Geek Culture
Tsubaraya Productions Wins Case Regarding Ultraman Licensing Rights

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.
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 Q, Ultraman, 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.
Geek Culture
The Final Fantasy IX remake rumors have surfaced again after an absence of a year

The long-rumoured The Final Fantasy IX remake has regained its silence after being dosed with Echo Screen. This time, Giant Bomb Game Mess Mornings host and White Mage Jeff Grubb has reignited the unholy conflagration.
The NVIDIA leak, which revealed the fan-favorite remake, becomes more accurate every day. Grubb says he was reassured “very recently” that the remake is still happening. Expectations should be similar to Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, not Remake.
The Final Fantasy IX remake excites you? What do you expect from it, and where do you think it will debut?
Consoles
Resident Evil Death Island Reunites Favorite Characters

The latest trailer for Sony Pictures Entertainment’s CGI film Resident Evil: Death Island, released July 25, features the outlandish action and melodrama that made the franchise a cult sensation.
This Resident Evil Avengers-esque team-up features Leon S. Kennedy, Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Claire Redfield, and Rebecca Chambers.
The T-Virus and killer whales take the gang to Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay, where a new nightmare awaits. In magnificent slow motion and with progressively heavier ordinance, the Dream Team will supposedly destroy zombies, Lickers, mutant orcas, and anything else foolish or nasty enough to stand in their path.
Gaming
Attention! Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine for PS5, PS4 Launches June 22nd

In a horrific new video, Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine is coming to PS4 and PS4 on June 22. Expect agony and tight gameplay from independent wizards Team Meat, well known for their pioneering, tough-as-ham platformer Super Meat Boy.
This “mean meat machine” reimagines your grandpa’s old black-and-white puzzle games for a younger, hipper, more bloodthirsty audience. We’re delighted the wait won’t be long for this one.
Super Meat Boy fan? Team Meat?
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