Darth Marley
11-22-2007, 03:51 PM
Just after a WB exec admits it was a mistake to make enemies of their best music customers, the 2 major comic publishers make a few big moves to shut down "comic piracy."
http://www.shotgunreviews.com/2007/11/22/zcult-fm-torrent-site-down-no-more-comics-downloads/
This shut down of ZCult is a big blow to readers of downloaded comics, but it is far from the only site on the internet that hosts them. People will be able to find other places if this one is in fact shut down. What’s different about ZCult from most is the online community that has formed there. Some of the most active, and intelligently debated, forums on the comic ‘net can be found in their message board section. Add to that reviews, a podcast, and weekly previews, and you have a full on comic site being run by no one actively involved in the industry, except as fans. According to Serj, Marvel’s demands included the complete shut-down of the site, including these community features. This seems odd, and really, a little vindictive to many involved with the site.
Fuck you Marvel Comics. I will never again pay for any of your products!
Wanting to get paid for your "IP" is one thing, but demanding that a site shut down rather than remove your material only just shows what kind of assholes you really are.
One interesting twist in this post back is the involvement of an as-yet-unnamed indie publisher. Serj has long been accommodating to the small press. If a representative of a small press company, or even an individual creator, writes him an e-mail asking him not to host torrents with their work involved, he simply adds it to the banned list, and will personally take down any torrents that include those files. Recently, he reports, one company from the banned list rescinded their ban and even asked if they could form some sort of partnership, including cross-advertising. If nothing else, we may be getting a peek at the future of ZCult right there. Independent Publishers may thrive from getting the additional exposure a large community like this can give them.
And this isn't the first time that small publishers have rescinded their request to remove their material from zcult.
Some who are linked to the comic business have revealed that many writers have downloaded the back catalogs of titles they have contracted to revive to get history of ancient comics characters because the major publishers couldn't give them the same material.
Also, interview podcast shows which ask the creative's opinions about comics download routinely get told "off the record" that they think it helps the business, but they can't say that in public because of the asshats in charge of the home office.
Like Hollywood, and their petty gripes, I now wish for a pox on both DC and Marvel's house.
http://www.shotgunreviews.com/2007/11/22/zcult-fm-torrent-site-down-no-more-comics-downloads/
This shut down of ZCult is a big blow to readers of downloaded comics, but it is far from the only site on the internet that hosts them. People will be able to find other places if this one is in fact shut down. What’s different about ZCult from most is the online community that has formed there. Some of the most active, and intelligently debated, forums on the comic ‘net can be found in their message board section. Add to that reviews, a podcast, and weekly previews, and you have a full on comic site being run by no one actively involved in the industry, except as fans. According to Serj, Marvel’s demands included the complete shut-down of the site, including these community features. This seems odd, and really, a little vindictive to many involved with the site.
Fuck you Marvel Comics. I will never again pay for any of your products!
Wanting to get paid for your "IP" is one thing, but demanding that a site shut down rather than remove your material only just shows what kind of assholes you really are.
One interesting twist in this post back is the involvement of an as-yet-unnamed indie publisher. Serj has long been accommodating to the small press. If a representative of a small press company, or even an individual creator, writes him an e-mail asking him not to host torrents with their work involved, he simply adds it to the banned list, and will personally take down any torrents that include those files. Recently, he reports, one company from the banned list rescinded their ban and even asked if they could form some sort of partnership, including cross-advertising. If nothing else, we may be getting a peek at the future of ZCult right there. Independent Publishers may thrive from getting the additional exposure a large community like this can give them.
And this isn't the first time that small publishers have rescinded their request to remove their material from zcult.
Some who are linked to the comic business have revealed that many writers have downloaded the back catalogs of titles they have contracted to revive to get history of ancient comics characters because the major publishers couldn't give them the same material.
Also, interview podcast shows which ask the creative's opinions about comics download routinely get told "off the record" that they think it helps the business, but they can't say that in public because of the asshats in charge of the home office.
Like Hollywood, and their petty gripes, I now wish for a pox on both DC and Marvel's house.