Naver Webtoon announced on Nov. 26 that it had successfully disrupted the operations of over 70 illegal overseas webtoon websites by issuing subpoenas through a U.S. court. This achievement follows the company’s landmark action last year, which resulted in the shutdown of more than 150 illegal sites, marking an industry first.
The subpoenas were issued under the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which allows copyright holders to request the personal information of individuals suspected of infringing intellectual property rights from service providers. These subpoenas can compel the release of key details, including physical addresses, email accounts, and payment information, enabling the identification and apprehension of operators behind illegal websites. Naver Webtoon stated that all relevant information collected is shared with law enforcement agencies to facilitate further action.
In this latest effort, subpoenas were directed at a major content delivery network (CDN) provider and two domain registration services. The company confirmed that approximately 70 illegal webtoon websites were either permanently removed or temporarily suspended as a result of these measures.
Traffic data provider Similarweb reported that, before these actions, the targeted websites collectively garnered over 1.3 billion visits annually.
Kim Kyu-nam, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of Naver Webtoon, emphasized the company’s resolve, stating, “We will continue an uncompromising fight against illegal webtoon and web novel sites worldwide, upholding a principle of zero tolerance. We remain committed to protecting the creative ecosystem through relentless efforts and investment.”
