Inu-Yasha What are Bootlegs and Fansubs?

What are they i hear them all the time and i have no clue on what they're all about

 

Fansubs: When a fan gets a hold of an episode and encodes it into computer media, then adds subtitles (usually they, or someone in their group, translates it) and distributes it for free on the internet. This is a popular way for Americans to watch a series they can't afford or that isn't available in the US yet.

Bootlegs: Often made in Hong Kong, though sometimes made by other people to get easy money. The bootleggers don't pay royalties to any of the companies with legal licensing on the series, so the original creator is not getting any money from it. Often, it's made by either copying legal releases and selling them with more episodes for less money, or by translating the episode themselves and then making the dvds. They often have Chinese subtitles, and are region-free. Some amateur bootleggers will make bootlegs by burning fansubs onto dvd media and selling that. Most of what you'll find in dvds and videos on eBay will be bootlegs. Bootlegs are illegal in the US.

That answer your question?

 

So do you think, hypothetically of course, that if someone buys a bootleg off of ebay but realizes only now that they bought something illegal...what should they do?

 

Well, hypothetically the person should probably get rid of it, if they want to be truly honest. But it's too late anyway and American authorities aren't going to enforce it, so you're off the hook. However, I personally don't buy bootlegs, not only because they were illegally made, but because then my favorite manga-ka doesn't get any of the money from the purchase and because then Japanese and American companies who have the legal right to release it aren't getting any of the money either and will probably be somewhat discouraged from releasing other wonderful anime (even if Vis is stupid), and also I'd be supporting a bunch of crooks too lazy to find better, more legal ways of making money (yes, I'm talking about the American bootleggers here, more than the HK bootleggers). That, and legally-released dvds often have the better extras anyway.