Thread: How legal are scanlations?

Originally Posted by coolerimmortal

Doesn't international copyright law make it illegal everywhere?

Pretty much, it just doesn't get prosecuted very often, especially since charges usually aren't filed.

If you record a movie and watch it only for yourself - it's not a crime.
If you record a movie and spread it over (via net or stuff) - it's a crime (even if you don't get money for it).
I think It's pretty much the same with manga's. Everyone can have extract from newspaper with new chapter of OP or Naruto, but that's only for the people who actually bought newspaper/magazine or watched this station/bought DVD.

how legal is it? not.

On the note of international law, I was looking through the free trade agreement and related laws, and according to it, cd/dvd burners are illegal. Basically, international trade laws are a farce unless you are a mass offender, making lots of money out of it, or, a single mother. (I'm serious about the single mother thing O_O)

Originally Posted by coolerimmortal

Doesn't international copyright law make it illegal everywhere?

True... But most people don't really care...

it makes it not legal, but it would be such a pain in the ass to prevent scanlations that it is not worth it...

and we shoudln't forget it is free advert

To atone our sins, we could just by the original afterwards and trash the scanlations - then everyone will be happy : We will have a HQ version of our favourite manga/anime to re-read or share with friends and the mangaka/producers/distribution company gets the money.
..but it doesn't change the fact that scanlations aren't legal.