Since the internet exploded, the number of manga chapters and volumes uploaded online has increased dramatically. Now, manga and anime piracy is always at the center of Japanese laws in an attempt to curb the phenomenon that robs various publishers of many profits. In this connection Shueisha is always on guard.
The publisher of ONE PIECE, Naruto, Bleach, Dragon Ball and many other titles is one of the hardest hit in the industry thanks to the many manga with global appeal. That’s why she’s always the first to take action against pirate sites, often accompanied by Kodansha, Shogakukan, and others. This time though Shueisha is moving with Viz Mediaits US subsidiary, with some very specific pirate sites in mind.
According to the TorrentFreak website, Shueisha and Viz Media are making efforts to obtain “documents and statements for use in a foreign court proceeding.” That first destination is Manganeloa website that reportedly receives more than 24 million visits per month. The other side is Manganato instead, which even registered 180 million hits in March 2022, far more traffic than industry giants like The Pirate Bay and Fmovies combined. Shueisha’s purpose is to reduce traffic to pirate sites worldwide.
Toei Animation is also taking action against illegal uploads of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
