Digital Piracy of Anime and Manga in India Is ‘Growing Trend’, Japanese Anti-Piracy Trade Group Visits Mumbai
Anime, manga, and other aspects of pop culture have gained massive popularity in India lately, leading to a surge in demand for related merchandise. However, this also means that unlicensed merchandise is proliferating in the country.
According to the 2023 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy by US Trade Representatives, as highlighted by IndianRetailer.com, three Indian markets in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru were singled out for their involvement in the sale of unlicensed, counterfeit, or copyright-infringing goods.
Jatin Varma, the founder of Comic Con India, explained to IndianRetailer.com that the success of various intellectual properties (IPs) in India is attributed to many small and medium enterprises investing in non-exclusive licensing deals, which has contributed to market growth.
Specifically, digital piracy of Japanese and Chinese anime and manga content is on the rise in India. Radhika Raje, international marketing manager at book publisher Pan Macmillan India, told the outlet, “I think piracy is prevalent not only in comics but also in books.” She further elaborated on their efforts to combat piracy, which include regular checks at local stores, but they face a “tremendous challenge” when it comes to online piracy.
Counterfeit manga, in particular, has become increasingly common in India. They are readily available on numerous online stores and Instagram pages, often at significantly lower prices compared to authentic volumes. For instance, while the authentic volume may be priced at ₹499, counterfeit versions are sold for as low as ₹199.
Raje highlighted the issue of vendors returning to sell pirated copies despite seizures by local agents, which shows a persistent challenge in combating piracy.
Content Overseas Distribution Association from Japan visits Mumbai
The Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), a Tokyo-based trade association promoting international distribution of Japanese content and combating its piracy, visited Mumbai during the Comic Con weekend from April 19 to 21.
A team of nine members from six member companies of CODA conducted a three-day site visit in Mumbai in collaboration with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), a Japanese government-related organisation aimed at promoting “mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world.”
During their visit, they observed that while there was “some legitimate content” being sold at Mumbai Comic Con, the amount was relatively small compared to the prevalence of what “appeared to be counterfeit” goods.
An exchange meeting with anime fans also took place, where discussions were held regarding the necessity for measures against pirate sites and counterfeit products. The team also visited the Mumbai offices of Crunchyroll and AnimationXpress to discuss various topics, including the current legitimate business landscape in India and strategies to address ongoing infringements in the country.
CODA has a history of tackling piracy websites for anime and manga, not just in Japan, but also in countries like Brazil and China in cooperation with their governments. While digital piracy is widespread in India, with numerous websites offering regional language-dubbed anime, it remains to be seen how the issue of counterfeit manga and merchandise will be resolved. Nonetheless, this is a positive step towards enhancing product availability and accessibility for consumers in the country.
Got any news tips, or want to discuss a possible story? Email us at ign_india@ign.com
Rayan Sayyed is a staff writer for IGN India with a primary focus on Asian entertainment spanning from anime, manga, games to films and dramas from the East. You can reach out to him at rayan_sayyed@ign.com, or find him on Twitter @rayanaver and Instagram @rayansayyed.
