Japan’s CODA (Content Overseas Distribution Association) announced a major breakthrough on September 6, 2024 – a US court is working with anime industry giants Aniplex and Toho to stop leaks and combat piracy.
An unspecified US court has reportedly issued an order that could have a significant impact on the anime community. The order demands the disclosure of identities behind accounts associated with leaks of popular Japanese anime series such as Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen. The leakers in question were engaging in illicit activities, obtaining and distributing clips and screenshots from anime episodes before their official airing times.
According to AnimeAnime, a Japanese news site, the US has issued an order for sites to reveal the identity of online leakers.
This is a case in which Aniplex and Toho, members of CODA (Content Overseas Distribution Association), filed a request for disclosure of information in a US court in June 2024 regarding so-called “leak accounts” that obtain anime before it is broadcast on television or distributed online and post it on social media. The court issued an order to disclose information on August 20, and the service procedure was carried out on August 30.
It’s common for popular manga such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer to get their chapters leaked before the official release date. Still, a major investigation may result in leakers’ identities being revealed.
Demon Slayer finished its manga in 2020, whereas Jujutsu Kaisen is set to conclude in September 2024. It is crucial to recognize that both One Piece and Oshi no Ko are frequently leaked, underscoring the need to deal with these leaks promptly.
The rights holders of the titles, Aniplex and Toho, filed a request for the disclosure order in June this year. After CODA presented evidence of the leaks, the court executed the disclosure request on August 20. This is the first time a US court has taken action in a case related to leaks of Japanese anime. It’s worth noting that similar processes are also underway concerning other titles, indicating the ongoing and uncertain nature of these legal actions.
With the historical safety of Western-based fans from consequences when it comes to leaking and disseminating manga materials (especially when they haven’t been licensed in the West yet), the sudden involvement of the US with the copyright issues in Japan is a clear sign of the changing landscape. This shift is further evident in the recent crackdown on manga piracy sites, indicating a new era in the anime industry.
Nevertheless, Japan has previously requested another foreign government to look into the problem of manga leaks and piracy. In 2019, the Philippines authorities deported a Japanese citizen for operating the pirate website Manga-Mura.
Every leak receives a significant amount of attention, which clearly affects businesses like Shueisha and Toho. Leaks are more frequent on social media now, but they are still looked down upon. Newcomers to the manga world like Kagurabachi strongly oppose it and even prevented a JJK leaker from revealing spoilers from the series.
Aniplex and Toho, both part of CODA (Content Overseas Distribution Association), submitted a petition in June 2024 to reveal the identities of individuals who access anime content prior to its official television broadcast or online release. This was subsequently approved by a US court.
CODA plans to impose harsh consequences on the leakers once their identities are revealed, indicating a grim outlook for the perpetrators.
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