Piracy: Japanese 'Detailed Spoilers' Website Referred to Prosecutors Over Copyright Infringement
A company operating a website that provided detailed spoilers and images of films has been referred to the Sendai District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of violating the Copyright Act. Five individuals, including the company manager, were also referred following an investigation by the Miyagi Prefectural Police Headquarters and the Minamisanriku Police Station. The website reportedly listed over 8,000 films, describing character names, lines, actions, and scenes. Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) noted that such sites are malicious, as they allow visitors to understand the full story of a movie, reducing their willingness to pay for official content. This case is considered extremely rare, as there are very few precedents for a corporation being referred to the prosecutor’s office on suspicion of violating the Copyright Act.
