey, since the series is licensed and released commercially in North America. Typically, fansubs are not frowned upon only if the series is not licensed.

Now, if I own the DragonBoxes and take subtitles from FUNimation's releases that I own to use for my own custom DVD's for personal viewing, then that would be acceptable IMHO. When you distribute such things however, freely or for profit, that's a different story.

-Corey

[Kaboom]

Well... you're right. The thing with both is that they're technically illegal once a series has been licensed, and that's why discussion of them is frowned upon here, for the most part. It's especially true with DragonBall, since you'll be hard-pressed to find someplace in the modern world where it hasn't been licensed and released in one form or another.

Corey got to post before me, but like he said, FanSubs aren't as much disliked, at least when talking about series that hasn't been picked up by any dubbing company and released yet. After all, a lot of the "senior" members here sort of "grew up" on old DbZ fansubs, before any or all of the series was licensed, or at least finished.

Then again, there's some instances when you'd have to be crazy to prefer a certan dub over a good fansub *Couch*OnePiece*Cough*

[desirecampbell]

The difference here is that a "fan sub" is something made by-fans-for-fans. While money might change hands, noone's making a profit on it.

The sticking point, generally, is that "bootlegs" are made by people looking to profit off of them.


There are different degrees in between, and it's up to you to decide what is and isn't ethical (and we've tried to have that conversation before, without much success).

[Payne222]

Haha, I honestly don't mind people watch fan-subs or reading scanlations. I'd be happy that fans take their time to distribute my series to millions of people for no profit. But then again, I'll probably get yelled at or something about morals and the law or something along the lines of that, so, I guess I'm finished for now.