Johnny's net videos in danger of being pulled

I find this pretty sad news to pass on, especially as I just made that tutorial to help people find and use the service a few days ago, but already the new video message service is in trouble of being dropped by Johnny's net.

The LJ community arashi_on has the original message posted and translated so I'm taking the following italicized text from them:

Official email:

　　　【みなさまへ　新サービスに関する　ご協力とお願い】

………………………………………………………………………………………

現在配信されているメッセージ動画は、会員様向けサービスです。
この映像を、会員以外の方が自由に閲覧できる「動画共有サイト」への投稿は、おやめください。
残念なことに、一部の映像について「動画共有サイト」への投稿が見つかりました。
ファンの方からのご連絡により早急な対応ができました事を、感謝いたします。

今回は、このままサービスを継続する事ができますが、
今後、このような行為が増えた場合、
サービス（配信）を中断・終了させていただかなければならなくなります。
ファンの皆様に楽しんで頂く事を願って開始したサービスです。
みなさまのご理解とご協力をよろしくお願いいたします。


Translation:

The message video that is currently being distributed is service only for members.
Please stop uploading on free video sharing sites that non-members can view.
Sadly, one copy has been found streaming.
We are thankful for the fans who let us know about this so we were able to take care of it right away.

This time, we will continue this service but,
from here on, if this type of act increases,
this service will come to a stop.
This service started so that you fans to enjoy.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.


So pretty much what this means is that they found one of the Fan Club versions of the video streams, which are a bit longer than the ones that anyone can access from their main page, on another streaming site and are threatening to end the service completely if they find anymore.

It may not seem fair, but like life, Johnny's isn't fair. I thought it was well known how over protective they are of the images of all kinds of their idols being used are. Honestly this is the agency that until a couple of years ago didn't even allow official TV stations to show pictures of their idols on their websites, and since then the photos of them are all altered. And if you're buying a magazine off of the internet if it has a cover view all Johnny's are removed from it so you just see the text in front of what was a picture of a group or solo member from Johnny's.

Not only that but the Fan Club videos are for members of the fan clubs that have paid either 5000-4000 yen for a year's worth of membership. And I'm sure it was from those funds that this service was created so it's not fair for the service to be ended for those paying members, especially the ones that follow the rules, by others not in the fan clubs.

It may seem unfair for those who don't live in Japan, as you need to have a Japanese address to join the fan clubs, but I don't think have an international fan club would solve the issue so easily. As I'm sure there would be people complaining at how unfair it is that they can't afford to join and be able to get the benefits of being a fan club member even if one existed. Even though I know there will also be over international fans that would be responsible and would love to join an international fan club for Johnny's even at a higher cost than what you have to pay in Japan, but it's those few that feel entitled to everything and don't feel the need to pay for anything that tend to ruin things.

The fact Johnny's decided to do such a service, and even have the non-Fan Club videos open to anyone to view, instead of blocking non-Japanese IPs from being able to view the streams which they very well could have done, is pretty progressive for them. And I know personally I would be very disappointed for this not to work out as I'm sure Johnny's would be much less likely to do anything like this again if people abuse this service.

So I hope people put having this service continue over ripping the few clips off the site to stream, as I would love to see more of these videos in the future, especially if we get more like the Kis-My-Ft2 concert clip where they use concert footage from something that hasn't gotten a DVD release and not be able to see any other way.