Downloading Comics: What’s The Real Issue?

There has always been an issue when it comes to downloading anything for free off the Internet. Whether it is a pirated movie, music album, or vintage porno, somebody somewhere is going to have a gripe. But that’s life, get used to it. I’m not here to argue right and wrong, just to ponder the issue.

And the issue is this; thousands of people everyday download “illegally” from the web, and certain people and companies have taken up a cause to stop this from happening. Their position is not wrong, as money is definitely being lost due to pirated copies of movies, music, and yes, even comics. But is downloading comics the same as downloading other media?

I download comics. I mean, a lot of comics (don’t sue me). But like most collectors, I also own the original comics. And when you can’t always get the full run, or can’t touch some of the ones you have, another way to collect is a must. The same can’t necessarily be said for other media, and this is what causes trouble.

Downloading can get a little sticky when it mixes with the law. Lawsuits against download sites have been occurring for years. It has led to many changes in corporate policy, national laws, and blah blah blah, but nothing has really changed on the ‘net. Comic downloaders are not spared from these lawsuits. Recently Z-Cult FM, a popular comic torrent site, was collectively sued by the Big Two. Marvel and DC teamed up in a lawsuit against the site, but the suit fell through for multiple reasons.

First of all, U.S laws are not applicable internationally, and since torrent sites don’t store or own the original files, there were no grounds for the lawsuit. The individuals scanning the comics are untouchable due to the anonymity provided by the Internet. However, most of the splash pages provided by the original scanners do state that if you enjoy the comic, purchase it, so their intentions are in the right place, if not legally sound.

While Marvel and DC have reacted negatively to the increased exchange of online comics, some companies have gone the opposite way. SLG Publishing, responsible for some of my weird little favorites, Fun With Milk and Cheese and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, banned their comics from the aforementioned site. However, in a letter to Z-Cult FM, the publishing company states:

SLG publishing would like to thank the moderators and forumers of Z-Cult for the respect they have shown in regards to our ban request. Obviously, our preference is to have each comic legally paid for, and the efforts undertaken to honor this desire have clearly shown that Z-Cult is not a forum overrun by those expecting a free ride. In return, we have decided to lift the ban from our independently published titles being distributed on Z-Cult… It is our belief that there is a market for legally downloadable comic books, and we hope that we can prove this to the comics industry by showing success through our digital distribution system.

Of course, the ultimate goal is to be able to easily enjoy your favorite comics legally. And new products on the market are only going to increase the potential for online comic downloading being widely accepted. Both the iPhone and the PSP have announced comic reader applications with dedicated software to easily read your favorite comics. This of course leads to more downloading, but it also gets comics out to people who may never have touched them before, which is really what’s important.

The Internet has changed the world, and it’s time we stop condemning what it brings us, and embrace it for what it can do. So go ahead, download your favorite comic, but go and buy one, too. Nothing is as satisfying as opening a comic book with your own hands, well, almost nothing. You know what I’m talking about.

‘Nuff Said