/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>37843380
Should also point out that a circle isn't affording any sort of legal distinction in this case AFAIK, they're really just the designation on uses for a self-publishing group.

The term originally came about as a "circle" of hobbyists (not just illustrators/music makers/game makers etc.) to handle printing costs, mail orders, booth setups at events, newsletters, etc. Over time, as conventions became more heavily organized, they began using the circles as the base unit of each group that participated, and required registration for logistics of artists/assistants/etc. compared to the general convention-goers. This has remained to this day. So when sites like toranoana, melonbooks, dlsite, etc. talk about circles, it's more just an informal system they've inherited where someone representing the circle provides contact and verification of being the self-publishers, and allows for consistent tracking across different conventions, services, and sites.

But really, dlsite is free to regulate circles independently of other places, and someone in japan could just make a circle for dlsite independently of any other site unless they want to publish the work elsewhere. Also, dlsite ALREADY uses legal weasel-wording that allows them to suspend the sale of works at their preference, see pic related and https://www.dlsite.com/home/circle/regulations . Keep in mind the circles are still "self-publishing" when working with dlsite - dlsite is just serving as the sale and distribution endpoint as a sort of virtual doujin market. So circles are legally on the hook for ensuring the publication is legal and doesn't "Violate public order and decency" 「公序良俗に反する場合」or any of dlsite other terms - even if registration is approved by dlsite.

So like I mentioned in the former post - I think the question is less if these user term changes will radically alter what dlsite will be allowing and prohibiting in the near future - it almost certainly won't.
The real question is why they are adding these terms for the non-circle, individual user accounts exclusively, which as far as I know are not used to submit content to dl-site for sale at this time. Can someone confirm the latter?