What do you think of this...

[TrigunX89]

I'd like to ask a question. It's an honest question, so please don't get mad or anything.

What do you think of downloading the first episode to a series just to see if you like it? And if you do, then you delete it and go buy the real DVD. Because I've done that before (Noir, Love Hina, Excel Saga...) and I ended up buying the DVD's anyway, so I didn't really think of it being bad. The rental places near me don't have that much anime, so this is a way to see a small part of it anyway and decide whether to buy it or not. (I also read the reviews at CAA of course.) I mean I hate to spend $30 on something that's total crap. So what do you think?

[HondaTooru]

It's rough when anime is so hard to find in video stores.. I mean, Blockbuster is starting to carry it more and more, but usually just parts of series'. They'll have random DVD's, but never a whole set.

Anyway, in answer to your question... I don't really see anything wrong with that. I mean, are they losing any money off of you? If anything, it look like they're making more money from you because you're being exposed to more anime that you probably wouldn't buy without first tasting a sample.

Touchy subject for a lot of people.. But who's to say what's right and wrong? It's not exactly black and white. For instance, my car got broken into 3 times in one year, each time on the rare nights when I forget my CD's in my car.. So, I downloaded all the music that I lost. Is it a crime?

[TrigunX89]

Thanks. I realize that I'm probably going to get different answers from different people, but I appreciate your opinion.

Sorry to hear about your car & CD's. I would've done the same thing.

[Zarn Ishtare]

er...technicly, yeah, thats a crime.

[Rev. Doc]

No matter how one might justify it, yes you are breaking copyright laws. Most of the distributors are now offering first episode DVDs for between $5.00 and $7.00 so that you can get a sample of the series. If you decide you like it and want to collect volume 1 than you can use that purchase as a discount. Again, not to advertise any one company, but here is how ADV's program works with the Mini disc serving as a coupon worth $10.00 off the purchase of a full volume:

http://www.advfilms.com/Press/2004June15ADVFilmsAnnouncesSecondServing.asp

Being a pastor I have to be extremely careful of copyright infringment. This can include anything from copying music for the choir, recording a service in which a copyrighted music track is used, to using illustrations without giving proper credit if they come from a copyrighted source. In good faith, I would use the alternatives the companies are seeking to supply for your situation.

[Xeno]

I do my best to download only unlicensed series and music. And if I do get a licensed anime or cd or whatever, I do it so I can watch it because I fully intend on buying it when I get the money, but don't have it at the time. As soon as I'm done with the series or whatever, I clean it from my HD.

[TrigunX89]

Those AniMinis look pretty cool. Too bad you can't keep em if you use them as coupons. Ah well. Thanks to everyone. I appreciate all of your opinions.

[Lehn]

I rent from http://www.animeforest.com. They have a ton of titles. It's $3.99 for a DVD and you get to keep it for a week. I'd check it out if I was you....!

[TrigunX89]

That's pretty cool, but I don't think my parents would let me do that.