Editing Fansub (section)

==Legal action==
In 1999, Ryuta Shiiki, a former representative of [[SPE Visual Works Inc.]] sent a letter to a fansub distribution group to take down the illegal copies of the anime ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]'', because a company that was interested in the rights of said series notified the Japanese company about the illegal distribution of it. The group complied and the series was pulled from distribution. This is the first legal action via a [[cease-and-desist letter]] against a fansub in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1999-01-20/digital-anime-distribution-threatened-by-letter-from-sony|title=Digital Anime Distribution threatened by letter from Sony|work=Anime News Network|access-date=2018-02-06|language=en|archive-date=2018-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207064514/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1999-01-20/digital-anime-distribution-threatened-by-letter-from-sony|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2002, Hideaki Hatta, president of [[Kyoto Animation]], sent a letter to a fansub group requesting the stop of illegal distribution of the anime OAV ''[[Munto]]''. The fansub group complied and the distribution stopped. This was the first legal action via a cease-and-desist letter against the fansubbing of an anime title not available outside Japan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-11-28/japanese-request-fansub-removal|title=Japanese request Fansub Removal|work=Anime News Network|access-date=2018-02-06|language=en|archive-date=2018-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207133938/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-11-28/japanese-request-fansub-removal|url-status=live}}</ref> However, it was later confirmed that [[Central Park Media]] licensed the title in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-11-30/munto-licensed|title=Munto Licensed?|work=Anime News Network|access-date=2018-02-06|language=en|archive-date=2018-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207122211/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-11-30/munto-licensed|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003, a fansubbing group known as Anime Junkies was involved in a conflict with [[Urban Vision]], the licensor and co-producer of the [[Ninja Scroll: The Series|''Ninja Scroll'']] TV series. Urban Vision sent a letter asking for Anime Junkies to stop hosting the licensed material, but Anime Junkies did not comply with the request and responded negatively to Urban Vision. Christopher Macdonald, an editor at [[Anime News Network]], highlighted the ethics code of the fansubbing community and asked that fans not support Anime Junkies as a result of their actions.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/editorial/2003-06-08/2 | title=Unethical Fansubbers | work=Anime News Network | access-date=9 August 2013 | author=Macdonald, Christopher | archive-date=2022-05-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530120810/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/editorial/2003-06-08/2 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On December 7, 2004, a [[Tokyo]] law firm representing Media Factory sent letters and e-mails to the anime [[BitTorrent (protocol)|BitTorrent]] directory [[AnimeSuki]] and fansub groups Lunar Anime and Wannabe Fansubs requesting that they halt the fansubbing and hosting of all current and future fansubbing productions.<ref name="Solomon"/> AnimeSuki and Lunar Anime complied, and shortly after, other fansub groups such as Solar and Shining Fansubs followed suit. Despite the request, Wannabe Fansubs and a handful of other fansubbing groups continued to produce fansubs of MFI anime series.<ref>{{cite web | title=Removal of Media Factory Inc. Works | publisher=AnimeSuki | url=http://www.animesuki.com/doc.php/legal/mediafactory.html | access-date=April 24, 2006 | archive-date=February 18, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218022742/http://animesuki.com/doc.php/legal/mediafactory.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

On July 27, 2006, the legal department representing the Spanish anime company [[SelectaVision|Selecta Visión]] sent a cease-and-desist letter to the anime BitTorrent and fansubbing site Frozen-Layer requesting the halt of the fansubbing and publishing all of current and prior anime licensed by the company. The owner complied and, until 2013, established that all licensed anime in Spain was banned from the site, regardless of the status of the license.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.frozen-layer.com/foro/topic/87810-cambios-nuevos-en-el-tracker/|title=Cambios Nuevos En El Tracker - Frozen-Layer Web/Foro|work=Foro - Frozen-Layer|access-date=2018-02-13|language=en|archive-date=2018-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213080239/https://www.frozen-layer.com/foro/topic/87810-cambios-nuevos-en-el-tracker/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In Singapore, anime distributor [[Odex]] has been actively [[Odex's actions against file sharing|tracking down and sending legal threats]] against internet users in Singapore since 2007. These users have allegedly downloaded fansubbed anime via the [[BitTorrent (protocol)|BitTorrent]] protocol. Court orders on [[ISP]]s to reveal subscribers' personal information have been ruled in Odex's favour, leading to several downloaders receiving letters of legal threat from Odex and subsequently pursuing out-of-court settlements for at least [[Singapore dollar|S$]]3,000 (US$2,000) per person, the youngest person being only nine years old.