Normally, I gladly share my opinion and views on any subject. This subject matter is exceedingly sensitive and I hesitate to inflame readers any more than I already have. However, since you have been kind enough to both apologize and share your views articulately and intelligently, I feel I should do the same. Sorry for being short and dismissive with you. This was not my only thread, my nerves wore thin and I took it out on you. I'm really sorry.
My opinion regarding free online reading is that it should flourish. I believe every form of literature, from comic books to classics, should be available at little or no cost to everyone. Literacy is still in decline. I don't mean "See Spot run" literacy. I mean the ability for individuals to read and comprehend at their age level. Fewer and fewer high school students are able to read and comprehend The Great Gatsby, Great Expectations, Grapes of Wrath and the like. Even current best-seller authors are writing with some of the worst grammar I've ever seen. The best way to combat this "illiteracy plague" is to show people how it's done correctly. Let them read voraciously. Their minds, opinions, ideas, vocabulary and ability to communicate effectively will grow and expand. I think the idea of a site akin to Netflix, where you can read as much as you want for a reasonable monthly fee, would be optimal for this goal. I don't personally disagree with your position. I just know that, right now, that's not the way things are...unfortunately. Changes must be made, readers and publishers must both do their part to make those changes happen.
Clarification: I never claimed PSL or ASL numbers were accurate or fair. I can't debate the fairness of CC regulations, Intellectual Property laws or Copyright Infringement awards with you, because we stand on the same side - I agree with you. My purpose through this entire thread has been to convey how free reading sites are viewed by the law and publishers. I simply wanted to show that, the way we view ourselves and our actions is not how we are viewed by the law and publishers. It was not my intention to portray their views as fair or unfair. Rather, my intention was to give information to readers and allow them to form their own opinion.
That's cool. You are absolutely correct about how the law, the RIAA, the MPAA and most publishers view the issue. I am just here to present the open business model options and suggest that fan sharing may not actually lead to economic loss for creators as many assume. Of course people can decide what makes the most sense for them. :)
You're welcomed :)
Allow me to clear up some details.
National and international copyright laws prohibit the public display of altered or unaltered copyrighted material. Period. These brave scanlation groups risk harassment, personal and public internet accounts being suspended or revoked, internet service privileges being suspended or revoked, civil lawsuits, and criminal prosecution to bring all of us the manga we love. Every time they upload, they take that risk. Groups that "get away with it" have either been simply lucky and flown under the legal radar, or have felt the brunt of their choices at great cost and continued regardless.
Licensing is a sub-division of copyright. The license holder pays upfront to purchase the "right to sell copyright material" from the original publisher. They can alter the material (translation) only with the permission and approval of the original publisher and artist. They make back the purchase price plus profit through sales of the materials.
This site boasts 10, 000 registered readers. If each "member" reads one, one volume manga for free, at an average cover price of $14.99, the publishers and artists, as a group, lose $149, 900.00. Most members read multiple volumes of multiple manga. This does not even take into account the non-registered members. The lost profits overall for the manga industry are astronomical - just for this site. Consider the number of free manga sites out there and astronomical becomes incalculable. One artist may lose "a few dollars", but the industry, as a whole, loses far more to "free advertising".
I'm not providing an opinion as to whether "free manga" sites are right or wrong. I am a registered member here with over 1350 manga read. It is not my place to make this determination. I am simply providing facts and information. My only opinion is that people should have information, so they can make informed choices.