MangaDex has experienced its largest content removal campaign since the platform's inception. More than 700 manga series were removed in certain languages, following an unprecedented volume of DMCA notices filed by publishers and copyright holders.
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The removed content includes popular titles such as Bleach, Dragon Ball, Solo Leveling, Oshi no Ko, and My Dress-Up Darling. Publishers submitted requests directly to MangaDex and Google to limit the visibility of illegally hosted works.
Publishers step up fight against scanlations
The coordinated action involved publishers from Japan, South Korea, and other regions, including Kodansha, Shogakukan, Naver, Lezhin, Suiseisha, Square Enix, and others. All alleged copyright infringement.
The removed works are licensed in several languages, particularly English. However, users reported that the notifications also affected unlicensed titles, which increased the impact among the platform's audience.
The removal affected content in several languages, but administrators promised to restore bookmarks and chapter listings once the technical feature is back up and running. In the meantime, users will have to wait to see the full list of removed titles.
Statement attempts to clarify users
A moderator on the official MangaDex forum clarified that the measure is not related to the platform's new policy on abusive profiteering by translation groups. The companies sent formal notices, and the platform removed the chapters.
He noted that this was the first time MangaDex had faced a takedown of this magnitude. However, previously, requests were typically one-off, typically coming directly from authors or from the platform Naver, known for its strict enforcement actions.
The platform's new rules were recently released. They prohibit groups from promoting paid content and restrict the use of external platforms with official or unauthorized third-party material. The goal is to prevent abuse and maintain the site as an open, free, and sustainable space.
Repercussion continues after the closure of Reaper Scans
Shortly after Kakao Entertainment issued a cease and desist notice, Reaper Scans ceased operations, and publishers subsequently targeted MangaDex with new actions.
According to data from Similarweb, Reaper Scans has had 36 million hits in the last three months. In the same period, MangaDex registered 188.5 million hits, with almost 69 million in April alone.
The impact of the content removal promises to be even greater than that seen with the closure of Reaper Scans. MangaDex users express concern about continued access to unlicensed titles, while publishers strengthen the legal protection of their works.
