After disregarding complaints from a newly established manga platform in Russia, manga piracy giant ReManga is now on the brink of legal repercussions. Despite its immense popularity, with approximately 18 million monthly visits, ReManga’s infringement of copyright may soon catch up with it. However, the threat of legal action isn’t the only concern for ReManga and similar platforms. The escalating state censorship trend poses another significant risk, with both illicit and legitimate platforms potentially facing ISP blocking measures. As the landscape of online content distribution continues to evolve, platforms operating outside legal boundaries face increasingly dire consequences.
Five years ago, Russia witnessed a landmark collaboration among its tech and entertainment giants, culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation. This historic agreement birthed a centralized database dedicated to combating piracy, with internet companies committing to regular queries and removal of illicit content from their platforms. While hailed as a success by some, the initiative left certain sectors, such as book publishers and music companies, on the sidelines, clamoring for equivalent protection.
Recently, Deputy Head of Roskomnadzor, Vadim Subbotin, announced a pivotal change. Book publishers and music companies are now welcomed into the fold, marking a significant step forward in copyright protection efforts. The move aims to streamline the removal process of pirated links from search results, which currently takes between 15 to 20 minutes per link, with over 100 million already removed.
However, amidst the evolving landscape of copyright enforcement, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reshaped discussions. Hollywood’s reluctance to release entertainment products in the region has shifted focus away from enforcement measures. Yet, amidst this chaos, a surprising trend has emerged – a surge in the consumption of Asian comics, particularly from Japan, South Korea, and China. This presents a unique opportunity for South Korean manga producers to thrive in Russia, provided they can circumvent competition from pirates.
Enter My Comics, a manga platform launched by South Korean company MStoryLink, poised to challenge piracy head-on. Backed by the South Korean Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), My Comics is gearing up to take legal action against ReManga, a major pirate site catering to the Russian market. Despite acknowledging piracy as a natural phase in market evolution, KOCCA emphasizes the critical role of intellectual property protection in fostering industry growth.
However, navigating Russia’s legal landscape is no easy feat. Recent legislative amendments, including bans on “LGBT propaganda,” have resulted in the permanent blocking of manga sites deemed non-compliant. Even legitimate platforms like the Russian anime encyclopedia ‘Shikimori’ have fallen victim to censorship. Yet, amidst these challenges, My Comics and KOCCA remain undeterred, prioritizing the fight against piracy to cultivate a thriving manga market in Russia, despite the looming threats of state censorship and legal ambiguity.
