One Piece Leakers Targeted By Shonen Jump Publisher With New Update Cracking Down on Piracy

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Leakers of One Piece content have been removed from online platforms, with publisher Shueisha taking firm action to combat piracy. Over the past year, fans may have observed a more proactive approach by Shueisha in addressing these leaks, which have long plagued their magazines. One Piece leaks often disclose the latest chapters ahead of official release, frequently through social media accounts that swiftly share this content following acquisition.

For several years now, publishers such as Shueisha have delved into legal procedures aimed at reducing the early release of magazine materials. Recently, Shueisha has taken a significant step in this direction by filing a subpoena against Gamma Law P.C., alleging that their rights were violated by “spoilerplus” and “mangaraw_jp” on X. The legal requests, filed in the Northern District of California on Dec. 30, claim that these entities have infringed upon Shueisha’s copyrights.

Yesterday, a new subpoena from Shueisha was submitted, focusing on individuals leaking information to the Wall Street Journal. This legal document has been presented to California courts because Twitter, the platform in question, is headquartered there. The accounts under scrutiny are @spoilerplus (which has been deactivated) and @mangaraw_jp.

— AsarathaHS (@AsarathaHS) December 31, 2024

What Happens Next?

According to @AsarathaHS’s observation on X, it appears that one account mentioned has been deactivated following the subpoena. Shueisha is insisting that X removes all copyright-infringing content from each of these accounts, with “One Piece” being a significant issue. This action is part of Shueisha’s ongoing efforts to combat piracy over the past couple of years, and it’s leading to tangible legal consequences. As this situation unfolds, we might witness more of these notorious piracy accounts and websites closing down (particularly given Japan’s development of AI aimed at suppressing piracy).

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2024 saw a report from Japan’s Cultural Affairs Agency revealing that the economic impact of pirated manga reached approximately $2.4 billion USD or 380 billion yen. This alarming figure, which has been steadily rising annually, has prompted publishers like Shueisha to address this issue. As manga and anime grow in global popularity, offering legitimate platforms for reading and viewing these works as they debut in Japan, it’s become increasingly simple to do so. However, piracy persists as a significant challenge.

Manga Leaks Are Slowing Down on Their Own, For Now

It appears that there’s been a noticeable transition towards avoiding manga leaks in recent months. Series like “Jujutsu Kaisen” and “My Hero Academia”, which have wrapped up, were previously popular targets for quick and early content. However, only enduring hits such as “One Piece” still seem to be in high demand for immediate release. The newer fanbase of titles like “Kagurabachi” has been vocal about reading only official releases, leading to a shift in culture towards legal options among many fans who are now aware of the various legitimate ways to access content.

In terms of days other than weekdays, there’s dwindling justification for pirating manga. Companies like Shueisha have been collaborating effectively with Viz Media, ensuring that numerous chapters become available simultaneously outside of their Japanese release, absolutely free of charge. While back catalogs require a full subscription, fans can follow each new chapter without spending a penny through legitimate digital libraries like MangaPlus or Shonen Jump. These offer superior quality compared to other sources. As more unauthorized sites and accounts are taken down, an increasing number of fans will gravitate towards these legal and premium options.

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2025-01-05 02:11