Japan ISPs to cut off downloaders

March 15, 2008 in Comics Conundrum, Manga Minutiae, Potpourri | 8 comments

Big news out of Japan… 4 internet service provider associations, under pressure from copyright holders, vow they will disconnect and forever terminate service to customers who repeatedly download pirated material.  Whether this can be achieved without massive violation of personal privacy remains to be seen, but the most incredible aspect of this announcement is that these companies are taking the initiative themselves.  You would never, ever see something like this happen with the big ISPs in the United States… not out of any sense of righteousness or altruism and respect for customers, but because they’d never voluntarily end a $50 per month meal ticket.  Unless you go over their secret monthly bandwidth limit, that is.

If the Japanese companies do go through with this bold plan, this could potentially do more to limit the flow of raw videos and manga than any other counter-piracy measure to date.  Let’s face it, no one’s afraid of lawyers and C&D letters anymore.  But getting blacklisted from receiving any internet service ever again?  That’s like cutting off a heroin addict.  Expect a few withdrawal-induced protests before this story’s over.

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AkibaBlog has coverage of the launch of Yamatogawa’s new book Witchcraft in Japan, where eromanga launches are a big deal (sigh).  The photos are from K-Books, Melon Books, and Toranoana, all the big manga shops in Akihabara.

Yamatogawa’s Aqua Bless is currently being serialized in Comic AG, and you can also check out one chapter for free in Comic AG Digital issue 01.

Would we like to get our hands on Witchcraft?  Hell yeahs.  But first you guys need swear you’ll buy 50,000 copies of Aqua Bless when it ships.

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Cold Cut Comics Distribution has changed its name to Haven Distributors.  The Beat has the full PR.

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Missed it… a Japanese ebook seller Papyless will be offering a significant portion of Osamu Tezuka’s catalogue of works for online rental (~$1 for 48 hours) or download to own(~$3).

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From Engadget –> Impress, a video of Black Ox, a robotic toy based on the Gigantor nemesis, which achieves fluid fighting robot animation from 20 points of movement.

Where are these people’s priorities?  I want Aphrodite with working oppai missiles NOW.

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The folks at BL publisher 801 Media are looking for online reviewers to add to their comp list.  No H4terZ.  (Found on ComiPress)

8 comments

  2. spica on March 15, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    I can’t swear that I alone will buy 50,000 copies of Aquabless, but I do swear I’ll buy one, and that if you license witchcraft that I’ll buy a copy of that as well.

  3. hirohisa4president on March 15, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    Isn’t there another ero manga with the title of witchcraft as well since I remeber seeing one in the back pages of a tenma magazine last year?

  4. Leo on March 15, 2008 at 6:26 pm

    I can’t promise 50,000 either, but if it’s for a good cause (like getting Witchcraft), I’ll definately buy a copy of Aquabless.

  5. Anonymous on March 16, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    Yamatogawa has a good art style, and I thought the meganekko from “Twins” was really cute!

  6. Simon on March 17, 2008 at 11:02 am

    Yes, he has a great art which hits a nice median between realism and stylishness that comes in and out of fashion. His stuff would definitely age better than some others…

  7. spica on March 17, 2008 at 11:34 am

    The concepts/storylines behind his ero manga also tend to be more interesting than your average ero manga.

  8. neutrino on March 17, 2008 at 10:05 pm

    Like I’ve said before, people will just turn to streaming video.

    I’ll also buy a copy of Aquabless.

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