People over at the J Novel Club are knock off Yakuza
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To the few who will actually get to read this, look up what this site does to fan translators of web novels (not the light novels). Perfect example is what they did to Japtem.
To start out, I dont have a problem paying for content. In fact, I have already bought the Japanese editions of the Arifureta light novel. However I refuse to support these horrible people here on this site. If only you weren't going to every fan translator of the WEB NOVELS and demand that they delete everything they have. If only you didn't muscle in with vague legal threats. And maybe if you were confident in the product you were selling that you wouldn't be scared of the horribly written fan translations 'stealing your sales'. Maybe then I would love to support you guys.
Not that you would see any of the feedback because it would be deleted by the mods, but I know that I am not alone in my thoughts.
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@jnovelaremonsters
WN fan-translators deserve to get shut down considering how they scam "donations" while putting out crap translations of Web Novels instead of the Light Novel versions. -
except there are people who dont WANT to read the Light Novel versions. There is a reason why there are two different versions. And I agree with you, there are a lot of fan translators out there who are just the worst. Example, Light Novel Bastion are a disgrace and I never touch any of their translations because of their horrible practices. However, doesn't excuse the shameful and downright disgusting business practices of J-Novel Club.
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Here is where to find the prologue chapter of the original Arifureta web novel.
http://ncode.syosetu.com/n8611bv/1/
Scroll down to the bottom. See this part?
特に記載なき場合、掲載されている小説の著作権は作者にあります(一部作品除く)。
作者以外の方による小説の引用を超える無断転載は禁止しており、行った場合、著作権法の違反となります。Know what that means? "Unless otherwise stated, all published content is copyrighted by the author. Unauthorized republishing of this content is prohibited. Failure to comply is a violation copyright law."
Nice try.
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Except its not republishing its translating. Try again.
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It's possible that the Japanese publishers of the light novels have also purchased the rights to all versions of the story including the web novel version, especially as the web novel is frequently 80-90% identical to the light novel and also considering the fact that many original web novels are taken off the internet after being picked up for publishing even in Japan (like Konosuba, Overlord, Sword Art Online, Gate, Youjo Senki, etc.). We can't know for sure because these contracts are usually hidden behind NDAs, until the defense that "I was translating the web novel sir, not the light novel" has been tested in court we may never know.
And what legal threats have been made exactly, because Raising the Dead are still happily translating Smartphone as per status quo ante and I'm not seeing any C&Ds being issued. Realist Hero translators have not stopped translating either, are in fact translating new chapters that were already covered in the most recent English LN, and nobody is slapping them with lawsuits.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_law_of_Japan
The author can control the adaptation of a work through translation, dramatization, cinematization, and the creation of derivative works in general.
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chews popcorn I don't think Sam is the one that issues DMCAs. I doubt that he even cares.
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@azsendi To be best of my knowledge, he does send emails to web novel translators asking if they would kindly consider removing the specific volumes that J-Novel has translated (not a blanket legal nuke like what has been issued to Baka-Tsuki by Hachette, Kadokawa, and Shueisha over the years), and they are also free to continue translating from the most recent WN chapters which haven't been covered yet (see: the continuing Uchimusume and Realist Hero translations). Japtem still carries the chapters which have not yet been made available as official English LNs.
If the example of Raising the Dead and Smartphone is any indication, one is however free to ignore this request to no particular consequence, as it does not constitute an official cease and desist notice. Larvyde has not even bothered to remove any Realist volumes past volume 1, and Sam does not appear to have ever bothered following up on that. -
@microdynames When Japtem was asked to take his down, he essentially asked 'or what?' and was responded with 'we will talk the author into sending you a DMCA.'
@myskaros with loopholes for non-profit. The law is vague and the main reason why changes aren't made is because it is used against people who cannot defend themselves.
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@jnovelaremonsters said in People over at the J Novel Club are knock off Yakuza:
When Japtem was asked to take his down, he essentially asked 'or what?' and was responded with 'we will talk the author into sending you a DMCA.'
Cool, then why hasn't Raising the Dead or larvyde been DMCAed yet? Please post timestamped chatlogs.
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@Microdynames This is what I found on Japtem's site: http://japtem.com/removal-of-arifureta/ I don't see a full reproduction of any legal C&Ds, I see a person who received nothing posting what someone else claimed to have received. Not exactly waterproof.
@Jnovelaremonsters I'm not sure what your point is. The law currently states that the author has full control over translations of copyrighted work. I'm sorry you don't like this law.
Whoever said nothing's impossible never tried slamming a revolving door.
