http://siewkumhong.blogspot.com/2007/08/odex-pte-ltd-v-pacific-internet-limited.html

‘All anime downloaders whom we have the IPs of are going to get sued by us. There is nothing anyone can do about it.’

No warning, no nothing. What age are anime downloaders? Primary 3 onwards? How do they expect primary schoolers to understand the copyright law they are breaching.
In addition, Odex is even sueing those who download animes that they have NOT released. Even the more popular series that they have released are reported to be of low quality.
Are there any anime fans out there who would still buy from Odex after their outrageous lawsuits? The tone of letter is more like a threat,
‘If you don’t buy from us, you get screwed.’
Honestly, the day that company close down; would be the day anime fans celebrate like no tomorrow.

It may be true that downloading of any form is illegal… but what about Haruhi Suzumiya ? What about the doujinshi market in Japan, which is a clear copyright contravention, but was atcually allowed there for a while ? Hell, why did Lucky Star go so far as to mention Haruhi doujinshis ? Parody and mockery over such items ? Maybe, but I’d think it was acknoledgment of a loyal fanbase that bought their items, and supplied them lots of money.

ODEX may think its doing the right thing, but clamping down on people and turning off the community will never achieve those aims. However, I disagree with a certain dR when he said there’s no anime community in Singapore.

There is one. There is one that buys from Chuang Yi manga. There is one that has kept the dandelion running, spreading for more then ten years, to the extent that it can acquire licenses once unreachable.

There is one. One that permeated the downloading syndrome, but was the same thing that made Haruhiism the force it is the world over.

There is one. One in this coutry, where cosplayers actually get featured on Channel NewsAsia.

So its true that Animax and loval TV can’t give us everythign we want. So its true that downloading of any form may become illegal. But let this not be the weakening or lessening of our community.

Peter Go did what he did. Whether he was right or wrong is another matter, but he did what he did. It’s up to us to do our bit now.

They are explaining their rationale, leaving out what they really think they are thinking - that because their revenue dropped so they are in actual fact using this as an excuse to fine people… FINE! So this ODEX letter does nothing to convince the unconvinced, I think. They are just saying they are NOT in any fault, it is all the illegal downloader’s punishment for breaking laws.

N I find this line the most dubious from ODEX “Odex was appointed to conduct the present enforcement drive because it is the LARGEST distributor of anime in the region, and it has conducted successful enforcement actions in the past in relation to the sale of pirated anime VCDs and DVDs.”

ODEX is boasting of the fact that they are the LARGEST distributor of anime in Asia… face it, people! throwing suits against them would be blatantly useless because they are the BIGGEST anime distributor around in Asia…

I do not condone sending death threats to any of the ODEX members as that is being a little overboard to express our unhappiness. All lives and dignities need to be preserved for the good of all.

“Odex is authorised by the Anti-Video Piracy Association (Singapore) (AVPAS), a non-profit organisation whose members…”

“Upon consultation with the members of AVPAS as well as other affected Japanese content owners, Odex was tasked to….”

ODEX = profit organisation

AVPAS = non-profit organisation, made up of members who are profit making organisations

if ODEX = AVPAS, therefore ODEX authorised itself to do what it did.

so, FCUK ODEX anyway.

25 AUG 2007, YOUTH PARK, 1700hrs.

Remember Remember the twenty fifth of August….

My point is that since it is generally concluded (in most places) that ODEX’s actions are legally correct but morally reprehensible, we should not defend our culpability in downloading, but ODEX’s right to pursue damages for the particular information they have received, such that it is established that downloading is not condoned, but neither are the actions of ODEX. If we can get the current data disqualified, everyone can start with a clean slate. In future, anyone who ODEX catches of downloading will be properly culpable as they have been warned and all, so no one can complain.

I can’t help but think this is the RIAA all over again. They’ve walked down this path before.