I don't think they really care about how the overseas markets perform, as long as there are people willing to cough up money for licenses. However, when they think that the Japanese market (viz. cable subscriptions, etc) is being affected, that's another story.

Have seen a couple of MADs (no indication that they were overseas productions) on Nico made using fansubs, so there may be something to this theory. Which might mean that the situation is even more fscked-up than one would otherwise assume.

Naturally, tj han's assessment is almost certainly correct as well.

What would you do if someone stole your product (software / program) that you make in 6 months or more. The one who stole didn't try to sale it, he only use for himself non-profit. But his friends come and copy it, also for self use only, non-profit, and again another friend, and again and again.

In the end, you don't recieved money form what you had make.

It would be ashame that Singapore invite May'n but the anime released in Singapore still in VCD format >.<

Yet, they are pulling out people's IP addresses which are found to be getting other titles which are not even on their "licensed" title list.

Other companies will send a C&D order to targets to stop whatever they are doing illegally before they take apprioriate action.

Yet Odex, which hardly anyone in Singapore has even heard of it, fires off love letters to either cave in to legal settlements or court settlements, knowningly that people will not dare risk having to pay more in lengthly court sessions.

Once again, Odex is NOT here to care for their consumers, but to rip them off with pathetic choice of preferred media format ( VCDs ), limited choice of DVD titles ( And poorly done/ Censored may i add ), and even fooled a whole nation.

About the company, that's really bad for Singapore-ans(?).
I really hope other countries don't follow suit, and that something can be done against Odex.

I know that they legally can do that, but that's like the worst thing a licenser can ever do.

Anime would have never become popular throughout the world if it wasn't for people being able to download anime, and using torrents.

I'm willing to bet most of the profit Odex makes and even the creation of the company has a lot to owe to that.

So, they come into play, and wants to screw up people who actually created them? The very people who are responsible for their profit?

If something like that happened in Brazil, I myself (if not someone else) would get people together to screw up such company by any means necessary.

You have a really large, juicy roast chicken.

You also have nice but less filling chicken nuggets.

You do not have hands.

Which will you eat? The seemingly ew little pieces of processed chicken or the all-natural goodness of a whole chicken?

The nuggets of course because it is EASIER.

Singapore has such a meek population and the strongly-corporation-skewed legal culture, where the regular joe fears the courts and would never think of hiring a lawyer. It's not like in the US k where everyone's sue-crazy.

It's tragic but there are benefits to it as well, like no abuse of the legal system (well, ironically, if you consider this abuse, but it really isnt).

Not to mention that it would be easier for the Japanese companies to start here, with the groundwork already laid out by Odex. In contrast, America has had a bad track record in terms of prosecuting illegal downloaders (bad from the viewpoint of the company). Thus, it is not surprising that Singapore is where they turn to rather than America.

And also, Singapore has had rather good events happening in terms of the anime scene recently. I mean, the Eva movie just aired on TV last Sunday. Subbed, not dubbed. We're having same-week telecasts for a few series, such as Toradora, Casshern Sins and Skip Beat. Subbed, not dubbed. We're about to host Anime Festival Asia, which is bringing in fans from the region and from Japan too, with May'n and Mizuki Ichirou performing.

We might not be as big as the American market, but we sure are a major market, especially if you include the countries in the region. We're being recognised, and we're being noticed. I guess we get some good and we get some bad.

Additionally, the studios don't receive any money directly from Singaporean activity - they sold the right to do that to Odex in return for royalties.

Which company do you think is bigger? Odex or the various anime studios?

When you answer that question (I'm quite sure you all should be able to answer that correctly), then think about just who is calling the shots this time. Can it even be Odex? I don't think so.

If that's not enough, consider this: the studios hold the copyright to the animes. Why would they, the owner, get money from people for illegally downloading those animes, and give it to somebody who doesn't own the animes?

As for other distros in other countries, US will have a much better ground on offering unique offers with the DVD packages and avoid all means to BRAND themselves everywhere.

And with the recent hype with these Federal Lords deciding to put in ADDITIONAL materials(nipples) in the videos themselves for DVD releases, it's useless for Singapore's MDA to allow them.

These Federal Lords(the studios) REALLY need to replace their style to suit with the current world.

Odex however, would be better off to vanish from the very surface of this planet as they only discouraged the Federal Lords to cater for the gajins here.

No extras, horrible packaging, no figurines to go with, no collector's edition, weak paper box, lousy advertising etc.

And not to mention horrible dubbing. Give me some collectibles to go along with subbed DVDs, I will do my part and buy.

I'm not going to spend my $ on simple anime VCDs/DVDs. This is sooo not the style of anime lovers.

Odex is just out ot make some quick bucks instead of engaging the anime community over here in Singapore.

"We are pleased to inform all XD members and potential members that we now have access to lawyers who are willing and interested to represent collectively those who may be in need. As those who have been issued Writs would need a lawyer anyway, it would be more cost effective if everybody shares the same lawyer.

In addition, there may be some legal funding to help those who are taking the stand. Not confirmed at this point but just to let everybody know that Odex/R&T cannot expect to walk over you simply because they think you have no resources to put up a fight against their invasion based on a technically flakey IP list.

Importantly, the lawyers who have offered to help us would have the full support of the XD research team to provide technical knowledge on the issues. This is a crucial advantage as we have known of lawyers made less than desirable recommendations to members in the previous Odexgate 2007. These are not lousy lawyers per se, but simply due to a lack of understanding about the relevant technology, and it is not reasonable also to expect a busy lawyer without the necessary background to learn all there is to learn in the days available.

So if you are on of those who have received Writs or know those who do, please help spread the message.

You are not alone."

Link: http://xedodefense.org/smf/index.php?topic=684.0

Starhub lost.

PacificNet manage to convince the Judge that Odex CANNOT do it as they ONLY have one title, Gundam Seed, which grants them the ability to do whatever they like.

Still the Judge told them to pass the ips to the Federal Lords anyway.

Yeah. Technically a flat out loss.