US Court Approves Request to Unveil Identities of Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer Anime Leakers

On Monday, September 16, 2024, numerous entertainment companies within the anime industry effectively filed an information disclosure concerning the Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer anime leakers. TOHO, Aniplex, and several others successfully initiated this legal action in a United States court on August 20, 2024, with the court order being officially served on August 30.

The companies opted to pursue this legal route due to the unauthorized leaks of videos and still images from the Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer anime series on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter). Notably, this is the first instance where a United States court has issued a discovery order related to anime leaks. This development closely follows a significant leak from Netflix and Crunchyroll involving various series, including Dandadan, Re:ZERO, and others.

Identities of Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer Anime Leakers to be Revealed for Legal Proceedings

The companies participating in the legal action regarding the Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer anime leaks are affiliated with Japan’s Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA). Founded in 2002, this trade association focuses on the international distribution of Japanese content while implementing strategies and countermeasures against piracy. CODA has previously merged with two similar organizations to enhance its influence and effectiveness.

CODA also played a pivotal role in the ongoing legal processes and reported that it has received similar requests related to other anime series. The organization has confirmed its commitment to collaborating with those who filed the requests to compile information and pursue legal actions against comparable accounts. This indicates that more information disclosure order requests may be forthcoming for X accounts belonging to users based in the United States.

While it remains unclear what the subsequent steps against the Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer anime leakers will be at the time of this article’s publication, it is reasonable to anticipate that legal action will ensue. The revelation of their identities for this purpose all but confirms that a trial or some form of legal proceeding is likely to occur, despite the possibility of a settlement being reached outside of court.

As highlighted earlier, this situation is especially crucial following a multitude of anime project leaks that transpired in early August. These leaks impacted the Netflix and Crunchyroll platforms and involved high-profile titles such as the new Ranma ½ remake anime, the Dandadan anime, the Mononoke film, and the Terminator Zero anime, among other animated and live-action projects.

Netflix confirmed that their leaks originated from one of their production partners shortly after the incidents occurred. Netflix, along with Crunchyroll and entertainment company Iyuno, announced their intent to investigate and eliminate the leaked content from the internet. They also stated that they would pursue legal action against the individuals responsible for the leaks.

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