Bad News

Well doesn't us getting it two weeks "early" only mean non-subs getting it two weeks later? so I don't mind if they get it at the same time. I really didn't need a reward for my money, the episodes are reward enough.

Felhorn

Someone should dox this guy...

Johnysc

Can you not put it directly on patreon? <a href="https://patreon.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204606065-How-do-I-add-content-to-posts-" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://patreon.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204606065-How-do-I-add-content-to-posts-</a>

BitsPerSecond

In the channel description he made it sound like only the people pledging money are getting access to the videos. This person has to be a pledge so he has to know that is not the case. Just doesnt add up. Maybe he just wants to be a douche

Kirk Patience

Looks like it got taken down. Can't find it in my watch history or anything.

GuyverU01

It's not quite a parody, but I believe it can be argued just fine as a "transformative work". In fact, it has even better grounds than the DBZ abridged people since so much of the story is getting severely warped in SWE's version.

Christopher Martin

It's sort of allowed, but to prove it's a parody, you have to take it to court (I believe).

Darkflux

Wow, what a douchecanoe. He's probably just butthurt because he doesn't have the money to support, or hates the Patreon system.

MattsyKun

I like the idea, but then the asshole who posted the video wins.

Brian Drennen

:O Don't just do streams!! My internetz are slower than Sachi in Kleins armor!

Allen Cousland

... How the hell would THAT be illegal?

Dusk Wolf

Well, we have confirmation, this guy is definitely just an idiot. He thinks your two week early Patron access is an illegal profiting scandal that could get you (and other abridgers) in trouble. He thinks that he's doing you guys a favor by taking the vids to make them public.

Shawn Smith

It took me a little while, but I found it. It's still up.

James Parker

*sighs* this is why we can't have nice things.

michaelgeathers

Wholeheartedly agreeing with you Colin! Don't care if it gets released early, that's just a benefit of the trade.

Jaimon Cuna

I honestly cannot comprehend, how some people are so greedy they can neither give one single dollar per month nor just wait two goddam weeks. Feel very sorry for you man, I hope you can persuade Youtube to shut the channel down.

RubinNischara

gray area ? Isn't this more or less a parody and therefore completely allowed ? oh, and if you plan to only show it in streams.. please stream a few hours earlier, it is 2am here when you normally begin to stream

erdelf

I'm okay with some asshole getting a peak early even if I paid for it. We're here to support you guys first, and get a view early second. The fact that some mouth breathers found a way around the system isn't going to change that.

Ebonbriar

Sadly its still up just change the search setting to users or channel names. The guy has now tried to make it sound like hes doing it for a cause.

Denis Lortie

I can't find it either, it is mostlikely taken down or buried somewhere very very deep. It is a problem that all digital media share and unfortunately there is no good solution to this problem. By claiming a file with YouTube and letting your supporters know whats going on, you are already doing the best you can do. Maybe you should add a watermark to your videos, too. Some people here suggested that early access should be shifted to the 10 USD pledge which would punish a lot of people for the error of one guy. Also it wouldn't guarantee anything, if this person is realy commited. The upside is: it doesn't impact anything. 808 out of 809 patreons are here to support you and even defend you and your work, because they love what you created and they will continue doing so, even if an episode pops up early on someone else`s channel. In my experience the best way of dealing with something like that is to focus on your supporters and fans, rather than on the copy cats. The system works for 99% of your patreons, which is a very good ratio.

Tomas

I'd suggest a different video link like Vimeo or Dailymotion, but we'd probably end up back at Square one. Fighting the plagiarist parasites is a tough battle indeed...

Jacob Tucker

We wanted to give our fans the benefit of the doubt and went with the option that caused the least amount of inconvenience. The first uploading of episode 8's script was a mistake YamatoSFX made because he was very sleepy (the episode was finished around 5am that morning), which has since been corrected. ~Hayabusa449

Something Witty Entertainment

I am in agreement with those who suggest just doing away with that 2 weeks patron only stuff, or even just decrease it to one day. Like most others, I support you not for seeing the videos early, but for seeing your hard work appreciated. I mean I was in the first ten people to sign up, and I didn't even bother reading the rewards beforehand :D

BiggBenn (Benjamin Hudson)

To be fair, I was wondering why you'd uploaded it to youtube already instead of just using a media player. Also, I received the update with the script link even though I'm only registered for the lowest tier (though I'll probably bump that to the $10 tier anyway).

Kalia Grey

At least the channel is hard to find due to all the thumbs down ''his'' upload is getting.

Lucius the Eternal, Fulgrim's Champion

I'm almost 100% sure you can claim copyrights to your video, but you have to upload it to your own channel first. Any video you upload is yours until proven otherwise,(see copyright issues) but you don't have a legal claim for a video not on youtube. If you have made derivative work(stuff like adaptations, editorial revisions, musicals etc), your content is protected under it's own set of copyrights, thus you can file a claim. What I'm not sure is whether your content falls under derivative work.

Balint Krencz

So... it appears the guy has been planning on doing this for a while now, considering they made the profile last month on the 14th...

Kyle Landau

ah, must've missed it. I'll hunt it down and try and report it. Cheers :)

TailoftheDevil

Channel is still up, just checked.

Balint Krencz

I did a search but it looks like the channels been taken down, unless they've morphed into something else. I was originally thinking a password-protected file/stream, but that wouldn't work if the instigator was also a Patreon. I think the only other option that would work, like others have said, would be to change the benefit into something else entirely. Maybe, instead of the full video benefit, stick the $1 benefit to the scripts link and Patreon feed and put a trailer of what's coming in the next video for everyone to see (kinda like how TFS do a preview video [although that's usually if their videos are going to be late as far as I can tell]). That's something I can deal with, partly because its interesting to see how the scripts are put together. On a somewhat unrelated note, I was curious about how after sending the scripts out to the cast, do you also direct them over Skype or with audio files to get the perfect image for your lines? I'm trying to develop an abridged series as well, and I've gone for script + audio cue/direction thing, but I'm not sure if that's the best way to go about it...

