It's like a zombie that refuses to go down

[sake-bento]

Well, speaking as a friend of several people who were published under their OEL series, I'd really hope that they get published again. After TokyoPop closed down, some of them were asking if they got their rights back or not (since some of TP was still alive and the contract was...imprecise). I'd like to see my artist friends have work again with their own properties, although if they could get better contracts elsewhere, I'm certainly not opposed. From a business standpoint, it doesn't instill much confidence to shut down then suddenly start back up. I hope they have a good plan as to where they're going rather than merely polling fans to see what might stick.

[Voight-Kampff]

After TokyoPop closed down, some of them were asking if they got their rights back or not (since some of TP was still alive and the contract was...imprecise).

I'm going to invoke the classic IANAL short hand in this case. However, knowing what I know, I'd say that's very unlikely any time soon.

At some point, I believe the standard TP OEL manga contract asked that half of a title's copyright be assigned to Tokyopop. Not just PUBLISHING rights, but copyright. And of the artists that didn't originally assign half their copyright to Tokyopop, they made a concerted effort to get that copyright from the artists.

At the time, Tokyopop had obtained funding for making movies (none of which was actually used to make that Van Von Hunter movie, or Priest movie, for that matter). They were presenting that pool of money as incentive to sign away a title's copyright. After all, why would Tokyopop consider making a movie from a title which they didn't at least partially control the copyright?

Anyway, the point is, unless an artist specifically negotiated for an "out" in this situation, they'll probably never gain control over their title again. Copyright is a valuable resource. And even if Tokyopop were to declare bankruptcy, those copyrights would be transfered to creditors.

I hope they have a good plan as to where they're going rather than merely polling fans to see what might stick.

Well, I was always appalled at their insistence at making their corporate home page look like MySapce. Fine, fine...if you want to jump on the social networking bandwagon, go for it...just make your corporate site look like a respectable corporate web site.

So what have they done now? Well, tokyopop.com no longer looks like a MySpace knock-off. It just redirects to their MySpace page.

Yeah. They don't have a snowball's chance...

[J. Datie]

So what have they done now? Well, tokyopop.com no longer looks like a MySpace knock-off. It just redirects to their MySpace page.

I just checked the site and it looks like Tokyopop isn't as far behind as you think. For you see, it actually redirects to their Facebook page. A slighty more modern crappy social networking site! Clearly, they're on the cutting edge of bad ideas.

[Voight-Kampff]

I just checked the site and it looks like Tokyopop isn't as far behind as you think. For you see, it actually redirects to their Facebook page. A slighty more modern crappy social networking site! Clearly, they're on the cutting edge of bad ideas.

Touché.

If they were really inventive, they'd come up with a combination of all the popular networking sites. Something like MyTwitFace. Yeah, that's just crazy enough to work!

[Sapphi]

At some point, I believe the standard TP OEL manga contract asked that half of a title's copyright be assigned to Tokyopop. Not just PUBLISHING rights, but copyright. And of the artists that didn't originally assign half their copyright to Tokyopop, they made a concerted effort to get that copyright from the artists.

At the time, Tokyopop had obtained funding for making movies (none of which was actually used to make that Van Von Hunter movie, or Priest movie, for that matter). They were presenting that pool of money as incentive to sign away a title's copyright. After all, why would Tokyopop consider making a movie from a title which they didn't at least partially control the copyright?

Oh my... I had no idea about the copyright thing...

That makes things even worse!