Manga piracyhas long plagued the industry, with major publishers likeShonen Jumpstruggling to maintain control over their intellectual property. Despite efforts to combat illegal distribution, piracy continues to thrive, especially in the West, where many fans turn to unauthorized sites for translated versions of popular titles. However,a new court case in the U.S. involving Shueisha, one of Japan’s largest manga publishers, may signal a turning point in the fight against manga pirates. This case aims to target the infrastructure that supports pirate sites, bringing new pressure to the digital world’s piracy ecosystem.
For years,pirate sites have thrived by providing manga to a vast audience, with demand often exceeding the availability of official translations. This imbalance led to the rise of illicit distribution, making it difficult for publishers to protect their revenue streams. Although anti-piracy efforts have led to some disruption, the scale of the problem remains huge, with billions of visits to illegal manga sites annually. The new legal action byShueisha targets not only the sites but also the hosting platforms and servicesthat enable piracy, starting a bigger strategy to disrupt the piracy network at its core.
Unlicensed Distributors and Their Impact on the Market
Pirate Sites Dominate the Manga Landscape
In 2024, Japan-based anti-piracy group Authorized Books of Japan (ABJ) reported a troubling surge in piracy, with over 1,300 pirate sites actively distributing manga. While many of these sites cater to Japanese audiences, a significant number also serve Western markets, where demand for manga has exploded. The illegal distribution of manga has undermined the profitability of the legitimate market, making it harder for publishers to compete and for creators to be properly compensated for their work. Despite these challenges, ABJ has managed to make some headway, reducing piracy access in Japan in recent months.
As Manga Battles Global Piracy, South Korea Lands Major Win Against One of Webtoon’s Biggest Pirates
Another win has just occurred for those fighting piracy in the anime and manga industries: a major illegal webtoon website was just shut down.
However, piracy remains a persistent problem, with pirates finding new ways to stay one step ahead of anti-piracy measures. One of the major difficulties in combating manga piracy is the sheer volume of pirate sites and their ever-changing nature. Major sites may be taken down, butnew ones quickly emerge to take their place. This ongoing cycle of disruption, while necessary, often feels like a game of whack-a-mole, and the resources required to continue fighting piracy cost a lot. The new court case aims to tackle this issue by going after the infrastructure that supports these sites, hoping to make it more difficult for pirates to operate in the first place.
Legal Action Takes Aim at Piracy Infrastructure
A Game-Changing Legal Battle Against Manga Pirates
An important development in the fight against manga piracy occurred in January 2025, when Shueisha filed a new DMCA subpoena application targeting piracy websites. The legal action, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California,seeks to gather detailed information about the individuals and entities behind major piracy platforms. By requesting identifying details such as names, contact information, and server logs, Shueisha hopes to expose the operators and disrupt their ability to continue running illicit operations. This is a big step forward in the legal battle, as it goes beyond the sites themselves and targets the very foundations of the piracy network.
While the legal outcome of this case remains to be seen, it is clear thatthe manga industry is becoming more proactivein addressing piracy. This case, along with the broader strategy of targeting hosting services and payment providers,shows a commitment to dismantling the piracy infrastructure. As piracy continues to evolve, publishers are adapting their tactics to ensure that they can protect both their intellectual property and the livelihoods of creators. If successful, this case could mark a major shift in the ongoing battle against manga piracy forShonen Jumpand other companies.
Shonen Jump
Shonen Jumpis one of Japan’s most successful manga anthology franchises, published by Shueisha. Launched in 1968, it is the source of some of the most beloved and popular anime and manga series, such asOne Piece,Dragon Ball, andNaruto. The franchise has extended into multiple adaptations across various media, including anime, films, video games, and merchandise.
