The Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) on April 1, 2026, one with the Alliance for Manga and Webtoon (AMW), a French organization related to manga and webtoons, and the other with L’Autorité de Régulation de la Communication Audiovisuelle et Numérique (ARCOM), the regulatory authority responsible for audiovisual and digital communications in France. The purpose of these agreements is to establish a cooperative framework for anti-piracy measures.
The signing of these MOUs coincided with the visit of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to Japan. The signing ceremony was held at The National Art Center, Tokyo, and was attended by the French Minister of Culture, Catherine Pégard.
Through these MOUs, CODA, AMW, and ARCOM will leverage their respective expertise and experience to promote information sharing and strengthen cooperation in anti-piracy efforts, with the aim of enhancing the protection of intellectual property rights in both Japan and France.
AMW is an organization established in 2025 at the initiative of Mangas.io, a major French online manga distribution platform. The organization consists of manga and webtoon publishers and distribution companies in France and operates to promote the legitimate distribution of manga within the country.
ARCOM, established in 2022, is the regulatory body for audiovisual and digital communications in France. The authority plays a key role in promoting the distribution of legitimate content and addressing online infringements, including anti-piracy measures.
In recent years, Japanese content such as manga has experienced steady growth in overseas markets, driven by its increasing global popularity. At the same time, the increase in online copyright infringement, as exemplified by piracy websites, has become a serious issue. Considering that France is regarded as the second-largest consumer of manga in the world after Japan, strengthened cooperation with France in anti-piracy efforts is highly significant for the protection of Japanese content and the promotion of legitimate distribution.
CODA will continue to strengthen its collaboration with overseas partners and industry organizations and remain committed to advancing international efforts to combat online infringement and protect content.
This initiative was carried out as part of a project commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
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.