A person working the anime pirate web site ZzzFun, which distributed Japanese anime and different copyrighted materials, was arrested by the Public Safety Bureau of Shijiazhuang in Hebei Province, China on Feb 11, 2025.
The authorized motion in opposition to ZzzFun was triggered by a felony grievance lodged in Might 2024 by CODA’s Beijing Workplace.
CODA acted on behalf of a coalition of 13 outstanding Japanese corporations, together with Aniplex Inc., KADOKAWA Company, King Data Co., Ltd., Kodansha Ltd., Shogakukan Inc., Sq. Enix Co., Ltd., TV Tokyo Company, Toei Animation Co., Ltd., Toho Co., Ltd., Nikkatsu Company, Happinet Phantom Studios Co., Ltd., Fuji Tv Community, Inc., and Pony Canyon Inc.
These corporations utilized CODA’s Rights Holders Inquiry Database, established in March 2023, to confirm the copyright infringement and to facilitate the preparation of the felony grievance.
The suspect, who’s from the Liaoning Province, had been working the ZzzFun web site (zzzfun.one) and its related Android cell software since 2022. This was revealed within the investigation which was initiated after a search of his house on Oct 15, 2024.
Interrogations revealed that he had illegally distributed roughly 1,800 episodes of Japanese anime with out correct authorization, amassing an estimated 330,000 yuan (roughly 7 million yen) in promoting income earlier than his apprehension.
The operator additionally directed customers from the web site to obtain the cell software.
This case highlighted a rising concern throughout the Japanese content material trade, the place piracy operations primarily based exterior Japan goal audiences in international international locations.
The Mental Property Technique Headquarters in Japan had recognized this pattern as a vital problem in its Mental Property Promotion Plan 2024, emphasizing the necessity for sturdy countermeasures.
CODA, established in 2002 by Japan’s Ministry of Economic system, Commerce, and Business (METI) and the Company for Cultural Affairs, performs an important function in combating piracy and selling the worldwide distribution of Japanese content material, encompassing anime, manga, music, movies, video games, and TV applications. The group works with varied businesses and firms to implement anti-piracy measures and public consciousness campaigns.
Supply: CODA
