Tazmo - Profiting from free stuff

[Juansmarts]

I found this earlier while I was boringly looking at random stuff at mangaupdates.com. According to this, there is a guy named Tazmo who created a site called Narutofan.com, where he charges ppl to get Naruto content normally free. Usually, I would've just ignored this and laughed at the people not smart enough to find the right places to get it free, but then other sites were mentioned to be operated by him, anime-plus and manga-plus. I didn't find any DC stuff in the anime site(what is he thinking lol), but the manga site contained up to chapters 664. Unfortunately, I could not actually check whether or not they were DCTP made, but since it was reported that he used other scanlated manga, I would assume so. I just wanna know what you guys think of it, and more importantly, what the DCTP staff might do.
Below is the image I learned the stuff from(had to put it at the bottom. Otherwise, my little rant would've been pointless  ).

[Jd-]

This reminds me of that story for Crunchy Roll that was posted on ANN quite a while back. The operator of that website has made a lot of money, and he's complied with every series that's been taken down. The ad revenue alone has generated millions of dollars, out of something that is relatively cheap to operate.

For these sites, really--what can be done? Even should I vehemently oppose people who operate on these terms, there's really nothing that can realistically be done. As someone who has spent many, many, many hours working on Detective Conan anime and manga to date (for free, no less), I don't think I really have a problem with it at all. Why? Well, I think that anyone who discovers Conan on one of those sites is more likely to hang onto the show than someone who has to manually get each episode elsewhere.

Bringing Conan to people is the foremost philosophy behind DCTP, and since sites like these (although perhaps not in an ethically sound way) are completely compatible with that idea, I can't imagine myself having a problem with it.

As for the other shows, though: I would imagine this guy's sites are very easy to use and offer a lot of content on a private service with quick speeds. If that alone is what people are paying for, I can understand it to a degree (even though there are likely similar and perhaps better services at no cost).

With that said... I do, completely, understand why everyone else would take offense to this. Despite that alone, this guy isn't the scum of the earth--I'd much prefer him to much greater frauds, like psychics and televangelists.

[SkyVenger]

Dunno why, but it only takes a minute or two to find free downloads. Best thing is to go direct to the fansub group. No hassle, really. So I've been wondering why people keep on subscribing to those kind of sites

Well, I say it's in the people who download the stuff. Tazmo will die when no one supports him anyway

[shapper]

I think that anyone with half a brain would choose a free service over a costly one if the quality were to be the same. Now, that is only true if the person in question knows of the free service's existence; whoever gives him business probably lacks that knowledge. Alas, I doubt that problem has an easy solution.

Anyhow, it is one of many frauds which, to be honest, I don't see as the greatest of evils. Could be annoying to subbers though, which is understandable.

[kat1214young]

My cousin who's a Naruto fan told me about this before. She said that the manga site she used to go to, charges people for Naruto stuff that are meant to be free. I guess it's true then

[kirite]

Old news but it's good you're spreading the word : D.  Awesome.

[Juansmarts]

Wait, this is old? How old is this topic?

Anyways, I just wanted to point this out because I remember hearing in another topic of somebody(I think in the Philippines) was actually selling Detective Conan DVDs made from subs by DCTP, so that coupled with the coincidence of seeing this on a random website caused my to post this so that ppl would be better informed.

Of course, I think that what this guy is doing makes everyone out in the losing end except for him; the companies that lose out on profits(what else is new  ), readers/watchers lose out on some money that would have been blown off on equally dumb stuff, and fansubs get cheated out of a free service. Worst thing that could happen from this is that fansub groups would require a monthly subscription to get subbed episodes.

[Jd-]

I really don't mind if they sell our work on DVDs and such in the Philipines or wherever. I don't speak for everyone, of course, but for me, personally--this isn't about money or even recognition. That's why we don't even put our staff names in the episodes. It's more about the entire project and the series than it is about individuals, so I guess take that as you will.

Getting Conan out to more people is a good thing, any way that comes about. WHO IS WITH ME!?

I also must admit that anyone that makes money from fansubs is an entrepreneur in their own right. Kudos to them for their keen business sense.

[SkyVenger]

Illogical calculation:
1 subbed episode = electricity cost of downloading it (@home)
                           OR time spent in the internet cafe

From that, getting subs from DCTP still costs something

Thus, downloading 50+ episodes, compressing it to low-quality but light-sized file types, and burning it to a DVD still costs something because of electricity bills. Making more copies of it adds to the overall cost. Having crappy internet increases the overall cost even more because downloading is much slower.

Even watching uploaded subs has a cost (based from the illogical calculation above ).

For those lazy kids who have a TV and a DVD player, they just have to buy the DVD's. They wouldn't bother uploading or downloading eps if they can watch straight on pirated DVD (in exchange for shitty quality) for a measly price of about a dollar or less for 20,30, or even 50 episodes (as a Filipino resident, I guarantee that these pirated DVDs are really cheap )

And somehow, the circulation of money from this illegal business is rather fair and decent (because they spend and receive money - sounds like a normal business exchange); the companies just happen to sell episodes at a far higher price that's why pirated DVDs are preferred by many here. What's considered as something "not-a-human-tendency" (but nice) is the production of free subs because the subbers work without reward but the gratitude of the viewers/readers (thank you guys ). Too bad companies don't think that way .