<ref name="aug2np">{{cite web| url=http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,137645,00.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224936/http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,137645,00.html| archive-date=2007-09-30 |title=Parents get shock letter |first=Liew |last=Hanqing |publisher=[[The New Paper]] |date=August 2, 2007}}</ref><ref name="cnet">{{cite web |url=http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/rehashplus/post.htm?id=63000177 |title=Kicking kids for profit? |first=Michael |last=Tan |publisher=[[CNet]] Asia |date=August 16, 2007 |access-date=2009-09-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205113447/http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/rehashplus/post.htm?id=63000177 |archive-date=December 5, 2010 }}</ref> These actions were considered controversial by the local anime community and have attracted criticisms towards the company, as they are seen by fans as heavy-handed.<ref name="aug16sta">{{cite news |url=http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-southeastasia.asp?parentid=76054 |title=Anime firm boss gets online death threats |first=Chua Hian |last=Hou |newspaper=[[The Straits Times]] |date=August 16, 2007 |page=4 |access-date=2009-09-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223020817/http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-southeastasia.asp?parentid=76054 |archive-date=December 23, 2008 }}</ref>

On May 18, 2007, [[Anime News Network]] reported that the police in [[Poland]] and [[Germany]] seized the fansubbing site Napisy.org arrested at least 9 people related to it. These raids were orchestrated by the [[Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry]] (ZPAV), a collective rights organisation, and German authorities shut the site which was hosted on servers in that jurisdiction. In May 2013, that case was closed, as prosecutors decided to drop the charges due to the charged individuals' ignorance of the unlawfulness of their actions. The site Napisy.org is currently closed and it shows sites to watch legal content.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-05-18/9-poles-held-by-police-over-fansubs|title=Nine Poles Held by Police over "Fansubs"|work=Anime News Network|access-date=2018-02-13|language=en|archive-date=2018-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213080443/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-05-18/9-poles-held-by-police-over-fansubs|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Anime News Network">{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-07-10/swedish-fansub-site-closed-by-copyright-enforcement-agency|title=Swedish Fansub Site Closed By Copyright Enforcement Agency|work=Anime News Network|access-date=2018-02-13|language=en|archive-date=2018-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213154930/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-07-10/swedish-fansub-site-closed-by-copyright-enforcement-agency|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://knowfuture.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/polish-fansubs-site-napisyorg-shut-by-police-participants-arrested/|title=Polish Fansubs site Napisy.org Shut by Police, Participants Arrested|date=2007-05-19|work=kNOw Future Inc.|access-date=2018-02-13|language=en-US|archive-date=2017-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729204637/https://knowfuture.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/polish-fansubs-site-napisyorg-shut-by-police-participants-arrested/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 19, 2007, the Spanish organization Federación Anti Piratería (FAP) sent a cease-and-desist against the website Wikisubtitles.net and their website provider [[Bluehost]], requesting the closure of the site since the owners were profiting with the content of others, violating copyright laws. The webmaster complied and the site was closed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genbeta.com/web/imagen-de-la-semana-wikisubtitles-cerrado-por-la-fap|title=Imagen de la semana: Wikisubtitles cerrado por la FAP|last=Pimentel|first=Víctor|date=2008-05-19|access-date=2018-02-13|language=es|archive-date=2018-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213195249/https://www.genbeta.com/web/imagen-de-la-semana-wikisubtitles-cerrado-por-la-fap|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://smalleye.net/2008/05/19/wikisubtitles-cerrada-por-la-fap/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705022554/http://smalleye.net/2008/05/19/wikisubtitles-cerrada-por-la-fap/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-07-05|title=Cosas que nunca te dije - » Wikisubtitles cerrada por la FAP|date=2008-07-05|access-date=2018-02-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bloguitar.net/noticias/otros-noticias/la-fap-cierra-wikisubtitles/|title=La F.A.P. cierra Wikisubtitles|date=2008-05-19|work=Bloguitar|access-date=2018-02-13|language=es-ES|archive-date=2018-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213135247/https://bloguitar.net/noticias/otros-noticias/la-fap-cierra-wikisubtitles/|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the webmaster published the source-code of the website. Since then, websites like Addic7ed, Subtitulos.es and Wikisubs appeared using the Wikisubtitles source code.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://smalleye.net/2008/02/24/se-publica-el-codigo-fuente-de-wikisubtitles-con-licencia-gplv3/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827193945/http://smalleye.net/2008/02/24/se-publica-el-codigo-fuente-de-wikisubtitles-con-licencia-gplv3/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-08-27|title=Cosas que nunca te dije - » Código fuente de wikisubtitles con licencia GPLv3|date=2008-08-27|access-date=2018-02-13}}</ref>

