FUNimation Sues Convention that Allowed Bootlegs
FUNimation has filed suit in Colorado District Court against Animeland Wasabi convention organizer Miller Isaiah Timmons and ten un-named associates, claiming that Timmons knowingly allowed and profited from the sale of unlicensed and counterfeit anime merchandise at his convention, even after repeated notices and requests for enforcement action. FUNimation is seeking up to $150,000 in statutory damages, attorney fees, associated costs, and post-paid delivery of all merchandise that Timmons has possession of that infringes on copyrights owned by FUNimation.
Animeland Wasabi is not related to Orlando, Florida, based anime convention programming company Green Mustard Entertainment nor its annual anime convention WasabiCon. Green Mustard Entertainment is now considering persuing additional legal action against Mr. Timmons because Mr. Timmons ignored a 2011 formal request to cease infringement on the “Wasabi Anime” trademark owned by Green Mustard Entertainment.
Source: Anime News Network
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Good news. While I know running an anime con is… stressful is underselling it, but that’s the direction to go, the entire point is supposed to be to support anime, and bootlegging is not that. Being willfully ignorant is one thing, but knowingly profitting from bootlegging, running on con or not, shows you have no love for anime, only ripping fans off for personal gain.
I’ve been to any number of conventions wherein the staff doesn’t understand the importance of policing their vendors. Most vendors I deal with our honest, hardworking people. Bootlegging is a slap to the face, because the bootleggers undercut these folks by selling knockoffs at reduced prices, fake profucts that are usually inferior to legit items.
This also hurts other cons, especially small or new cons. Funimation will be less willing to support conventions if this sort of thing keep happening.
Anime merch isn’t cheap. Many higher-end products, like figures, are expensive because Japanese distributors sell them at those prices. Add in the cost of getting those items over here, and the slow-selling niche aspect of anime merch, and you have a product with a very low profit margin. Many anime vendors sell these niche items because they love doing it. Take away their means of making a living, and these dealers and their services disappear.
As a vendor and convention organizer, this news incites a fist pump. Two of them.