Japanese police arrested three people accused of violating the Copyright Law, based on the illegal distribution of popular anime content, more specifically Overlord spoilers. The action took place in Miyagi Prefecture, on October 29, and represents the first arrest related to the release of anime spoilers in the country. Among those detained are a 38-year-old company manager, a 33-year-old employee and a 45-year-old employee. They maintained a website aimed at transcribing anime without authorization from the producers.
The group published dialogues, character names, scenarios and other details from the anime “Overlord”, a work by the company KADOKAWA and other producers. The illegal publishing operation took place between January 2023 and February 2024, a period in which the website in question accumulated a significant audience and generated advertising revenue. The action coordinated by the police had the support of CODA (Content Overseas Distribution Association), an entity that works to protect intellectual property in the audiovisual sector.
Arrest for Overlord spoilers exposes copyright gaps
The arrest of the three individuals exposes a practice that affects the entertainment market and copyright in Japan. On the website investigated, the group provided detailed texts and images about the narrative of “Overlord”, attracting readers and generating income through advertising. Thus, by allowing the consumption of content at no cost, this practice compromises the profits of original productions, directly harming the creators.
KADOKAWA, one of the affected companies, spoke out against the violation, highlighting that the transcription of stories goes beyond the limit of legal use of quotes. The company points out that actions like this 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 action to strengthen culture and entertainment
CODA, together with the authorities, has been reinforcing measures to curb piracy practices in Japan, with a focus on protecting the audiovisual sector. The association argues that actions such as the recent arrest send a clear message about the consequences of improper exploitation of protected content. According to CODA, strict monitoring and legal action are key to preserving the competitiveness of Japanese entertainment, which has a global reach and needs support to continue expanding.
Cooperation between copyright protection bodies and police forces aims to combat illegal monetization and the growth of this type of website. Therefore, this scenario represents progress in responding to the increase 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 the 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 transcription of works affect the entire production chain. From studios to consumers themselves, who can be tricked into accessing low-quality content. Thus, 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.
