Discussion Do Korean publishers still hunt translators?

Discussion in 'Novel General' started by The Hamster Overlord, Jul 27, 2021.

  1. The Hamster Overlord

    The Hamster Overlord Mad scientist/Revered wizard/Alleged antichrist

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    I remember a while ago Korean publishers were crazy mad about their works being translated. So much so, that many translators and scanslators had to move to closed discord servers and spread their work by hearsay and even Wuxia World had to give up TCF.
    Are the Korean publishers still mad at translators or has the situation calmed down?
     
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  2. Parth37955

    Parth37955 NU #3, [Dead Inside], Mid-Boss, Dark Dealer Staff Member

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    It's not so much about being mad as much as it is enforcing their own copyright to prevent people from making money off of what they considered be their content. Even though they arguably not losing their core demographic because they're not even targeting the English market with those novels, they don't want other people profiting from it. Some people also mentioned how Korean readers may switch to the English translation so they don't have to pay for it I don't know.

    It's kind of created this weird scenario where some translators have now formed a megacult around themselves surrounded by self-righteous circle jerkers. It's all very annoying.
     
  3. otaku31

    otaku31 Well-Known Member

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    They prolly are, even as we speak, and they prolly will, until illegal KR TLs are hunted to extinction. :blobhero:

    It is the wae of humans— has been, and will always be. :blobpensive:
     
  4. TamaSaga

    TamaSaga Well-Known Member

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    Lady Keke's site disappeared last week. No reason specified but I wonder...
     
  5. animefan4004

    animefan4004 Well-Known Member

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    Yep, ironically, publishers like D&C Media are cracking down harder than before.
     
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  6. Wujigege

    Wujigege *Christian*SIMP*Comedian

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    The issue is that they inflate the appeal of their content.
    Billions of English people aren't reading translated Korean content but publishers seem to think that.
    The same happened with Japanese publishers.
    This content is very niche.

    ADV Bankruptcy is a good lesson

    https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/ne...ments-reveal-amounts-paid-for-29-anime-titles
     
  7. sjmcc13

    sjmcc13 Well-Known Member

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    Someone posting paid content online for free does affect their bottom line as their target audience includes people who either can read English (it is taught in schools over there) or are willing to use MTL software to get the story for cheaper.

    Plus it can draw away the add revenue they would otherwise get.
     
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  8. Saorihirai

    Saorihirai Well-Known Member

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    For the translators, it’s one thing to fan translate due to no official translation or wtv reason and it’s a completely another thing to profit off of someone else’s work.
     
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  9. sjmcc13

    sjmcc13 Well-Known Member

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    Ya, in most cases translations exist in a Grey area, but how grey depends a lot on the translator, and to many are looking to make money off it with no compensation to the actually rights owners, which quickly takes them to the darker side if not leaving the grey entirely.
     
  10. Nospoilerspleasee

    Nospoilerspleasee Active Member

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  11. Gandire Alea

    Gandire Alea [Wicked Awesome Translator]

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    I wonder how they even find them. Do they just do a google search of the novels with the word, “translation”??
     
  12. sjmcc13

    sjmcc13 Well-Known Member

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    Search the name, in both Korean and non-korean characters (so converted to Roman characters), look for results outside Korea.
     
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  13. solyana116

    solyana116 Well-Known Member

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    By reposters, retranslators. Twitter & social media. If it gets popular enough, it will be found. I worked in a group that's official, and publishers gave exclusive permission to tl whilst we were in negotiations, but a whole bunch of our tls fell through (one reason bc of Wattpad reposters) and we had to pull. Sometimes, it is the authors that find out first, usually from Twitter and get upset about it. Alth, all authors I have asked have been lovely and it's mainly the pubs who then find out from the authors, or are asked by the authors that are the barrier.
    ***
    Some thought: k-publishers care a lot about reputation & exclusivity (as Parth mentioned, I would emphasise on 'their content') than just merely money. Otherwise obtaining licenses would be as easy as CN ones. They would rather assc. with larger established companies to attain their copyrighted content, or keep it close to themselves, let alone allow a little fansite who could 'damage' their prestige.
     
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