Overall, only the companies who buy the rights of subbing DC complain a lot about fansub groups and pirates.
LIKE I CARE... I hate Case Closed (throws tomatoes to FunI)
edit: But I like DC ofc

*Endnotes: Tazmo is stupid because there are other sites offering the same service but w/o membership fees. At least for pirates, their enemies (legal copies) cost a lot. And IMO, fansub groups translate a lot better than companies

[kat1214young]

I really don't mind if they sell our work on DVDs and such in the Philipines or wherever. I don't speak for everyone, of course, but for me, personally--this isn't about money or even recognition. That's why we don't even put our staff names in the episodes. It's more about the entire project and the series than it is about individuals, so I guess take that as you will.

Getting Conan out to more people is a good thing, any way that comes about. WHO IS WITH ME!?

I also must admit that anyone that makes money from fansubs is an entrepreneur in their own right. Kudos to them for their keen business sense.

I agree. ><

Juansmarts : Besides, not everyone has access to the internet to download DC you know. 

Yume is right. It is really sold in a cheap price that's why people buy them instead of wasting time in downloading and/or buffing 

[Juansmarts]

Yeah, that's true in that some ppl have more money than time that they can waste. That and the paranoia that people have, thinking that every download will lead to a computer destroying virus. But isn't that why Youtube was created? Don't ppl watch subbed episodes (and sometimes manga chapters  ) for a free price? I just think it's not right to give money to ppl who don't even do any translating. Maybe the money should be "donated" towards fansub/scanlation groups to help get raws(Ban?) or as an "incentive" to finish translate quicker.

For those lazy kids who have a TV and a DVD player, they just have to buy the DVD's. They wouldn't bother uploading or downloading eps if they can watch straight on pirated DVD (in exchange for shitty quality) for a measly price of about a dollar or less for 20,30, or even 50 episodes (as a Filipino resident, I guarantee that these pirated DVDs are really cheap )

Are you serious? Where can I get one? My mom is coming back from the Philippines on Thursday, and she asked me if I wanted anything from there, so maybe I can get some cheap DVDs of every single(subbed) episode out there for about 5 dollars 

[kat1214young]

So like now you're the one who's gonna buy these DVDs? Hahahahaha kidding
Anyway it depends, because if your mom is in Manila, she can go to Divisoria. If not, try the market. I think markets sell DVDs.

For 5 dollars??? You've gotta be kidding cause the cheapest price for these DVDs is 50 pesos. 5 dollars could buy you at most 5 DVDs I think. Correct me if I'm wrong cause most of the time I am 

[Juansmarts]

So like now you're the one who's gonna buy these DVDs? Hahahahaha kidding
Anyway it depends, because if your mom is in Manila, she can go to Divisoria. If not, try the market. I think markets sell DVDs.

For 5 dollars??? You've gotta be kidding cause the cheapest price for these DVDs is 50 pesos. 5 dollars could buy you at most 5 DVDs I think. Correct me if I'm wrong cause most of the time I am 

Wait, now that I think about it, I have no clue how a DVD can hold 20 episodes at once, since I can barely make one hold 6 episodes. Maybe $20 for all the subbed episodes, not counting XCHKS or anything of that quality.

Anyways, I think the DVD ppl are better than Tazmo because They spent some money to buy the DVDs, spend some time on burning the episodes, and distributing them to ppl who might not have a computer or Internet to get it for free, while this guy is ripping ppl off forcing a payment to get something so easily retrieved.

I guess I'm all against this kind of guy because I speak as a person who got ripped off of buying something I could have gotten for free. I put it in a spoiler because it's a spoiler on my life. 

Spoiler:

I made a lifetime subscription to a PSP website(can't remember the name anymore) that said they had free PSP stuff(games, videos, etc.). I thought this person would have DDLs for all the games I wanted, but instead gave me a few apps to download and torrent sites where games can be found. I I wanted to sue, but unfortunately I thought I would have to pay even more, so I left it alone and eventually found a forum website hosting everything I wanted and more for free. And that concludes a brief look on my life 

[SkyVenger]

But isn't that why Youtube was created? Don't ppl watch subbed episodes (and sometimes manga chapters  ) for a free price? I just think it's not right to give money to ppl who don't even do any translating. Maybe the money should be "donated" towards fansub/scanlation groups to help get raws(Ban?) or as an "incentive" to finish translate quicker.

Youtube was created for displaying vids and stuff, but because the raws (anime & manga) aren't meant to be free and have copyrights, fansubs & scanlations out of it should also have had "cost". Since fansubs are free, it is not expected for subbers to dedicate all their time to it because it's not a business where they can profit from it. So no complaints for long waits on eps and chaps And if subs weren't free, what's the difference of subs w/legal DVDs and manga releases?

@Juan: The DVDs I endorsed talked about earlier are also called "pirated DVDs", because they're like "pirated software" which are being distributed for free or lower price. Actually, I think Tazmo is like a pirate mobster who attempts to fool novices who don't know their way around the sea. Well, the only way to avoid those is to gain more experience as a "pirate", lol