darkcloud9

I am sure by now everyone knows what MegaUpload, SOPA, and PIPA is. Ever since the MegaUpload has been taken down and its owners arrested for harboring illegal content, the whole cyberlocker (also what file-hosting sites are called) community has become very scared of what could happen to them. In order to avoid the problems that MegaUpload has had with the U.S. government, cyberlocker sites have been recently (since last week) deleting massive amounts of files and accounts that have “infringing” or “illegal” content. But cyberlocker sites are using the term “infringing” and “illegal” quite loosely because many of the deleted accounts and files were never illegal or infringing in the first place. The main problem with cyberlocker sites right now is that everybody that is uploading content to their accounts automatically lose all their data and the links that are associated with the content become dead no matter if the content is illegal or not. Certain cyberlocker sites have also shut down, or more accurately cut off, all their file-sharing services to the public whether a member is has a premium or free account. The majority of account owners can only upload content to their account and only download content from their account; no file-sharing link is provided anymore. Most believe once everything calms down, file-sharing will be back to a new normal with stricter policies on the types of files that can be shared. Still, no one knows for sure. After all, even if the MegaUpload case does “go away”, SOPA and PIPA bills could still be passed though both bills are on the bench right now.

This file-sharing case has already affected businesses, people and college students. Though accounts and content can still be accessed, sharing the content is impossible no matter if the content is illegal or not. For example, let’s say I have a large project file that I need to send to my classmates. None of the content in the file is illegal or infringing because both me and my classmates have discussed what can and can’t be used. Yet when I uploaded the project file to the cyberlocker site, the file was immediately deleted because of some unforeseen illegal or infringing content. So now I have some problems: 1) I obviously cannot send my project file easily to my classmates because even if my project was not deleted, the cyberlocker site would not produce any file-sharing links or the file-sharing links would only stay active for a limited amount of time (update: some cyberlocker sites have turned file-sharing services back on). 2) My security has been threatened because some thing or some one has deleted my file without telling me any clear reason why my file was deleted. And though my file was “deleted”, I don’t know that my file was actually deleted. Someone else, the cyber locker company or the government could very easily be looking at my file’s content and somehow determine that the content is illegal or infringing. 3) Instead of easily sharing my project file with my classmates, I have to spend more time finding alternative ways to share my file and finding a way can be quite a hassle especially if I don’t know of any other way to share files. Solutions for these problems hark back to old, but still used technology such as setting up meetings and using USB thumb drives to share project files between computers. And if a meeting between classmates is not possible because one of the classmates is on vacation, then the team has one member that will be behind in the project which delays everyone from finishing the project in enough time.

This problem affects many more groups of people than just the people who upload and download illegal or infringing content. In fact, the majority of the content on all file-sharing sites is mostly non-legal content such as pictures, presentations and other documents that are shared between companies, families and other groups of people. People who use upload and download illegal or infringing content are actually more of a minority group. So the effect that this file-sharing scare has had on people and companies will most likely not go away though file-sharing will come back. Most likely, when file-sharing does recover there will be much stricter rules on what kind of content can be uploaded, downloaded, shared, time-limits on active links will be stricter and cyberlocker site owners will have a more cut-throat policy when it comes to deciding what accounts and content get deleted from a server.

The Fate of File Sharing (socyberty.com)
The Cyberlocker Shakeup and What It Means for You (plagiarismtoday.com)
TorrentFreak (latest news about torrents and file-sharing)

Although they may sound familiar, some people still don’t know what anime or manga are. Basically, anime is Japanese animation, and manga are Japanese comic books. The drawing styles and creative stories in anime and manga are what makes them items of growing interest for many people today. In America, people who like anime and manga are a niche group, but depending on what state or city you live in — like California, for example — that niche group can be very big.

In recent years, anime and manga have been getting very popular, and more people have been accepting anime and manga as mainstream because of both subjects’ variety of artistic styles. It is expensive to be a fan of anime and manga because of the merchandise (DVDs and books) and other collectible items. However, the popularity of it is continuing to increase, even though the economy has been down in both America and Japan.

How I know that anime and manga are gaining popularity is because the crowds at anime conventions are becoming increasingly larger every year. Anime and manga conventions are not as common in America as they are in Japan, so whenever there is an anime convention in America, you can be sure that the people attending will be from all across the country (especially if it’s held in a big city like Los Angeles or New York).

The reason for the large crowds is because people can buy imported anime and manga products directly from vendors instead of buying online or in stores. Imported anime and manga goods are not as easy to access online because stores are not easy to find, and not all stores carry what people want. Another reason for large crowds at anime conventions is because artists are able to show off their talents (i.e., get their foot in the door and make some money), plus there are lectures on anime and manga, discussions from licensing companies from Japan and America, artist panels from Japan and America, concerts, anime screenings of upcoming and current anime and manga releases, cosplay, upcoming video game releases and many other fun activities.

College kids who are into anime and manga must be all be geeks right? Wrong. Asking what type of college kid is into anime and manga is like asking what kind of student is into horror movies. It could be anyone from the goalie on the hockey team to the President of Student Government.

Naka-Kon Anime Convention Book Store Booth

Anime groups at colleges range from big to small, but almost every college will have fans and an anime club. Anime clubs, conventions and events (it doesn’t have to be all three) make fans feel like they are part of a community with a common thread of interest. So, colleges have recently been sponsoring small anime conventions and events for their own student body, other college students and high school students. Although it is not very common, some colleges have supported large anime conventions in order to increase student recruiting (colleges appeal to all audiences). One example of this is Naka-Kon which is a convention in KC supported by the University of Kansas.

International companies like Coke and Pepsi and city governments such as San Diego and Los Angeles (Comic-Con and E3) have also been known to sponsor anime and comic book conventions because of the success these companies have had with sponsoring similar video game and anime conventions in Japan. Toyota and Verizon sponsor certain things for the Los Angeles anime convention. Sponsoring an anime convention tells fans that the company or government is part of their community. Sponsorship shows that a company is willing to support the growing niche of anime and manga. And, just like video game conventions, anime conventions can create lots of customer loyalty. So, the more anime and manga increase in popularity, the bigger the convention crowds will get, and the more the sponsorship will have a lasting effect.