Key Facts
• November 21, 2025: Minister Onoda addressed manga piracy in a press conference.
• Tokyo District Court ordered Cloudflare to pay $50 million for aiding piracy.
• Four publishers, including Kodansha and Shueisha, filed the lawsuit.
• Court ruled Cloudflare facilitated copyright and publication rights violations.
• Minister Onoda emphasized the importance of protecting Japan’s intellectual property.
• Government has been monitoring misuse of CDN services by piracy sites.
• Measures include collaboration between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Cabinet Office.
• Investigations into international regulations and Cloudflare’s compliance are ongoing.
• Onoda pledged continued efforts to prevent intellectual property exploitation.
Summary
Japan’s Economic Security Minister, Norimi Onoda, highlighted the critical need to combat manga piracy during a press conference on November 21, 2025. This follows a Tokyo District Court ruling ordering U.S.-based Cloudflare to pay $50 million in damages for aiding piracy of four manga titles. The lawsuit was filed by major publishers, including Kodansha and Shueisha, citing copyright and publication rights violations. Onoda condemned the unjust exploitation of Japan’s intellectual property and stressed the government’s ongoing efforts to address the misuse of CDN services by piracy sites. Collaborative measures with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Cabinet Office, as well as investigations into international practices, aim to strengthen regulations and ensure compliance. Onoda reaffirmed her commitment to protecting intellectual property and exploring further preventive actions.
