Unauthorized Footage and Anime Stills Released on X/Twitter

A number of entertainment companies, including Aniplex and TOHO, successfully filed for an information disclosure order in U.S. courts for the identities of the owners of alleged leak accounts on August 20. The courts formally served the order on August 30. The companies filed for the order after unauthorized leaks of videos and stills from the critically acclaimed anime series, Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen, on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The companies involved in the court case are members of Japan’s Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), which is assisting in the legal proceedings for this case. CODA also reported that it has received similar requests for other anime series and will be working actively to gather information and seek legal action against similar accounts.

This marks the first time a U.S. court has issued a discovery order in relation to anime leaks.

The news follows a large number of leaked episodes and footage in early August for anime including the new anime of Rumiko Takahashi’s Ranma 1/2 manga, the television anime of Yukinobu Tatsu’s DAN DA DAN manga, as well as the Gekijōban Mononoke: Karakasa anime film, among other titles, on public websites and piracy sites.

Major streaming platforms such as Netflix, Crunchyroll, and global entertainment technology and localization company Iyuno have announced plans to investigate and remove the unauthorized material, as well as seek action against the leakers.

Crunchyroll also suffered leaks of episodes from the spring season of anime in early April.

Sources: CODA, Anime! Anime!