Calculated by IP — Japanese hentai producers got angry at pirates

Japanese Adult Video Studios Target Illegal Downloaders on P2P Networks

Japanese adult film companies have begun aggressively tracking down users who share and download their content illegally through P2P networks. These studios are deploying specialized monitoring software on BitTorrent that captures the IP addresses of individuals distributing and downloading copyrighted videos. Armed with this data, rights holders then petition courts to compel disclosure of the infringers' personal information.

In effect, the companies are participating in the very same torrent networks, monitoring the seeds and peers active on them.

Japanese courts have shown a consistent willingness to support rights holders in recent years. Under current law, internet service providers must surrender the real names and home addresses of subscribers identified through this surveillance. Once an individual is identified, they receive a formal pre-litigation notice demanding payment of substantial compensation — typically around 500,000 yen (approximately 270,000 rubles) per detected file — with the explicit threat of a lawsuit and potential criminal charges if they refuse.

Legal professionals recommend that those targeted by such claims seek immediate legal representation rather than ignoring the situation. Through negotiation, it is often possible to lower the penalty amount. Nevertheless, the problem continues to expand: court orders for unmasking users have increased severalfold in recent months, and the entire collection process is becoming an increasingly lucrative operation for the studios involved.