godix wrote:
But it does mean it's very hypocritical of us to steal so much that technically what we do is illegal but turn around and whine about being stolen from.
It is only hypocritical if there was very little creativity involved in making the AMV. So often, there is a lot of work and creativity involved.
A film editor also often uses someone else's footage and soundtrack, but they still edit and their editing is a unique creative act that transforms that footage into something new.
Sure, AMVs are different from regular film editing, but I think it's ludicrous to think that these videos don't transform the original anime into something very unique and different.
I understand why people get ticked someone on the tube put up their work unattributed but if they get so pissed that they'll turn around and bitch about it here, on a totally different site, as if it was a high crime then they really need to evaluate the ethical and legal implications of what they're doing.
Legal issues, yes. It isn't as if they can sue or anything, but they did make a transformative work and someone else is claiming ownership of it. Why shouldn't they feel angry about it? If the video was not worthy of appreciation and praise as a unique work, then no one would feel the need to lay claim to it (and therefore get praise for it).