On December 4, 2024, local time in São Paulo State, Brazil, CODA conducted a knock-and-talk (direct negotiation) with operators of malicious pirated websites featuring Japanese anime. This initiative resulted in the confirmed closure of 15 websites.
These 15 sites have long been identified as “overseas-originated and overseas-targeted” pirated websites of Japanese content, which have exacerbated copyright infringement issues. They implemented geo-blocking measures to prevent access from Japanese IP addresses, effectively hiding the infringement from Japanese rights holders. The sites distributed Japanese anime with Portuguese subtitles tailored for Brazilian audiences and generated revenue through advertisements.
This knock-and-talk initiative in Brazil was carried out by CODA based on the directives of three companies: TOEI ANIMATION CO., LTD., TOHO CO., LTD., and Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc.
Among the websites confirmed to be closed is bakashi.tv, the third most accessed pirated Japanese anime website in Brazil, along with 14 affiliated websites.
The average monthly traffic of these 15 sites over the past three months (August–October 2024) was approximately 7.95 million visits (*). CODA successfully obtained voluntary domain submissions (transfers) for all 15 websites. Currently, access to these websites is either redirected to a page created by CODA notifying of their closure or completely restricted.
In recent years, the rampant proliferation of pirated Japanese content websites has become a significant issue in Latin America. In this context, countermeasures against these pirated sites are indispensable for legitimate businesses to establish a healthy market for the distribution of official products.
Fans of Japanese content, including manga and anime, worldwide are encouraged to enjoy content legitimately. This not only ensures the healthy functioning of the Japanese content ecosystem but also supports its further evolution and development. To this end, CODA remains committed to implementing effective measures for proper copyright protection, aiming to create a sustainable market where official content can reach fans internationally.
This activity was carried out as part of a project commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
(*) Data reference: SimilarWeb
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About CODA
CODA (Content Overseas Distribution Association) was established in 2002 at the call of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Agency for Cultural Affairs to promote the overseas development of Japanese content and take anti-piracy measures. Japan’s proud content, including music, movies, anime, broadcast programs, video games, and publishing, plays an important role in enhancing the nation’s international presence and economic growth. As digital technology becomes more widespread, it is even more significant to protect Japan’s content from increasingly artful copyright infringement and promote the content industry’s development. CODA contributes to the deterrence and detection of online and other piracy, by sharing knowledge with relevant government agencies, organizations, and companies in Japan and abroad, to engage in direct and indirect anti-piracy measures, as well as public relations activities. Visit https://coda-cj.jp/en/activity/ for more information on CODA’s projects.