On July 9, 2013, the Swedish copyright enforcement agency Intrångsundersökning seized the servers for Swedish and English website Undertexter.se, a website that contained fansub scripts of several movies and series.<ref name="Anime News Network"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://torrentfreak.com/fan-created-subtitle-site-raided-by-swedish-police-130710/|title=Fan-Created Subtitle Site Raided By Swedish Police - TorrentFreak|date=2013-07-10|work=TorrentFreak|access-date=2018-02-13|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213135112/https://torrentfreak.com/fan-created-subtitle-site-raided-by-swedish-police-130710/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 2016, the owner of the website, Eugen Archy was prosecuted of violating the Swedish Copyright Act and was found guilty of copyright violation and the Attunda District Court sentenced him to probation. In addition, he has to pay 217,000 Swedish kronor ($27,000), which will be taken from the advertising and donation revenues he collected through the site.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://torrentfreak.com/fan-created-movie-subtitle-site-operator-facing-prison-160525/|title=Fan-Created Movie Subtitle Site Operator Facing Prison - TorrentFreak|date=2016-05-25|work=TorrentFreak|access-date=2018-02-13|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213080537/https://torrentfreak.com/fan-created-movie-subtitle-site-operator-facing-prison-160525/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://torrentfreak.com/founder-of-subtitle-site-convicted-for-copyright-infringement-170914/|title=Founder of Fan-Made Subtitle Site Convicted for Copyright Infringement - TorrentFreak|date=2017-09-14|work=TorrentFreak|access-date=2018-02-13|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213135124/https://torrentfreak.com/founder-of-subtitle-site-convicted-for-copyright-infringement-170914/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 21, 2016, the [[Kyoto Prefectural Police SC|Kyoto Prefectural Police]] in Japan arrested two Chinese company workers, Liang Wang and Wangyi Yang, on Wednesday on suspicion of violating the Japanese Copyright Act by uploading the anime series ''[[The Heroic Legend of Arslan (manga by Hiromu Arakawa)|The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance]]'' and ''[[Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya|Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya Drei!!]]'' with Chinese subtitles. Both suspects admitted to the charge, and Yang claimed to be a member of a Chinese fansubbing group. This became the first known legal action against fansubbing in Japan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-09-28/kyoto-police-arrest-2-chinese-suspects-for-uploading-anime/.107007|title=Kyoto Police Arrest 2 Chinese Suspects for Uploading Anime|work=Anime News Network|access-date=2018-02-06|language=en|archive-date=2018-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207063002/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-09-28/kyoto-police-arrest-2-chinese-suspects-for-uploading-anime/.107007|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 27, 2016, the Kyoto Prefectural Police arrested two Chinese individuals on charges of violating the Japanese Copyright Act. The two suspects were both located in Tokyo. The first suspect is a 29-year-old male living in Edogawa ward. The second suspect is a 23-year-old male college student. According to police, the first suspect is accused of fansubbing episodes of the anime ''[[Saki (manga)|Saki: The Nationals]]'' in Chinese and uploading the subtitled episodes on a file sharing service. The second suspect allegedly subtitled a different anime in Chinese, and similarly used a file sharing service, but the report did not mention the anime.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-10-28/2-chinese-men-arrested-in-japan-for-illegally-subtitling-uploading-anime/.108205|title=2 Chinese Men Arrested in Japan for Illegally Subtitling, Uploading Anime|work=Anime News Network|access-date=2018-02-06|language=en|archive-date=2018-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005537/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-10-28/2-chinese-men-arrested-in-japan-for-illegally-subtitling-uploading-anime/.108205|url-status=live}}</ref>