TailoftheDevil

Just increase it to 25 dollars and do a day before premier instead Do you not have something witty productions trademarked?

Alex

If you can, get their ip from youtube and see if you can check it against the ip of your donors or w/e internetty voodoo to find out who it is.

GuyverU01

I really have to hope this is some kind of massive misunderstanding and that this person is for some reason under the impression you never intend to publicly release future SAO Abridged episodes anymore. Looking at the wording on the SWE FREE channel, that's what it seems to indicate. I've said the same in the SWE FREE channel discussion already, but the simple fact this person has even bothered to do this just tells me he enjoys your work as much as the rest of us, so a misunderstanding is the only reason I can think a fan would be screwing you guys over like this - that they thinks your screwing over your fans. Try to contact SWE FREE, see if that's the case or if they are legit just being a prick. I'd rather think they're just confused, but if worse comes to worse, whatever you decide is alright by me. I support you here on Patreon because I love what you do, not because I want to see it earlier than everyone else.

Shawn Smith

Jesus wtf. I was honestly afraid this would happen. I don't think this person even realises he's harming both you guys AND the fans. And they're not doing anything like bringing justice or whatever they're thinking they do.

Boemchak

Even doing just stream might not work if this prick who ruined it decided to just record the stream n post that so idk wht u can do i feel bad that someone wud stoop so low and wudnt blame you guys if you took off the early premiere from the rewards

D4ily_Rang3r

Wow. I hope whoever started the channel drops it because they should realize that that means that THEY get it 2 weeks later too. Seriously guys it's just 1$ a month at minimum and they're almost to their goal.

Icefire

Hang them!

Jaden

Wow the SWE FREE is low and clearly don't get how Patreon works as a concept. Sorry to hear about this. As far as I'm concerned if you wanted to do away with the two week wait I won't complain, I offer what support I can because I like your work and think high quality entertainment should be supported.

Dave

i would just drop benefits in general, im here to donate to u guys bc i love ur work not bc u give something back or i can see the video earlier than those who dont. i dont expect or want anything in return and i feel there are many here who agree with me

Scothy

Here's my two part response to this problem. Part 1: I just changed my monthly fee from $1 to $10. Part 2: I would rather watch top quality material from SWE than from some jerk who steals from someone else.

Dexter Kraeppis

If the benefit in question here is simply that WE see it two weeks earlier than the public-at-large... wait a minute, whomever is stealing the videos would have to be someone who has access to them; in other words, one of us. Who else is allowed to see them during the two week period other than the members of SWE and their Patreon supporters? I'd say drop that as a benefit and come up with an alternative to take its place.

Mark 'The Commissioner' Hancock

While I'm sure we all appreciate the gesture of seeing the videos early, I bet most of us wouldn't mind you guys releasing the videos straight out.

LazyNinja

I would be fine if you just released the episodes when they are ready and do away with the whole 2 week wait thing. I support you guys because you make great content, not because of some 2 week pass.

kluck

Not really cool about that. I would just recommend you guys just upload the video as soon as you have it. I don't really care about having it two weeks before everybody, I just want them out! I have no issue supporting you guys especially since the other guy is taking away from your ad revenue. I would get it uploaded on your channel ASAP to make sure they don't get the hits.

Aaron W.

It would be in crappy quality and only patreons would know when and where the streams is

Brian Drennen

well thats dumb

Scothy

umm wait what there was a delay on the upload for 2 weeks that news to me

Scothy

those bastards!

Erik Jasper

Don't do the two weeks. People will support you either way.

Michael Tinnell

I wish I knew who did this. i would report them faster then shit, this is stupid, they are STEALING your work, and they even stated such.

Mark Graham

Doesn't come up in searches (tried several spellings, and switching it around). Either it's hidden, or it's been taken down already.

Cameron Williams

While you don't really have a claim to the video, I think you have a leg to stand on as far as your voices, and the editing you've done. Maybe you could pursue it that way. As far as that channel I went looking for it to report it, but either it doesn't show up in searches, or it's already been taken down. That's not to say a new one couldn't pop up though.

Cameron Williams

that would just allow them to rip right off the stream and anyone could come in to see it

Endoresu

What if you do several streams over the weak, then release the video a week after the initial stream

Brian Drennen

Oh no! Though I'd rather see your videos as soon as possible, I totally understand if you guys need to release them after the two weeks. I hope you guys get everything sorted out. Keep up the good work with your amazing content!

Daniel Costello

I haven't been able to find the channel to report them does someone know where it is?

Endoresu

Was kinda spamming twitch chat telling you guys how this system was gonna be shares anyways...

Ryan Chu

Just report the a-holes. And maybe I'd you could do multiple streams? Not everyone can make it at the same time.... But yeah, no real way to stop them other than that.

derek lebeau

dude that is fucking dirty of them. i am going to report that shit right now. they didnt have permission to do that, even though its a parody you guys still worked your asses off.

Mark Graham

That's shit.i say go with the live stream it'll be cool to do it with you guys. But more so, you know it'll be only released when you want it to be.

Edward

I think the best idea would be for all of us to report the channel to YouTube and hope that it is taken down

David Blutstein

That's a pretty dick move. Although their channel name...SAOA is already free so to speak. Lol but really. These people who can't wait a measly 14 days. Tsk.