Connect with us

Geek Culture

Tsubaraya Productions Wins Case Regarding Ultraman Licensing Rights

blank

Published

on

blank

YouTube’s Content ID system has many flaws. It has a tendency to flag videos protected by fair use, but occasionally the system works as intended. Case in point, the Content ID system recently informed the Japanese company Tsubaraya Productions that someone was illegally distributing/posting Tsubaraya’s flagship series, Ultraman. The company took the distributor to court and won in what can only be described as a landslide victory.

I have discussed Ultraman in the past, but for those of you who don’t know, it’s a show about a giant alien who fights giant monsters and was the brainchild of one of the creators of Godzilla, Eiji Tsubaraya. The show has been in production since 1966 and has gone through thirty seasons (and counting). Ultraman is a pretty big deal in Japan — pun intended — which is why Tsubaraya Productions doesn’t take illegal distribution of the show lightly.

blank

According to the news site SCIFI JAPAN, Thai businessman Sompote Saengduenchai claimed he obtained the “exclusive, perpetual” licensing rights to Ultraman thanks to a 1976 agreement with Eiji Tsubaraya’s son, Norobu Tsubaraya. Sompote also claims the agreement allows him to distribute the show through his various companies, including UM Corporation and Chaiyo Film Corp, as well as transfer the rights to other companies, including Verdana Entertainment. Verdana recently uploaded the first three seasons of Ultraman (Ultra QUltraman, and Ultra Seven) to YouTube, which set off the Content ID system that alerted Tsubaraya Productions and prompted the company to pursue legal action. Of course, Sompote counter-sued and cited the agreement, and the Los Angeles Federal Court picked up the case between Tsubaraya Productions and UM Corporation.

While Sompote provided the agreement for his case, the jurors and Tsubaraya Productions agreed that, thanks to numerous errors and omissions of details essential to binding legal contracts that grant licensing rights, it is likely a forgery and thus invalid. And then there’s the little matter that the signature on the document isn’t actually Noboru Tsubaraya’s, at least according to Tsubaraya Productions. Furthermore, even though Sompote provided a digital copy of his passport to help prove he was in Japan when the (forged) agreement was “signed,” such documents are easily altered. Finally, the digital copy consists of separate images that make it difficult to confirm if they belong to the same passport, which weakens Sompote’s claim even more. However, regardless of the validity (or lack thereof) of the digital copy of the passport, Judge Andre Birotte Jr. has already declared the case closed and ruled in favor of Tsubaraya Productions, as the “agreement” was deemed fraudulent.

As much as I hate YouTube’s content ID system, I will admit that if it weren’t for the system, Tsubaraya Productions might never have known of Sompote’s illegal distribution of Ultraman and thus would have never been able to take him to court. I am not about to sing the system’s praises just yet, but this court case has convinced me to look at it in a new light.

All you have to do to get my attention is talk about video games, technology, anime, and/or Dungeons & Dragons - also people in spandex fighting rubber suited monsters.

Consoles

New PS5 firmware is available for download!

blank

Published

on

blank

A PS5 firmware update on a cold winter morning is unmatched. The latest PS5 system software update is 23.02–08.40.00 from Sony. Does this one add useful features or just boost system performance?

Though closer to the latter, it’s more than Sony’s favorite patch note. It fixes security issues, improves messages and usability, and boosts system software performance. Official patch notes for this 1.185GB update:

  • We updated system software security
  • We improved system software stability and performance
  • Some screens now have better messages and usability

That’s it. PS5 gets another win to recover from its midweek slump. Do you share our enthusiasm for this firmware update? Comment below. To spice things up, make your comment rhyme.

 

Continue Reading

Gaming

Embracer Job Losses Continue as New World Interactive is Hit

blank

Published

on

blank

New World Interactive, the developer of the Insurgency series of tactical first-person shooters, has laid off an unknown number of employees as part of Embracer Group’s comprehensive restructuring plan.

Saber Interactive, which acquired New World in 2020, told Eurogamer that the studio had not closed. However, it confirmed an unknown number of layoffs.

Embracer says it is “actively working to fill existing open roles” with impacted employees and will provide severance packages. “Saber also assures that development will continue on Insurgency: Sandstorm, as well as on unannounced future projects,” it said.

Over 900 employees were laid off in an “agonizing” but “necessary” process. As always, we hope all victims recover.

Continue Reading

Gaming

Sony: We Need Non-Gamers to Access Our Content

blank

Published

on

blank

Sony wants non-console owners to access its content beyond its PlayStation-walled garden. This strategy has been slowly implemented: the company has commissioned TV and movie adaptations of its biggest franchises, ported select software to the PC, and launched a mobile gaming division.

In an interview with Nikkei, head Hideaki Nishino explained how this strategy can boost console sales: We want to use movies and dramas to get non-gamers to try PlayStation games. Sales of The Last of Us increased during the live-action drama.

When HBO’s adaptation aired, our The Last of Us content skyrocketed, so we can understand its impact. As a PlayStation fan site, we support this strategy because we want to reach as many people as possible, so if Sony can appeal to non-console owners, that’s a win-win.

More PlayStation users is better, in our opinion.

Continue Reading

Trending