I don't even watch this drama, but I feel terrible for DB and L7CS fans. What I hated most is why is the CND came after halfway through, not before the series started? It's like they're waiting for the audience and fans to build and flourish, and when it got really popular, they decided it's time to reap and left the fans with no choice (maybe) but to watch through them. The same tactics used for anime by the license distributors and this is just underhanded.

Didn't Dramafever do the same thing during the time of Answer Me, 1997? I believe a lot of streaming sites were closed down because of them. What the hell???

I agree, Dramafever is taking the fun out of Kdramas. Also, what's the point? DF can only be watched in North America. Why not give chance to some sites with wider network??

Wait, Dramafever claims Level 7 as their intellectual property?? That means they actually produced the show right?
Stay classy, Dramafever.

I'm nvr a fan of dramafever. N i nvr will!!!

That sucks! They suck!
Ok but thanks for your recaps nonetheless.
Also big hug and kisses to all the fantastic writers at DB *\(^o^)/*
You rock and we support ya in all your endeavours!
Fighting!

OMG, the little picture thingy that shows the recapped series has a little sad smiley for L7CS.

You rock, gals!

This is just ridiculous; Screen shots in the recaps don't hurt dramafever at all, and these recap posts here are actually encouraging me to continue watching the show.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8536744138_0a511249b2.jpg

wow, this is just bizarre. Videos I get, but screencaps?! C'mon!

Why not take pictures of our PC or TV screen? With a some pencils at the bottom, or a book on the left. Newspapers do that with other newspapers' pages.

I'm European, so I don't how it works. Maybe our lawyer miss Koala could help.

FYI you don't even need an account to email dramafever. Just go to contact us. I did. There is no reason to ban all use of screencaps. They probably make money off DB anyway because recaps usually end up making the drama more popular and the news spreads. I can't count the number of shows I've watched just because of the recaps.

Seriously if Nate/Naver can use freaking caps in their Korean news stories, why can't a blog? Ridiculous... There has to be some compromise you'd think. Like limiting size or amount of images if they must. Not just banning outright.

I read Kakashi's comment, and i get it now how dramafever can do this. But it's such a mean and horrid thing to do :(
I mean, they don't need to do it. It's not like it's harming them, the screencaps and the recaps :'( DF doesn't even show in my country, but even I could watch dramas on their site, I won't now. -.-

Dramabeans, FIGHTING!!!!

what if someone take pictures of their tv showing L7CS? it wouldnt be infringement on dramafever cause HA! it's not even from there in the first place.

I don't know, it's shitty that they do this, and I shouldn't care much cause it doesn't even show in my country but still, uncool, dramafever, uncool.

They're not even the producers of the show .. right ??

Stick figure Joo Won.
Challenge accepted.

WHAT!!!!????Speechless!As if!

Anyway.Yes,JB and GF,and to all Dramabeans staff,we do love you to pieces and we appreciate all the work that you put into this site.So sure,no images of Joo Won will do.I can find him somewhere else if i have to.^^

You all here in DB are the best.Please know that we will fight with you if need be.FIGHTING!

is Dramabeans the only site who got the notice? cos i know soompi forum even has gifs of some dramas, maybe have L7CS stuff there too. are they threatening to take down tge whole threads too?

I can't even watch dramas through their piss site, but from now on even if I could I never would!
What the hell is their problem?

How can they claim ownership of screenshots taken on someone elses computer?! It's sickening! Someone should fight this!

I know I am going to send them a rage mail!

If it wasn't for DB I wouldn't even know of their tiny existence. BAD move DF.

If anything they should apologize.

This is crazy!

I would never have gotten into kdramas without blogs about kdramas and recaps. Dramabeans is the site that makes these shows make sense because of all the cultural differences. People who watch kdramas love this site.