On February 16, 2017, the Kyoto Prefectural Police arrested a 26-year-old Chinese man on the charge of illegally subtitle the anime ''[[Ange Vierge]]'' in Chinese and distribute it through a file sharing software. Police allege that the man is a member of the group ''Jimaku Gumi'' ([[sic]]).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-17/man-arrested-in-japan-for-releasing-ange-vierge-anime-with-chinese-subtitles/.112367|title=Man Arrested in Japan for Releasing Ange Vierge Anime With Chinese Subtitles|work=Anime News Network|access-date=2018-02-06|language=en|archive-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112005002/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-17/man-arrested-in-japan-for-releasing-ange-vierge-anime-with-chinese-subtitles/.112367|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 22, 2017, a judge in [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands, declared fansubtitling illegal. The Dutch court declared that these translations correspond to the producers and no one else. In case they do not exist, they can not be created by fans. After this ruling, the creation of subtitles without the consent of the author of an audiovisual production is now considered a crime in the Netherlands. This is the first ruling in the world that values subtitles as intellectual property and that punishes with fines and imprisonment those who violate copyright laws.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnnchile.com/noticia/2017/04/22/juez-declara-ilegales-los-subtitulos-de-peliculas-en-internet|title=Juez declara ilegales los subtítulos de películas en Internet|date=2017-04-22|work=CNN Chile|access-date=2018-02-06|language=es|archive-date=2018-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207010807/http://www.cnnchile.com/noticia/2017/04/22/juez-declara-ilegales-los-subtitulos-de-peliculas-en-internet|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.alfabetajuega.com/noticia/holanda-declara-ilegales-los-subtitulos-creados-por-fans-y-los-castigara-con-multas-y-carcel-n-83001|title=Holanda declara ilegales los subtítulos creados por fans y los castigará con multas y cárcel|work=Alfa Beta Juega|access-date=2018-02-06|language=es|archive-date=2017-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727085908/http://www.alfabetajuega.com/noticia/holanda-declara-ilegales-los-subtitulos-creados-por-fans-y-los-castigara-con-multas-y-carcel-n-83001|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://torrentfreak.com/unauthorized-subtitles-for-movies-tv-shows-are-illegal-court-rules-170421/|title=Unauthorized Subtitles For Movies & TV Shows Are Illegal, Court Rules - TorrentFreak|date=2017-04-21|work=TorrentFreak|access-date=2018-02-06|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207062832/https://torrentfreak.com/unauthorized-subtitles-for-movies-tv-shows-are-illegal-court-rules-170421/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 31, 2018, [[Sankei West]] and ''[[Asahi Shimbun]]'' reported that police departments from Kyoto, Yamaguchi, Shizuoka, Mie, and Shimane Prefectures in Japan, along with the [[Association of Copyright for Computer Software]] arrested four Chinese nationals for illegally fansubbing anime, manga and videogames. The suspects, who range in age from 23 to 28, are allegedly part of a translating group that distributed Chinese-translated manga, anime, and other materials online. The titles included ''[[Yuki Ochimura ni Ojō-sama!]]'', [[Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V (manga)|''Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V'']] and ''[[Kimi ni Todoke]]''. The Association of Copyright for Computer Software reported that one of the suspects, a 23-year-old female company worker from Niiza City in Saitama Prefecture, translated the 123rd and final chapter of the manga ''Kimi ni Todoke''. Police from Kanagawa, Ishikawa, Gifu, and Shiga Prefectures also worked on the case. This is the first known arrest regarding illegal manga translation in Japan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASL105RDJL10PLZB011.html|title=日本の漫画など違法に翻訳 中国人の容疑者５人逮捕：朝日新聞デジタル|work=朝日新聞デジタル|access-date=2018-02-12|language=ja-JP|archive-date=2018-02-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211225608/https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASL105RDJL10PLZB011.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sankei.com/west/news/180131/wst1801310098-n1.html|title=日本の漫画やゲーム、無断で翻訳…中国人の女２人逮捕 不正ネット公開組織「漢化組」メンバー|last=INC.|first=SANKEI DIGITAL|date=2018-01-31|work=産経WEST|access-date=2018-02-12|language=ja-JP|archive-date=2018-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203123514/http://www.sankei.com/west/news/180131/wst1801310098-n1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://en.rocketnews24.com/2018/02/03/five-chinese-nationals-arrested-in-japan-for-translating-manga-games-for-distribution/|title=Five Chinese nationals arrested in Japan for translating manga, games for distribution|date=2018-02-03|work=SoraNews24|access-date=2018-02-12|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213022105/https://en.rocketnews24.com/2018/02/03/five-chinese-nationals-arrested-in-japan-for-translating-manga-games-for-distribution/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://slator.com/industry-news/arrested-for-translation-japan-detains-five-chinese-nationals-for-pirate-translation/|title=Arrested for Translation: Japan Detains Five Chinese Nationals for Pirate Translation {{!}} Slator|date=2018-02-06|work=Slator|access-date=2018-02-12|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213022022/https://slator.com/industry-news/arrested-for-translation-japan-detains-five-chinese-nationals-for-pirate-translation/|url-status=live}}</ref>