On August 20th, A US court has issued an order to reveal the information of users responsible for illegally leaking anime episodes before their official premiere.specifically from the popular series “Kimetsu no Yaiba”(Demon Slayer) and“Jujutsu Kaisen“This decision is a landmark as it is the first time a court in the US has taken such action in relation to Japanese anime.

The court order came after in June 2024, companies Aniplex Inc. and Toho Co., Ltd.both members of the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), will file a petition requesting the release of information about the accounts involved in the leak. CODA played a key role in gathering evidence and providing legal support for this application. The copyright for these series is in the hands of these companies, which has allowed them to move forward legally in the search for those responsible.

According to CODA, the leaks included previously unreleased videos and still images from the aforementioned series and were published on several Twitter accounts. These posts quickly gained popularity, racking up a large number of views. It is reported that a total of 12 Twitter accounts have been flagged by the court for sharing the content without authorization and without legal access to it since last year.

This is not the first time that illegal previews of this type have affected anime. CODA has received numerous complaints regarding leaks prior to the official release of other titles and is working with copyright holders to gather more information and take similar action in future cases. The disclosure of these users' information is just the first step in a broader plan of strict legal action against those who distribute content without authorization, thus seeking to impose exemplary sanctions that dissuade others from carrying out leaks.

Do leaks harm the viewer experience?

The impact of leaks on the anime industry is a topic of constant debate. On the one hand, the most loyal fans prefer to enjoy the content in its official format, supporting the creators and guaranteeing them the best quality viewing experience. On the other hand, leaks create an anticipated expectation that can harm the experience of watching the episodes at the scheduled time.

The viewer experience can be affected in a number of ways. First, Twitter leaks often include incomplete or low-quality material, which undermines how the final product was conceived. Furthermore, anyone who accesses this content in advance may end up being spoiled, depriving themselves of the surprise and impact that the creators seek to generate with each episode. In the case of popular series like “Kimetsu no Yaiba” and “Jujutsu Kaisen”, which are known for their exciting plots and twists, These leaks could ruin the collective fun when the official episode is finally released.

On the other hand, leaks affect anime studios and producers financially, as a large part of their revenue comes from audiences at official premieres and subscriptions to streaming platforms. If episodes are distributed for free in advance, the incentive to pay for content decreases, which negatively affects the funding of future productions.

In short, while some may see the leaks as an opportunity to see content before others on Twitter, the damage they do to the industry and the viewer experience is significant. Legal measures like those being taken now seek to protect creators and fansensuring that the anime can be enjoyed as it was intended, preserving the emotion and integrity of the content.

Source: Yomiuri Shimbun