Post #1482238

@heavens_feel @Tamamo I feel this issue has multiple sides to it and almost everyone tries to reduce it to one - interpretation and understanding of intellectual rights/ownership - piracy and 'stealing' what's not available for purchase - Western influence in the creation of Japanese Otaku culture and works - the current state of Japanese Otaku culture (fake Otaku etc.) I don't find anything of point 3 being a good argument about the other two points: All cultures affected each other to some extent after contact, even if that influence resulted in 'now I know how I don't want to be' or vice versa As for piracy, someone who could not have bought a product cannot be seen as having prevented potential profit. If Japanese companies don't care about Russian customers (as the person in the screenshot), which is their right, then they also cannot complain about Russian piracy. Gabe Newell understood something about this dynamic and it's one reason why many want their games simply on Steam, regardless if they could have them for free on the Epic store. If Japanese companies wanted that money they would find ways to serve that potential market. As it is, both sides have no good reason to attack the other, as customers from abroad are not entitled to be served, just like Japanese companies are not entitled to foreign money if they don't serve it. Finally, Japan today seems to have a very strict understanding of IP rights and the Otaku realm is not an exception. One could be sarcastic and accuse artists/studios who create Otaku content today as lacking self-awareness, since much of anime/manga content is inherently derivative and operates on something like a database that is mixed and matched, but that sarcasm would be misplaced and do injustice to the actual depth of many works and how that database is actually used when used properly (signs and symbols). I don't see how this issue can be resolved as it is ultimately a cultural divide between more relaxed standards outside of Japan vs. strict standards in Japan, and availability definitely plays a role in it. Japan is the mecca, the point of origin for Otaku culture. Perhaps a shift in perception to understand just how much Soft Power Japan has amassed globally thanks to it, could throw a different light on this debate.