How is a certain "free" comics site still around?

Boba Fett · 10-29-09, 03:32 AM

I ran across a site which I will not name. They have 1000s of issues of well known series' available for viewing, although all are around a year behind.

I understand the difficulty in the RIAA and MPAA curbing file sharing, but how is such a blatant disregard for Copyright Law still continuing?

To top it off, I found posts from the owners claiming they offered to do business with DC and Marvel, but when those companies refused, they hid behind the argument their website was no different than a public library and they have coded their site to prevent user download.

brianluvdvd · 10-29-09, 08:53 PM

If an item is out of print and not being sold anymore by the company that has the rights to it, I have no problems with posting these in comics, music, movies, etc.

Boba Fett · 10-29-09, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianluvdvd

If an item is out of print and not being sold anymore by the company that has the rights to it, I have no problems with posting these in comics, music, movies, etc.

I feel the same way, but the stuff on this site includes every issue of Amazing Spider-Man (and practically every other Spider-Man series) to name one of hundreds of titles.

I get their library argument, but last time I checked my local public library purchased legit releases of Spider-Man (i.e. the B/W Essential Series and the Marvel Masterworks stuff); Marvel didn't give it to them for free.

Josh-da-man · 10-29-09, 11:13 PM

Are you talking about scanned *.cbr/*.cbz files?

Comic book piracy is rampant; there are whole collectives of people who rush out "zero day" scans of new comics days after they come out.

And, so far, there hasn't been much of a crackdown. Doesn't seem like the industry cares very much.

Boba Fett · 10-29-09, 11:16 PM

No, this is a site that lets you view them inside a web-browser. I was well aware of the .cbr/.cbz stuff.

DGibFen · 10-31-09, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh-da-man

Are you talking about scanned *.cbr/*.cbz files?

Comic book piracy is rampant; there are whole collectives of people who rush out "zero day" scans of new comics days after they come out.

And, so far, there hasn't been much of a crackdown. Doesn't seem like the industry cares very much.

Marvel has been going after these sights tooth and nail, sending them letters threatening legal action. DC, however, has not really done much of anything yet. Maybe the loss margin on scanned comics is nowhere near the loss margin on copied music and movies?

Then again, Marvel has had a digital comic service for a couple of years. DC doesn't seem to be rushing towards that, although I did remember them saying that part of the reason was that they wanted to pay proper royalties to the writers/artists for digitally reproducing their work - at least that was the last excuse I remember.

10-29-09, 03:32 AM	#1
Boba Fett DVD Talk Reviewer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 2,054	How is a certain "free" comics site still around? I ran across a site which I will not name. They have 1000s of issues of well known series' available for viewing, although all are around a year behind. I understand the difficulty in the RIAA and MPAA curbing file sharing, but how is such a blatant disregard for Copyright Law still continuing? To top it off, I found posts from the owners claiming they offered to do business with DC and Marvel, but when those companies refused, they hid behind the argument their website was no different than a public library and they have coded their site to prevent user download. __________________ On a gathering storm, comes a tall handsome man. In a dusty black coat with a Red Right Hand.

10-29-09, 08:53 PM	#2
brianluvdvd DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,879	Re: How is a certain "free" comics site still around? If an item is out of print and not being sold anymore by the company that has the rights to it, I have no problems with posting these in comics, music, movies, etc. __________________ Xbox Live Gamertag: FatalSpiderbite PSN Gamertag: Arachnidsting Wii Code: 3901 7492 2924 8006 I would like to change my username but the Powers That Be at DVDTalk won't let me.

10-29-09, 11:13 PM	#4
Josh-da-man DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Bible Belt Posts: 10,317	Re: How is a certain "free" comics site still around? Are you talking about scanned .cbr/.cbz files? Comic book piracy is rampant; there are whole collectives of people who rush out "zero day" scans of new comics days after they come out. And, so far, there hasn't been much of a crackdown. Doesn't seem like the industry cares very much. __________________ "Hell is other people." -- Jean-Paul Sartre

10-29-09, 11:16 PM	#5
Boba Fett DVD Talk Reviewer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 2,054	Re: How is a certain "free" comics site still around? No, this is a site that lets you view them inside a web-browser. I was well aware of the .cbr/.cbz stuff. __________________ On a gathering storm, comes a tall handsome man. In a dusty black coat with a Red Right Hand.