Summary

Piracy websites focused on Asian content, and especially on anime, are recently suffering major blows, and one big website just stopped adding new content. Many fans watch anime likeOne Pieceon illegal websites, sometimes not aware they are watching pirated content (especially the younger audiences). Japanese companies, including publishers and studios, have been fighting against digital piracy for years. Many of them have been working with the Japanese government to shut piracy websites down.

The creation of CODA (Content Overseas Distribution Association), a Japanese association against piracy that includes major companies such as Shueisha, Aniplex, Avex, Kadokawa, Cygames, Shogakukan, Toei, Ghibli, TV Tokyo and many others, is part of those efforts. CODA’s efforts include collaborating with several countries to shut websites down. CODA later formed a coalition called the International Anti-Piracy Organization, that included major international players such as Disney, Paramount and Neflix. The Korean governmenthas also collaborated in efforts against piracy.

A few days ago,GoGo Anime, also known as Anitaku, stopped adding new content. So far, the website owners/operators have not commented on the issue. Something similar happened to FMovies (whose website chain included 9anime/AniWave) earlier this year. They stopped adding content and, some weeks later, shut the website down. It is possible the same will happen to GoGo Anime/Anitaku.

GoGo Anime and Anitaku not only have over hundred millions monthly visits, but their content is mirrored by several other anime piracy websites, so this freeze (and a potential shut down) is a huge blown to anime piracy, as it will affect many other websites.

Other Digital Piracy Websites Were Recently Affected

Both have been linked to Dramacool, an Asian entertainment piracy chain that is going through copyright pressure and shutting down many websites. And it’s not only then. AnimeFenix, a well-known anime piracy website for Spanish-speaking audiences, also shut down this week. In this case, operators left a note announcing the shut-down, where they also accuse Sony of forming an anime monopoly and also state companies have “more greed than heart”.

Companies, on the other hand, hope that these enforcement actions will drive fans to legal streaming platforms. Righthlders claim thatpiracy costs them billions of dollars per year.

Considering what has happened in the past, legal alternatives will likely cause an increase in their influx, but other piracy sites might also get a boost, as this issue is not so simple to resolve. The anime industry isnot the only one fighting against piracy, and this is an old issue that mighteven be involved in geopolitical issues.

What Might Have Been Going On

So far, it is unclear what is going on in GoGo Anime and Anitaku. Not only have operators not said a word, but no anti-piracy coalition/organization has claimed they were involved in the investigations. Considering operators are not even contacting Discord moderators, it is possible they might have been arrested, but no reports of recent anti-piracy operations resulting in arrests have reached international newspapers.

GoGo Anime and Anitaku operators have not made any announcement regarding a possible shut-down, but it seems likely the website froze due to an ongoing anti-piracy operation.