Fansubber Guidelines Rev 2 (Draft)

Last edited by mizune on Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:58 pm; edited 1 time in total

Time for the annual update...

From when the Fansubber Guidelines were first posted, they were meant to be flexible in order to allow for changes needed to fit the current state of the fansubbing community. And now I'm getting the impression that we've reached the critical mass for a pretty big change.... Please keep reading...

As technology has enabled more people to participate and the drama fansubbing community has grown, we've tried our best to encourage more fansubbers to participate while minimizing the friction between groups as the entire community transitions from "how things used to be" to "how things are". In the past, we saw some pretty nasty conflicts which led to unfortunate results, so the following are suggestions regarding fansubber etiquette that will hopefully help minimize the number of conflicts between groups and lay out some basic guidelines for groups using D-Addicts as a distro site.

We want to create a community that encourages people to feel welcome and to participate...
We want to evolve with the times and technology...
But we don't want to scare anybody off either...

==================================

DRAFT
"How to be a Good Fansubber"
Basic guidelines on getting along in the world of drama fansubbing. (Rev 2.1)
2008.4.27

The number one thing to remember is still, and ever will be...
The Golden Rule:
Simply put: Treat others as you'd like to be treated yourself.
The most important thing to keep in mind is having respect for others and for the work others produce. Not just in words, but through your actions as well.
If you remember this above all else, everything else just follows naturally. Smile

Competition/multiple groups working on a project:
Multiple subtitled versions of a series are allowed on the site and tracker. (See below for more details)

As always though, we encourage everyone here to consider collaborations as much as possible and to make a formal announcement of your intentions somewhere highly visible, such as in the Fansubber Forum, Fansub wiki , and/or on your group's own website. (Making announcements in discussion threads is not effective, as they tend to be flooded off too quickly for others to be aware of your intentions.) See the D-Addicts Fansub Groups for more information on groups releasing here or if you'd like to add your own group. Smile

Resolving disputes/conflicts:
This isn't a perfect world, and we don't harbor any illusions that everybody will get along all the time. This applies to disputes between fansub groups as well as between fans and fansub groups.

However, when such occasions arise we strongly recommend that any issues or disputes be dealt with through PM instead of openly on the forums.
The rationale for this is simply to keep the conversation focused between the parties involved without losing focus. Whenever disputes are broadcast on the forums, they become open to comments from the peanut gallery, who don't always understand the situation fully, and usually end up clouding the problem and escalating the argument.

If you don't feel comfortable approaching the other party about your problem, or have reached a point where a neutral party is necessary, please PM one of the moderators for help. Finding an amicable solution is in the best interests of this community, and all the moderators are dedicated to helping facilitate issues in a neutral manner.

As any veteran fansubber will tell you though:
If you intend to be a fansubber, grow a thick skin. Fansubbing has a tendency of making you the target for a lot of insults or attacks for any number of reasons. The best way of dealing with trolls is to ignore them or to bring them to the attention of one of the moderators.

Overall: Don't let your wounds fester. It's in everybody's best interest to treat and find solutions to problems before they get bigger. I admit there may not be a perfect solution, but I'd at least like to try to find one.

Soft-subs:
1. While it's okay to post your own translations of a drama that already has an existing sub, please do not post corrected or modified soft subs of another translator's work unless you have contacted the original translator and gained their permission first.
2. Do not offer soft-sub transcriptions of fansubbed dramas that have been hardsubbed unless you have been given expressed permission by the original group.
3. When transcribing from a TV source, be sure to include proper credits to the original translator/broadcast source.
4. Do not start uploading subs from the middle of a series already in the progress of being subtitled (either hard and soft subs) unless there is expressed permission from the original fansubber.

Uploading Torrents:
1. Make sure you read and understand the General Torrent Guidelines.
2. Please upload torrents in sequence. In other words, start with episode 1 and continue in the order of the series. Don't skip episodes!

Miscellaneous tips to stay on the sunny side of life:
1. Please remember that no single group "owns" the right to subtitle a series exclusively. It would be best if both groups could at least discuss the possibility of collaborating on the project, but if they ultimately choose to work independently on the same project, there should be no hard feelings or penalties leveled at either group. This is supposed to be a hobby -- something "fun" Roll Eyes

. We all know how tedious a job this is, and nobody needs to deal with all the extra baggage of a potential flame war. Just wish each other luck and move on.
2. Update the progress of subtitles every now and then to keep the masses from getting too unruly (read: annoying Fear

). This is particularly true if there is a sudden and unusual change from your normal or expected routine.

Don't forget that the Fansubbing board is here to both help fansubbers and to provide a means of communicating between groups!
Don't be afraid to use it!
dance

Or to contact a mod you trust if all else fails Fear

Thanks!

Related Info/Resources:
D-Addicts Uploading Rules
D-addicts Fansub Wiki

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The modified "competition clause" rationale
This was actually added into the update last year, but I don't think it quite sunk in with everybody... Just what does this mean? It means that different groups can work on the same series even if one group announced their intentions before the other. No more "claiming" for series (on the condition that all subtitled series must be uploaded in sequence, starting from the first episode... Which is in accordance with the other rules already established on this site.)

