Japanese police arrested three people accused of violating copyright law for illegally distributing content from popular anime, specifically spoilers for Overlord. The operation took place in Miyagi Prefecture on October 29th and represents the first arrest related to the dissemination of anime spoilers in the country. Those arrested include a 38-year-old company manager, a 33-year-old employee, and a 45-year-old employee. They maintained a website dedicated to transcribing anime without the producers' authorization.
The group published dialogues, character names, settings, and other details from the anime "Overlord," a work by KADOKAWA and other production companies. The illegal publishing operation took place between January 2023 and February 2024, a period during which the website accumulated a significant audience and generated advertising revenue. The police-coordinated operation was supported by CODA (Content Overseas Distribution Association), an organization that works to protect intellectual property in the audiovisual sector.
Arrest for Overlord spoilers exposes authorial gaps
The arrest of the three individuals exposes a practice that affects the entertainment market and copyright in Japan. On the investigated website, the group provided detailed texts and images about the narrative of "Overlord," attracting readers and generating revenue through advertising. Thus, by allowing the consumption of content free of charge, this practice compromises the profits of original productions, directly harming the creators.
KADOKAWA, one of the affected companies, has spoken out against the violation, highlighting that transcribing stories goes beyond the legal use of quotations. The company points out that such actions affect the sustainability of the industry. Furthermore, they discourage the public from consuming legitimate products and weaken the remuneration of authors and producers.
CODA supports initiative to strengthen culture and entertainment
CODA, in conjunction with the authorities, has been reinforcing measures to curb piracy practices in Japan, focusing on protecting the audiovisual sector. The association argues that actions such as the recent arrest send a clear message about the consequences of the improper exploitation of protected content. According to CODA, rigorous monitoring and legal action are fundamental to preserving the competitiveness of Japanese entertainment, which has a global reach and needs support to continue expanding.
Cooperation between copyright protection agencies and law enforcement aims to combat illegal monetization and the growth of these types of websites. Therefore, this scenario represents progress in responding to the rise in piracy, a problem that grows as digital consumption expands.
In addition to punitive measures, KADOKAWA took the opportunity to encourage consumers to support legal initiatives by purchasing original content. In a statement issued after the arrest, the company reinforced its commitment to protecting the economic interests of artists and strengthening Japan's cultural sector.
Piracy and unauthorized copying of works affect the entire production chain, from studios to consumers themselves, who may be led to access low-quality content. Therefore, KADOKAWA, CODA, and other organizations argue that by purchasing official productions, the public helps sustain the industry, ensuring investment in new series and improving the entertainment experience for fans. In Brazil, the anime is available on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Prime Video.
