"That's my comic on another language! But I didn't publish that- wait whaa?"

[Lae]

Hallois, to anyone that came by!

This is like my first post, so I'm sorry if I put it on the wrong category and ... further mistakes.

Anyhoos; I have something that I've been thinking/questioning about lately. I officially published my 'first' (technically second) comic here on Tapastic a month ago, and I was (still is) baffled by the overwhelming crowd. My shriveled little heart still have a hard time thinking that people that aren't my friends actually likes what I do. So, when someone proposed to translate my comic to another language it made me completelyutterlysuspicious but happy. They were a non-profit team and I thought; "Hey, this could give me an exposure, that's good, right?" So I gave them permission.

Other translator teams came. Non-profit. I gave them permission too. Here's the thing though: all of them had different platforms they published on. However; recently someone proposed to translate my comic and publish it on Tapastic. On their own account. I didn't answer. Yet. As I write this I kinda feel stupid and my mind is screaming: "It's obvious what the answer is aksdjlksg"- but I wanted to know what your thoughts are on this first. I'm not really the type to say 'no' because I frustratingly feel guilty over every small things and I must always drill billions of questions and hear what other people would say before I really get down to any decision.

TL;DR :: What are your thoughts on someone translating your comic and then publish it on their own account on Tapastic? (Is this even legal?? I'm an inexperienced llama somebody guide me TTTT)

[Kyuu]

Im a noob to this kind of issues, but this doesn't sound right..... shouldn't they translate it and send it back to you, so you can publish it under your name and credit to the translating team? Unless it's the platform itself that wanna publish it for you. IDK.... but translating and publishing on their own account seems to go against copyright :/

EDIT: Also if they are making even a cent from it, then it shouldn't be allowed unless they pay u some percentage of it.

[PotooGryphon]

Hm...

Here's the thing, letting other people take your comic and publish it elsewhere where it's out of your control isn't ideal to say the least. As indie creators it's better to keep exclusive control and rights to publish our content where we can gauge and monitor the engagements, how it's impacting readers, and earning views and ad revenue on. The translator publishing to Tapastic could earn revenue off publishing your comic and by saying yes, you sort of give them permission to do that.

However, translations are wonderful and people that offer help are gems. For me, I'd have to decline the aide. I'd much rather hire professional translators or friends that I can fully trust that will translate my comic correctly and trust to not post elsewhere.

[TheEkitchi]

Well, i'm currently translating some comics into french, and i let the artist publish the translation on their own website/tapastic account.
I think that's logic, all what i do is translating, i don't wrote the scenario or drawn the comics.

Though, i know that kanes (artist of griefer belt) let the translator publish on a different tumblr the translated comics ...

I think that depend of people, but if the precedent translation are on your page, well the nexts ones should be on too ^^

[El_Psy_Congroo]

Its probably not legal if you did not give them permission explicitly to do so.
I would send them a message saying that all translations of your work need to be published on you site only and that the translators will be credited there. Bring out your inner Boss(wo)man voice.

Example:

"Thank you for all the hard work you put into making our work available to a wider audience. It really makes us happy that people like our work enough to actively want to bring it to other people. However, we ask that you please send us your translations to put on our own sites and not host them in other places, so that its clear to the readers who the authors are. You will naturally be credited as translator, and perhaps we can leave a link on our site so people can be exposed to your other works. Please understand, you know as well as we do how important it is for creative people to be recognized for the work that they have slaved so hard over, and that it hurts when others - intentionally or not - appear to be taking credit or benefiting from something you have done. We want to continue working with you, we would just like you to help us on these terms. Thank you again for being a part of our project."

[J.Z.Castillo]

My short answer: HELL FUCKING NO, FUCK OFF, MY COMIC IS MINE!

My long answer: I wouldn't let anyone translate my comic UNLESS I knew them IRL and could go knock on some doors if shit goes down (most likely I would only let a friend do it, cuz I would already have level of trust with them). Anyway, the other exception I would make is if they give me some money to "buy" publishing rights and only if I am given credit if they are going to post it somewhere else. Other than those two, I would never let someone else come close to my comic. Hell no, nope nope nope, I work way too hard at it to have some bottom feeder leech come and piggy back off of it.

[keii4ii]

Don't let them do it on ANY platform where direct submission from creators is a thing. To be honest, I don't think Tapastic should allow this even if YOU were okay with it. It sets up a bad precedent for others.

[Lae]

@josef_yi I've totally forgotten about the ad revenue--- They never mentioned anything about payment either so that's a question I'll have to ask later!

@CyndiFoster Absolutely, I do monitor the people I gave permission to at times but you just made me realize I can't control what they will do further from the sites they've provided me. sweats profusely The people that have reached to me seemed sweet, at the very least. And I earnestly hope they won't suddenly pick up a knife and stab me in the back. But then again this is the internet.

@TheEkitchi I wouldn't mind if the person were going to publish it on Tumblr too, it's just the thought of someone publishing my own comic on Tapastic with just different language is what was off-putting to say the least. ><

@El_Psy_Congroo That's- that's actually a great example, thank you. I was having a hard time formulating what I could say without feeling too harsh about it. I always end up guilt-tripping myself but I guess I'm finally learning to put my foot down. Like a true woman 8D

@mrjonzap Your vocabulary is so colourful. XD Yeah, I'm very picky when it comes to giving credit as well. So far, people have given credit where its due and they seem to enjoy it as well. That's probably what I'm mostly looking for. Credit - Enjoyment. If the people enjoy translating (and don't do/suggest anything shady) then I'm happy.

@keii4ii I knew it sounded shady! And now @josef_yi and @CyndiFoster mentioned about Ad revenue too so now I'm even more inclined to decline the offer.

[El_Psy_Congroo]

Mhmm, now go tell em you're a true woman, and not some babylady.

[joannekwan]

Yeah don't do it. Have the translated pages go on your account!

For the other sites, if they're making money from it, you should have a cut of it.
And definitely have a contract between you and the other parties if there is money involved!

[Lae]

Yeah, that sounds a lot more better than them uploading on their own account. Wasn't there a button before that lead readers to the translated pages? Or was I just hallucinating?

@El_Psy_Congroo

[PotooGryphon]

Yeah, the translation button was removed when the staff updated the site. The reason was that the coding conflicted with something on the app.

They recommend creating a new series for translated versions.