When we first started, there were very few drama fansubbers around, so in order to maximize the number of translated series that got completed, we maintained the traditional honor system which gave preferential "rights" to the group which first announced their intention to subtitle the series. This was a long time ago, and I think the number of fansub groups in operation now currently makes this practice impractical.

There are some who may feel that competition is the path towards doom and gloom, but I think it's in the best interests of both the fansubbing and viewing community to open the waters. As long as everybody is open-minded and aware of it, competition can:
1. Improve the speed and quality of subtitles offered by competing fansub groups.
2. Reduce the number of stagnant fansub projects that are never completed because the single group which has claimed the series has disappeared.
3. Keep fansubbers interested in their work by truly allowing them to subtitle the series they WANT to (as opposed to barring them from subbing anything because another group has already announced their intention).

If competition shows up, it should not be looked at as a "threat". It should be recognized as an opportunity to improve your art. Smile

Discussion
1. Do others agree with this change to the competition clause? Feedback please...
2. Are all genres (JDrama, KDrama, CDrama variants) ready for the change or only a couple?
3. Anything else you want to discuss (doesn't have to be related to the competition clause change) to shove me out of my Utopian bubble.... ^_^;

As always, I want ppl to be able to express their opinion and discuss without fear of being flamed. If you want to bring something up anonymously, you can either PM a mod you are comfortable with or use the Report Post button to comment.

One more thing
Let's try and keep this civil, folks.... Fear

Oh, and thanks for reading this far.... :p

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:38 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

wow this is awesome! now different people and groups can do any drama series freely Smile

i support this Smile

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:42 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

cool, this is great! also that you happen to publish it on 420 Tongue

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I'm just copying and pasting what I wrote in the Zettai Kareshi thread about the fansub group that wants to do their own subbing despite the fact SARS claimed it or something...

----
We had this type of situation in the tokusatsu (live action special effects) sub world. Honestly, I believe that any group can start a sub as long as they start from episode one.

It's not OUR show and its not like we bought the sole licensing rights to this show. We are fans and if one group of fans want to sub a show because they were a fan of the manga (like me) then let them do it. Its not our right to say who or who can not sub a series.

Anyway, on that note, I should finish Princess Princess D.... god, sucks when members of a sub group go on hiatus and you're the only one left. D:

--------

But since you already said what I already said in your clause, I totally say yay! I mean, we are all fans... not distributer, we should appreciate what comes out, not lynch because someone wants to do their OWN version.

... Smile

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I wholly support the changes.

This way, new fansub groups won't have to fear criticisms from a barricade of fans over the issue of "but this group has already signed up for this drama." Hypocritically, I used to support that rule until many others started being badasses by scaring away potential fansubbers with their rude remarks.

I would like to say that Fansubbers (although no longer rare) are a godsend part of the community and if they're offering their time and dedication to sub whatever drama, they definitely don't deserve the backlash and offensive comments from others telling them, "no, you can't sub so and so".

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:10 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I'm not that sure I like this, This is a hobby, and I really liked the courtesy and niceness of not treading on eachothers toes.. And I wouldn't appreciate it if some redo my stuff and I feel like this is kind of encouraging "remixed" subs, something I guess most of us do not like. There is good drama that don't get subbed, so I really don't get why we shouldn't broaden our scope instead of grouping together on the most popular ones, but that may be only a stupid fear from my side? or is it anything in it?

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

im not sure i follow your line of thinking....

saying "no, you can't do this" would be endorsing people do to it? the people who are going to do it, already do it, and having this rule against it gives the people who did the original work the ability to go to the d-a mods and say "this person is altering our work, please have it removed" and the mods will be able to do so because its in the site rules.

not having this rule would tie the mods hands and leave absolutely no way to have the redone stuff removed.

but as for the claiming shows issue...who is to be the judge of how long a group can sit on a show before it should be released for other groups to have a shot at? will there be waiting lists? what are acceptable reasons for a show taking a long time? who will be the ones to make these decisions? will the groups be able to plead for more time? do d-a mods and admins really want to be the judges in these cases?

there are just too many factors and as this is a hobby, not a job, i don't think any of us want to be policing the very people who work hard to bring us subs for free. would anyone want to release fansubs on a site where they try to dictate how and what you should fansub?

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Regarding simultaneous projects for the same show, does this also pertain to hardsubbed uploads to the tracker? It was this situation that really caused the "no competition" mentality in that it didn't make sense to have two identical works uploaded. Currently, D-Addicts allow:

- two different RAW uploads of the same show, as long as there's quite a difference between the two such as resolution. So having mulitple soft subs wouldn't affect this.

- only one hardsubbed fansub of a show is allowed.

--- groink

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:07 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I believe the rules should also apply for hardsubbed fansub works (not TV or DVD rips).

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:07 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0