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and we could forward a DMCA request on their behalf if necessary
So in other words "The author can use us as a messenger boy to forward their C&D if he wants to exercise his rights"? That's a fairly significant leap away from "We will ask the author to send you a C&D".
Until I see Raising the Dead receive a C&D for Smartphone from Fuyuhara Patora at the explicit instigation of Sam Pinansky, I don't think WN translators have much to worry about from J-Novel Club.
Edit: oh hello Japzone in the comments thinks @Jnovelaremonsters is a dunce.
They didn't make threats. They requested and Japtem complied. All they stated was that Japtem didn't have the author's perimission to host translations and that the Author could submit a DMCA, or request JNC to make one on their behalf, if the author became aware. That's normal legal practice.
If Japtem wanted to they could've asked for permission from the author, as other fan translations have done, and tried to get permission but they didn't probably because they didn't want to risk the author saying no. Now that an official translation of the LN is out it's even less likely that the author will say yes, and since Japtem is no longer translating the novel anyway there's no point sticking their neck out for it.
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@microdynames I mean, to me it just sounds like a canned legal message. I doubt someone was like "muhaha, this will scare them into compliance!!!," more like "OK, let's make a generic letter that touches on all the applicable legal aspects so that everyone is aware of their rights and risks."
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I rather support a business I know follows the correct procedures of licensing a title before straight up translating it like most if not all fan translation sites do. This ensures that the authors get a cut for THEIR work. Not only is does JNC have good quality translations they are also good on speed. I rather the good LN titles get licensed by people who will actually translate than those that take donations then go on break for months sometimes even over a year. Sorry but JNC is doing it right.
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@microdynames He failed? I am unable to find any posts about Raising the Dead's treatment so I flip it onto you. Post chatlogs he didnt from a reputable source.
As far as Larvyde goes, he complied, or at least at first. Cant get the first volume however, if I am not mistaken, he was posting translations of the light novel which is a separate thing that I am not defending.So, while unsubstantiated, my thoughts are that whoever was trolling around was all bark and no bite OR they failed to get anyone to move on it. Or maybe they decided its not worth accumulating more ire.
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I don't get this post at all. As far as I know most of the web novels that J-Novel club has are still continuing the fan translation. Even Arifureta had a very recent release of the after story. So how are J-Novels anywhere close to monsters?
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@jnovelaremonsters said in People over at the J Novel Club are knock off Yakuza:
He failed? I am unable to find any posts about Raising the Dead's treatment so I flip it onto you. Post chatlogs he didnt from a reputable source.
You want me to prove a negative? How exactly would I go about proving that the author never received a request from him, fly to Japan and hunt down Fuyuhara Patora to ask him in person? The evidence is that RtD haven't been C&Ded, therefore the author hasn't been asked for a C&D, because if he was it's likely he would get on that pretty quick because nobody likes their stuff being out of their control.
As far as Larvyde goes, he complied, or at least at first. Cant get the first volume however, if I am not mistaken, he was posting translations of the light novel which is a separate thing that I am not defending.
No, he was translating the web novel, and he is still translating the web novel. Note though when he didn't bother to comply for anything after volume 1 nobody appears to have come calling.
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@jnovelaremonsters said in People over at the J Novel Club are knock off Yakuza:
I am unable to find any posts about Raising the Dead's treatment so I flip it onto you. Post chatlogs he didnt from a reputable source.
That's... not really how this works. You're the one trying to convince other people that JNC is doing something bad. I'm not trying to defend anyone, I am just finding really easy holes to poke in your arguments. Micro too just wants actual proof, not "he said she said" anecdotes.
From all the stories being thrown around, the most likely explanation seems to be "JNC licensed some stuff, then sent a bunch of letters to various translators requesting they take stuff down. Some people did, some people didn't, some people blew this way out of proportion."
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@microdynames doesn't mean the interaction didnt happen. I am not trying to prove what legal action was or wasn't taken but the threats placed on them.
“We do not control the rights to the web novel and cannot demand that you remove your translations. However, just because the original work is posted for free online does NOT mean that the author has given permission for it to be reposted on other websites, or translated into other languages… and the author could, if they were alerted, request your translation be completely removed (and we could forward a DMCA request on their behalf if necessary).” - response to Japtem http://japtem.com/removal-of-arifureta/
@myskaros You are right, egregiously poor wording. What I meant that while there isn't any proof that they did, but there isnt proof that they didnt. And since Japtem actually made a post about it I am more inclined to believe him. And while I wish more people came forward, I understand why they dont.
