Reactions Odex's actions against file-sharing

parents paying out-of-court settlements odex children s downloading, depicted in parody animation xedo holocaust circulating on internet.

odex blamed approximate 70% fall in video cd (vcd) , digital video disc (dvd) sales in 2006 , 2007 on illegal downloading. response of anime fans fall in sales because odex s products inferior, inaccurately translated, , released later online versions. odex subsequently attributed inaccurate subtitling on censorship laws against mature themes (such yaoi) , on fansubbers—anime fans had translated japanese dialogue—whom had hired. in response, board of film censors said did not ask subtitles changed, merely classified content, , onus on distributors ensure accurate subtitles. in addition problems of quality , scheduling, criticisms directed @ odex s litigious strategy , poor public relations. odex received support anti video piracy association of singapore (avpas) in making demands compensation.

stephen sing mocked , criticised after posting comments online forum many considered gloating. messages posted sing under nickname xysing included me busy suing people [sic] , hahahahah! double-6-ed many downloaders serve them right! sing labelled hated man in singapore s anime community members of blogosphere, wanted poster face circulated online, , taunted openly in office. sing asserted threats of arson, assault , death made against him , filed police report. although expressed regret on remarks because pr disaster , wrong , said had written them while feeling frustrated , did not apologise. dismissed double-6-ed remark, expression of joy @ threats of lawsuits, having been made 2 months ago , revealed had been made 3 weeks earlier. sunday times article condemned these online responses propaganda spread lynch mobs , noted of these netizens had revealed home addresses of odex s employees. odex placed quarter-page advertisement in straits times on 22 august 2007 explain actions.

allegations made online community odex had passed off fansubs own work. sing admitted partially true odex had hired anime fans subtitling in 2004 had taken easy way out , copied word word subtitles on fansubs downloaded . sing explained when odex released anime, company did not realise anime fans had done, , has been paying mistake ever since . reported @ same time of odex s translation , subtitling done in house . however, odex s release of melancholy of haruhi suzumiya in september 2007 found contain translations resembling earlier unauthorised fansub release. emails sent media saying sing , go directors , shareholders of defunct company, games mart, shared same corporate address odex , had been raided in 1999 police selling game consoles unauthorized modifications. information confirmed press, , go wrote letter media explaining games mart not affiliated odex in way.

odex s website hacked , defaced on 21 november 2007 , replaced angry message legal actions.

members of online forum expressed unhappiness selling anti-odex t-shirts. netizen created video parody, entitled xedo holocaust, , uploaded youtube , other video-sharing websites. website established giving details of odex vcd recycling drive , joined exchange odex vcds black awareness ribbon wear. protest few people several action figurines took place on 25 august 2007 under intense police scrutiny, considered western observers rarity in singapore. online group, xedo defense, set provide support downloaders facing legal action. raised funds hire collective lawyer infinitus law corporation represent 2 of downloaders when suits filed against them in november 2008 anime studios.

there assertions odex had charged 10% interest settlements paid through instalment plan, press release company denied had required such interest payments. september 2007, 105 out of 300 singnet subscribers had received letters had negotiated , paid odex, although, in news conference, odex said had neither forced payment nor fined anyone. company explained not profit enforcement process , intended donate charity excess amount received. release financial audit of money collected @ close of proceedings. on 31 august 2007, in attempt address criticisms of late releases, odex began offer video on demand (vod) on relaunched website. users legally download , unlock digital rights management (drm)-protected anime episode @ s$2 7 days.

in mid-november 2007, cease-and-desist emails initiated odex , baytsp reached several users in japan, france, , united states, in form of digital millennium copyright act (dmca) notices isps. although odex , baytsp announced shortly afterwards emails sent out in error, japanese commentators suggested enforcement action step in right direction . on 21 november 2007, odex s website hacked , defaced , vod service put out of action. main page replaced angry message against company s legal actions, , experts interviewed representatives of local media said perpetrator singapore.