DF is being a dick. I hope it gets cut off. (sorry for being vulgar)

I'm so f-ing mad that I've supported them, not just watching stuff on their website, but I have premium account (which mind you they raised their yearly subscription %50 f-ing percent in 2012! %50 people! At one time!). I was there in the beginning paying $12.99 for their subscription and I've been patient through all their shitty redesigns (trying to look like HULU and adding giant green Prius advertisements) and server down issues and the website not working and now they go after Dramabeans!?

RAGE.

Whoever in their legal department who is advocating this stance is stupid. I don't think they understand the culture and habits of foreign, and specifically American, kdrama watchers.

DF is so on my shit list.

The only good thing about all of this is that the recaps of Level 7 *now with stick figure action shots* are going to be HILARIOUS!! I might have to start watching this show just so I can get in on the fun! (Watching on Hulu or Viki, of course. Not DramaFever. Never ever again!)

of all and everything, now recaps ??? it was more advantageous to them and free publicity... frankly that was the ''bouquet''.. that little drop that toppled the vase... solong Dramafever, you've lost another customer... greedy greedy are we ? shooting at everything and everyone will be your demise

I have a hypothesis...

DF ALREADY HAS A BLOG OF THEIR OWN. (It's horrible). I BET THEY WANT TO START RECAPS OF THEIR OWN ON THEIR (shitty) BLOG. They already have some on there...probably part of their long term marketing plan.

ugh, ugh, ugh. $$$ and business suck the joy out of everything eventually.

i... dont get it. its a korean drama, and i lived with koreans for months and holyf screencaps are all over forums. and no one is bitching about it. DF, as far as i know, only works in the north americas and theyre claiming rights for KOREAN drama recaps? WHILE THE KOREANS DONT EVEN CARE IF THE CAPS ARE EVERYWHERE ON THEIR SITES?!?!?! stupid.

its a good time to decide to STOP USING DF. if you live in the americas, USE VIKI. everywhere else, USE DRAMACRAZY.

DB PLEASE REMOVE LINKS TO DRAMAFEVER.

cheesus crust, i cant even--

that sucks... but i'm glad you guys are still gonna stick through it.

Also Javabeans and Girlfriday.

I don't know anything about technology, but if their is a way of saving all your site information offline I would do it because all the kdrama gold that you have created over the years should not disappear.

If this is something possible, but cost money, I will gladly donate as I have spent countless hours on your site enjoying myself. Because we kdrama addicts truly love what you guys do, we would gladly read it all with no images.

Dramabeans Fighting!

Well you can't use images from the drama but you can always use picture that were poster by the drama stars on social network (they always post pictures of the set and all) ^^

I recently relocated from the US to Germany and have not been able to watch any more K-Dramas since neither DF or Viki are streaming here.

The recaps kept me from being really sad about what I'm missing out on.

Considering how you guys always had a link to DF to watch the dramas "legally" I'd say this is a very crappy way of repaying the favor.

Sorry for you guys, can only imagine how it feels deep down to get treated like this. Don't get in hot water over this, stay positive. I'm sure the stick figures will be a hoot.

I'm with you Dramabeans girls! You are doing a great job recapping all this kdramas. Hwaitting! :-)

I don't approve any monopolization. Especially the one from copyrights on intellectual property. The copyrights laws against internet are stupid, old-fashioned, unreasonable, ignorant and highly manipulative toward consumers. Don’t forget that if we are already calling ourselves “democratic”, we should be the one to decide which laws we want, and which we don’t. Not the other way around!!
There are people dying out of this kind of ignorance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqriFtr2k-k

If I cannot get to watch kdramas online, I will take a walk outdoor and stay healthy. Nothing bad for me here. As I got addicted, I can dis-addict myself.
But I'm not sure how good would it be for Korean pop industry, if everyone would do the same. They have gained popularity thanks to us, online fans. The same way Japan became famous thanks to it's anime/manga, Korea became know to us thanks to theirs idols/kdramas. Do the count yourselves.

hell with dramafever!! I live in Asia and yet I couldn't watch their subbed dramas.. and now I can't read recaps with pics due to copyright issue? and my question is dramafever one of the official broadcasting companies? heck man.. it truly make my blood boils. Anyway, I will support dramabeans! fighting!

