On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, the ongoing fight against manga piracy, led by prominent Japanese publishers such as Shueisha and Kadokawa, took a significant turn.
Their latest strategy appears to involve shifting focus to targeting “scanning” sites outside of Japan, which account for the majority of piracy platforms.
Scanner sites are platforms that facilitate manga piracy by raw scanning manga chapters, digitally refining them, then translating and releasing them as unauthorized copies.
Popular series like My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and One Piece often have multiple scanning sites distributing their content.
While the intention was to address the root causes of manga piracy, which of course includes translation sites, it appears there is now a deliberate effort to specifically address the platforms This. This move could potentially disrupt the disclosure system as Western fans know it.
NHK has released a new article on manga piracy, this time focusing on scan sites outside of Japan. There are more than 1,200 manga piracy websites, of which more than 900 are not aimed at Japanese people. While manga piracy has been decreasing in Japan recently due to the closure of major websites, it…
– Manga Mogura RE (Manga & Anime News) (@MangaMoguraRE) March 26, 2024
Western comic book piracy seems to be facing a severe blow, especially when it comes to translations of beloved series like One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen.
The update originates from an article by NHK, also known as the Japan Broadcasting Association. As emphasized in the article and reiterated by user @ MangaMoguraRE, the focus remains on fighting manga piracy.
Sometimes they try this and a few big sites get hacked then new ones replace them. If they want to win, they should make it easier to read comics and translations instead of trying to block a market that doesn't even pay for most manga because it's not official yet…
— Snowy Canadian (@NathanBTO) March 26, 2024
NHK's report indicates that there are more than 1200 piracy websites, with about 75% of them targeting audiences outside of Japan. Although Japan is affected to some extent, a significant portion of these sites serve an international audience.
Interestingly, piracy in Japan has decreased due to the closure of several major websites. In response, those leading the fight against manga piracy have not only shut down illegal platforms but also exposed their operators.
However, there are arguments that eliminating manga piracy could have unintended consequences, potentially reducing interest in anime and manga in the West.
Some people argue that piracy actually generates additional revenue for the manga industry by introducing new fans. Furthermore, casual fans have shared anecdotes about starting with piracy before moving on to legal sources.
It's important to note that this isn't the first attempt to combat manga piracy, and historically, sites tend to reappear. This is partly due to the challenges of accessing officially translated manga in the West.
While platforms like MANGA Plus and Shonen Jump+ have improved accessibility for some series, piracy is still the main reason many fans seek out regular Western releases.