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.
Gaming
The cast of the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 film has added an exciting new addition with the inclusion of Shadow, who will be voiced by the talented Keanu Reeves
After a long wait, it appears that the search for a capable Hollywood actor to bring the brooding Shadow the Hedgehog to life has come to an end. Keanu Reeves, a renowned actor known for his iconic roles in film franchises such as The Matrix and John Wick, as well as his involvement in the highly anticipated game Cyberpunk 2077, has officially been cast for the role.
Speculation has been running wild lately, but The Hollywood Reporter has officially confirmed the casting, citing reliable sources in the know. News of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 being showcased at Cinemacon has quickly spread. Reeves is sure to bring his own special touch to the role, but it’s uncertain how well he will mesh with the mustachioed Dr. Robotnik, as Jim Carrey is set to reprise the character.
What are your thoughts on Keanu Reeves being cast as Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 3? Please avoid sharing fan art in the comments section below.
ATLUS has just announced their latest event, the “ATLUS Exclusive: Metaphor: ReFantazio” broadcast. Fans can look forward to an exciting 30-minute showcase of never-before-seen gameplay from the publisher/developer. How exciting is that to anticipate?
According to Gematsu, director Katsura Hashino will serve as the host of the broadcast, which will debut on YouTube on April 22. The English version will include dubbed audio and English subtitles, and we have also expanded the list of timezones available.
- North America: 3 pm PDT, 4 pm MDT, 5 pm CDT, and 6 pm EDT.
- UK/Ire: 11pm BST
- Europe: 12am CEST / 1am EEST
- Asia/Oceania: 7am JST, 6am AWST, 8am AEST.
Additionally, there is a scheduled stream for the next day, April 23rd, with the specific times listed below. Get ready for the “ATLUS Exclusive Debut Commemoration Special—Metaphor: Stalkers Club Final,” where fans can indulge in the captivating presence of hosts Mafia Kajita and Tomomi Isomura. They will thoroughly analyze and delve into all the information disclosed during the initial broadcast. Sayawaka, a visitor who is the author of the associated manga’s story, will be with them.
- North America: 7 am PDT, 8 am MDT, 9 am CDT, and 10 am EDT.
- UK/Ire: 3pm BST
- Europe: 4pm CEST / 5pm EEST
- Asia/Oceania: 11pm JST, 10pm AWST, 1am AEDT
What are your thoughts on the influx of information about Metaphor: ReFantazio? Are you planning to watch any of the upcoming broadcasts? Share your authentic thoughts in the comments section below.
Despite the numerous praises players have showered upon Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, there is one particular aspect of the game that has garnered nothing but criticism: the perplexing wording of its retry screen, which players encounter when facing a Game Over. Fortunately, the developers have discreetly resolved this issue in the game’s latest patch. They have fixed the Platinum Trophy progression, resulting in a slightly less confusing experience for players.
If you don’t possess exceptional combat abilities, chances are you’ve come across the game’s notorious four options: “Retry from Current Battle, Retry from This Battle, Retry from Before Battle, or Resume.”. As an avid gamer, I must admit that I’ve experienced the frustration of losing precious time due to my own foolish mistake. In this particular instance, I found myself engrossed in fine-tuning my matrix and equipping my party, only to have it all go to waste when I encountered a formidable enemy. To compound my error, I made the ill-advised decision to retry the battle, resulting in an hour of agonizing repetition. Lesson learned!
The “Retry from This Battle” option has become a source of frustration for players who are struggling with the game’s final boss encounter, leading to a significant number of rage-quits. Without giving away any surprises, opting for that choice after being defeated would result in players being sent back to the beginning of the final boss encounter, needlessly forcing them to forfeit approximately an hour’s worth of hard-earned progress in battle.
After the update, players now have the option to select “Retry from the Current Phase” instead of “Retry from Before the Current Battle.”. It’s worth noting that this change is only slightly improved. It’s rather disappointing that the screen is overly convoluted, which may lead to players feeling frustrated. While it’s better late than never, we can’t help but wonder if this issue will persist in the future.
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