Shouldn't a review merely fall under fair use?

All I can say is, lawyer up and may these morons suffer the full hate and criticism of viewers who love DB and got to know their precious DF "empire" thanks to sites like this.

May this bring a sh*tstorm of rejection and reduced traffic to their miserable service who thinks it has the right to be a pimp to global communities for owning rights to something in the U.S.

And in general? F*ck regional limitations and licensing and all of these copyright trolls who are busier blocking good business solutions than actually finding a way to make everyone happy by using this amazing tool we call the internet.

Obviously, DB staff, you have support from many. Cheer up. ^_^ We'll still be visiting.

If I were watching the drama, I would boycott it forever on your behalf.

Can it really be legally problematic to post *stills*? That's insane.

What.., when DF became master of all dramas and drama world.., I think DF is open for my country too.., but dang, I love my DC...

Well it explains the sudden disappearance of the. Photos while I was reading , Omg are they stupid or what , what a thing , how can we enjoy it without photos , I'm so shocked where did that come from ! We are sticking with ymu guys till the end , bless you

I am a long time subscriber to dramafever and understand their issues with sites that stream videos. But, if anything, dramabeans is a partner and not a competitor. I am sure that there are thousands of fans, just like me, who are encouraged to watch new dramas because they read about them here and then watch on df.

Dramafever is garbage
They take too long to upload episodes and most of the subtitles don't make sense.

The only reason why I watched as many dramas as I have in the recent months is because of recaps I found here. For Dramafever to go after a site that actively PROMOTES our drama addiction is not just stupid, it's counter productive.

I had a 6 month membership with DF because of the promo they ran back in October (buy one of two kdramas on iTunes, get a free 6 months subscription to DF). Well, my sub is about to run out and I think I will cancel my automatic renewal.

This has gone too far.

JB and GF, I just know your hearts were in your throats when that letter arrived. Sending you both warm hugs. We love you for everything you've done for us in the past. Don't let this bring you down. <3

Also in the category of WTF, Dramafever: They actually link to Dramabeans recaps on their show pages! And that includes Level 7 Civil Servant, for the love of god.

This is why I refuse to go to the DF site because they pull stuff like this.

IANAL, but this sounds like a load of crap.

The screenshots should be fine under fair use laws.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use

Specifically:

1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and

Since there's criticism involved in the process, that should help contribute to the fair use of the screencaps. In addition, these are screencaps of an MORE THAN HOUR LONG product. The amount being reproduced is piddly small compared to the actual copyright claim.

In other words, DF is bullsh!tting.

Unfortunately, though, unless you're willing to go hire a lawyer and the bother of suing them for your lawyer fees and damages, these big companies will use the DMCA (incorrectly) as a weapon to force any behavior they dislike from occurring.

That's why the whole DMCA/SOPA/PIPA thing is so insidious, it gives a significant amount of power to corporations which already have a money/legal/size advantage.

One potential way you can get around it, is if you manually alter the screencaps (like make it black and white, apply a filter or draw on it), since it would now be considered an original work of art, though again, they could still threaten DMCA just because they know most people don't bother to fight these because it usually isn't worth the hassle.

My guess is that the Civil Servant 7 is an exclusive on DF, which is why they're doing this stupid stuff, because if it were on viki, they wouldn't have ANY legal rights to do this since they would have to prove that you were specifically copyright infringing their video product (which you wouldn't have to do if another site legally had rights).

Good luck with everything and let us know if there's anything we can do to help!

Ugh, Dramafever, what is wrong with them? They steal other people's work on tumblr, they give gross and offensive coverage of the Park Shi Hoo case, and now this. Not only that but they also steal other people's subs too! They were already on my shit list, and now they're staying there.

Wth! Officially taking DF off my bookmark list.