Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-9114790-20150624175947/@comment-917693-20150624221518

I personally don't think that reprinting is wrong, as long as the reprinters give proper credit, and link to the original.

In the past, the main argument for reprints, was, so that people with no japanese knowledge can listen to their utaite. This now may be outdated, since there's the english nicovideo now - but I don't exactly know how good it is - but I think it's in fact helpful to reprint covers. (That's how most people get to know utaite in the western world, after all.)

While there may be utaite who don't explicitely say that they don't like reprints, but at the same time, don't forbid it, there are also ones that don't mind at all, or are even grateful (e.g. if an utaite is not that popular and sees that they get more exposure)

And about your argument "just because a user does not say on their profile that they do not want their work reposted does mean that you have permission to repost it." and asking about permission first... It seems tumblr posters can get permissions super easily (e.g. on artworks), but if you've looked at our Artist Permission page, most artists did not reply, whatsoever, although (or maybe because) we wrote them a very polite and elaborate letter about the issue.

Also by your argument, we - and every such fandom based wiki - should before we post fanart of an artist, or real life pictures of an utaite - ask them in advance. I don't think reprints of covers are to be treated any different than reprints of artwork or real life photos. (And if you look at the before mentioned page, you see how that went... Hint: not so smooth)

Besides as I mentioned before, I don't think it's considered stealing, if they reprint with proper credit and sources. They're not making money off it, after all, and just want to share the music.

While I do think, that it's thousand times better, to watch the original on nicovideo, I think reprints aren't that much of a bad thing either. (Like I mentioned, it makes new people discover the fandom, etc.)