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I've also seen Hulu using fansubs for some of their Korean TV [1]. I'm curious what the legal status is of text-only subtitle work. Unlike the translation of a

by ender7 14y ago

I've also seen Hulu using fansubs for some of their Korean TV [1]. I'm curious what the legal status is of text-only subtitle work. Unlike the translation of a book, translated subtitles are not the complete work. They're also a creative work in their own right. Ironically, many fansubs are of higher quality than official subs, especially when it comes to idiomatic expressions in the source language. [1] e.g. http://www.hulu.com/watch/290239#i0,p0,s1,d0 http://www.hulu.com/watch/290239#i0,p0,s1,d0 skip to the beginning of the credits to see "Subtitles by HaruHaruSubs", a fansub group.

w1ntermute 14y ago
> I've also seen Hulu using fansubs for some of their Korean TV [1]. Hulu wasn't "caught" using fansubs - they have a legitimate deal with DramaFever[0][3], which in turn gets the subtitles from K-drama fansubbing groups like Haru2subS (the group you mentioned) and WITH S2: > DramaFever has been working closely with the broadcasters as well as fansub groups such as WITH S2 to make dramas available with high quality subs.[1] > Today we are presenting a drama that needs no introduction: Boys Over Flowers. We are proud to be the first to legally release this online for our US audience along with the amazing subtitling from WithS2.[2] As for this: > Ironically, many fansubs are of higher quality than official subs, especially when it comes to idiomatic expressions in the source language. It makes perfect sense when you consider that official subbers are required to make the subs as accessible as possible, to create a broad audience. On the other hand, fansubbers translate how they want to. Although this might put off some newbies, most watchers get acclimated to and eventually come to expect the fansubbers' approach. A similar phenomenon can be observed in the anime fansub community. 0: http://www.dramafever.com/ http://www.dramafever.com/ 1: http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_77984.htm http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_77984.htm 2: http://blog.dramafever.com/2009/04/we-got-boys-over-flowers/ http://blog.dramafever.com/2009/04/we-got-boys-over-flowers/ 3: http://www.hulu.com/companies/311 http://www.hulu.com/companies/311
pandaman 14y ago
I am not a lawyer. There is a concept of "derivative work" and copyright protection extends to derivative work. A translation[1], for example, is a derivative work regardless of being complete. So subtitles fall under the same copyright as the original work and distributing subtitles without the copyright holder permission is an infringement of his copyright[2]. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derived_work#Definition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derived_work#Definition [2]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fansub#Legal_and_ethical_issues http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fansub#Legal_and_ethical_issues

by ender7 14y ago

w1ntermute 14y ago

> I've also seen Hulu using fansubs for some of their Korean TV [1]. Hulu wasn't "caught" using fansubs - they have a legitimate deal with DramaFever[0][3], which in turn gets the subtitles from K-drama fansubbing groups like Haru2subS (the group you mentioned) and WITH S2: > DramaFever has been working closely with the broadcasters as well as fansub groups such as WITH S2 to make dramas available with high quality subs.[1] > Today we are presenting a drama that needs no introduction: Boys Over Flowers. We are proud to be the first to legally release this online for our US audience along with the amazing subtitling from WithS2.[2] As for this: > Ironically, many fansubs are of higher quality than official subs, especially when it comes to idiomatic expressions in the source language. It makes perfect sense when you consider that official subbers are required to make the subs as accessible as possible, to create a broad audience. On the other hand, fansubbers translate how they want to. Although this might put off some newbies, most watchers get acclimated to and eventually come to expect the fansubbers' approach. A similar phenomenon can be observed in the anime fansub community. 0: http://www.dramafever.com/ http://www.dramafever.com/ 1: http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_77984.htm http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_77984.htm 2: http://blog.dramafever.com/2009/04/we-got-boys-over-flowers/ http://blog.dramafever.com/2009/04/we-got-boys-over-flowers/ 3: http://www.hulu.com/companies/311 http://www.hulu.com/companies/311

pandaman 14y ago

I am not a lawyer. There is a concept of "derivative work" and copyright protection extends to derivative work. A translation[1], for example, is a derivative work regardless of being complete. So subtitles fall under the same copyright as the original work and distributing subtitles without the copyright holder permission is an infringement of his copyright[2]. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derived_work#Definition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derived_work#Definition [2]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fansub#Legal_and_ethical_issues http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fansub#Legal_and_ethical_issues