An anti-piracy operation was carried out on December 4, 2024, as part of a project commissioned by Brazil’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) at the request of the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), a Japan-based anti-piracy advocate. This “knock-and-talk” (direct negotiation) initiative in Brazil was carried out by CODA, based on directives by three rights-holder companies: TOEI ANIMATION CO., LTD., TOHO CO., LTD., and Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc.
Among the websites confirmed to be closed is bakashi.tv, the third most accessed pirated Japanese anime website in Brazil, along with 14 affiliated websites. The average monthly traffic of these 15 sites was approximately 7.95 million visits from August–October 2024, according to measurement by Similarweb.
The infringing sites had been distributing Japanese anime content with Portuguese subtitles, tailored for Brazilian audiences. Geo-blocking measures had been implemented by the piracy operation to prevent access from Japanese IP addresses, which had the effect of hiding the infringement from Japanese rights holders.
The sites had long been identified as “overseas-originated and overseas-targeted” pirated websites of Japanese content, and generated revenue through advertisements.
CODA conducted direct negotiations with site operators, which resulted in the confirmed closure of 15 sites which successfully obtained voluntary domain submissions (transfers) for all 15 websites. Currently, access to these websites is either redirected to a page created by CODA notifying of their closure or completely restricted.
Fans of Japanese content, including manga and anime, worldwide are encouraged to enjoy content legitimately. This not only ensures the healthy functioning of the Japanese content ecosystem but also supports its further evolution and development. To this end, CODA remains committed to implementing effective measures for proper copyright protection, aiming to create a sustainable market where official content can reach fans internationally.
Further reading
Closure of 15 pirated Japanese anime Websites through knock-and-talk in Brazil. Press release. December 13, 2024. Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA)
Why it matters
In recent years, the rampant proliferation of pirated Japanese content websites has become a significant issue in Latin America. In this context, countermeasures against these pirated sites are indispensable for legitimate businesses to establish a healthy market for the distribution of official products.
