(Nice pwnage, F_S!)
Still trying to digest the whole response, which was direct, measured, and shows no sign that Libre was merely trying to squeeze CPM. This really should have been the original announcement… it leaves no doubt to Libre’s position. Go read.
Now… is any artist going to step up and defend CPM?
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The artists wont. It’s just not their way, and it’s not good for their career. I saw some of that insane pro-CPM commentary at YS, about how the mangaka they brought over for Yaoicon [namely Kodaka and Ayano] showed no disappointment or hostility or unhappiness when they were CPM sponsored guests in the states…well, because, THEY DON’T DO THAT IN PUBLIC.
It’s not like the West, where some creators can and do eventually ‘call bullshit’ on publishers who’ve angered or crossed them, or treated them unfairly. In Japan, most mangaka wont come out and blast publishers or editors, even if they think they should. It’s called self-preservation. If you come out and slag an ex-publisher in public, to your fans, the odds of you getting picked up by another publisher–are slim. There’s been issues I’ve had with publishers that I consider quite serious, but I’d never take them public, to my fans, or I’d never work again. [though one pub is convinced I slag them all the time, though I've yet to find one public instance where I've done so.] *rolls eyes*.
Same goes for licensor’s; Kitty Media wants everyone to know that Ayano Yamane is seeing everything before it gets printed–why? Because she’s insistent. Why would she care? Past experiences maybe? She isn’t going to say. 0_0.
Don’t confuse silence, for friendship. My opinion…as always. ^^v
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Great point, Tina. And honestly Kodaka and Ayano were brought over long before the BiBLOS bankruptcy. Back then contracts were still valid and if there were problems they were definitely not made public.
A new publisher is in the mix, with new rules and honestly a new playing field to work with. Now Ayano wants to check all her work when dealing with a certain publisher. Now Libre is dealing with even more publishers – BLU, Broccoli, DQ, DMP and CPM (who knows whats up with BiBLOS’s old non-BL Zero Comics line that TP and ADV tapped at one point or another).
I don’t see an artist directly involved stepping up. Maybe someone outside would (I think the artist for Alien Nine had a good relationship with CPM) but that might not help with Libre-gate…
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I would think CPM would be the one to be replying emails and defending themselves to lesser the tension, but the fact that it’s the opposite make me think that Libre was at the underhand of the situation (at least prior to making this public).
Now, since CPM is not making any public statements, I have no choice but ot guess they were being intentional to not renew the licenses. Afterall, whatever they say false statements they make in public will be hold against them in court. Their “no comment” is probably the best defend right now, if they are indeed guilty of what is accused of them.
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Pingback from Simon says « Precocious Curmudgeon on March 28, 2007 at 4:04 pm
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They’re in Japan right now, and that’s their defense…we were out of the country and unable to comment effectively. I don’t know, this is crummy all around, especially due to the fact that BeBe cornered the market on some serious cult-favorites. Now fans have to contend with the prospect of these volumes bein unavailable by ethical vendors choosing not to carry them, or, if they buy from BeBe, will they NOT be supporting their favorite mangakas?
It’s a shame.
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From Dirk: a near-unanimous group frames the argument into a €œJapanese companies don€™t like to use the courts€ theory before all but pronouncing CPM€™s guilt; but Japanese businessmen aren€™t robots, and the very novelty of Libre€™s actions only really means that we€™re off-script so far as the Standard Way of Doing Business is concerned.
Wow Ed, we’ve graduated from ‘rumormongering’ to being a ‘near-unanimous group’. I’d say we’re kicking it in the big time. Can I get an Amen?
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Amen!! Preach it!! Can I hear it from the gallery now?!
Truth is that the number of business litigation cases in Japan are no where near as high as the west and obviously comparing that to customs in the US where lawsuits come from everywhere is not a good place to start.
Could Libre sue… absolutely. It would be a painful ordeal for both parties considering how this crosses two counties with different laws and a number of artists along with a company that doesn’t exist. (And no Libre didn’t buy all of BiBLOS as a couple artists have moved on to other pubs) But the real question is what CPM will do? They were put under the spotlight as Libre opened this to public scrutiny. In business circles that alone could be considered pretty agressive (potentially hurting the trust and therefore the business standing of the company accused). So I think Simon’s question about which option CPM will take is valid.
Do they try their best to work things out?
Do they push back since they feel they were not in the wrong?
Or do they give up and move on?Libre holds the cards – only the parties involved really know for sure who is right or not – the response from CPM is what readers in this market should pay attention to because it could end up changing the landscape for a good part (not just the BL sector since BiBLOS had more than BL… Libre not so much) of the western manga market.
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