What you'll learn

• 1 (00:00) **Tapas Shutdown Announcement** - The hosts reveal that the webcomic platform Tapas is shutting down, with service ending March 31, 2027, and ink purchases already disabled.
• 2 (00:49) **Export and Ownership Crisis** - Artists struggle to export their work, highlighting the lack of digital ownership and industry disregard for consumers.
• 3 (02:09) **Value of Bad Art and Open Platforms** - The hosts discuss how Tapas allowed artists to learn and find audiences, and consider open-source or web ring alternatives.
• 4 (03:29) **Piracy and Artist Livelihood** - The conversation shifts to the tension between fan access, piracy, and artists losing income from unauthorized sharing.
• 5 (04:38) **Lost Media and Archival Issues** - The hosts list BL series they covered that are now inaccessible, emphasizing the risk of lost media.
• 6 (05:56) **Corporate Consolidation and Sony Comparison** - The hosts link Tapas' shutdown to broader industry consolidation, citing Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll as a parallel.
• 7 (06:52) **Kakao's Strategy and East Asian Market Shift** - The hosts explain that Tapas was a North American subsidiary of Kakao, and its closure may be part of a consolidation into Kakao Page.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app