The website OPScans, which was known for illegally leaking unfinished manga chapters like One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen before their official release, has closed down.
Before shutting down, OPScans brought negative attention to competing piracy sites like TCBScans by publicly wishing them well and linking to their social media.
Given that OPScans and TCBScans have long been rivals in illegally distributing unreleased manga content, many people interpreted OPScans’ parting post as a backhanded revenge move against TCBScans.
Tagging TCB is nasty work bro 😭 pic.twitter.com/aa1ZucU3BK
— Samureye 💫 (@Sxmureye) February 6, 2024
Specifically, some think OPScans was trying to get TCBScans in trouble with the law by directly connecting them with manga piracy right as OPScans exited the scene.
TCBScans had apparently made fun of OPScans for shutting down recently, further fueling suspicions that OPScans’ final post was meant sarcastically to put a target on their competitor’s back.
The situation highlights the tensions and competition that exist in the underground world of illegally scanning, translating, and posting unreleased manga content online.
With OPScans now shuttered, sites like TCBScans will likely try to draw more users in but also face increased scrutiny.
Arrests of Leakers and Shutdown of Scanlation Sites Signal Firm Stance from Publishers
Their shutdown comes amid arrests of two foreign nationals in Japan who were distributing leaked copies of Weekly Shonen Jump issues containing unfinished manga chapters.
It’s speculated that these individuals had access to store shipments of the magazine several days before the official on-sale date, and were scanning the manga chapters and posting them online via sites like OPScans.
Their arrests were praised by major Japanese publishers Shueisha and Kodansha as an important action against piracy that harms manga creators and the industry.
In the aftermath of the arrests and crackdown, OPScans and several other major pirate scanlation sites distributing leaked Shonen Jump content have preemptively shut down.
This appears to be out of fear of potential legal action or pressure from publishers like Shueisha, which owns hugely popular serialized manga such as One Piece.
So while the arrests represent progress in curbing leaks of unreleased manga chapters, they also left a void that other piracy platforms may seek to fill.
It remains to be seen whether publishers can sustain anti-piracy efforts in the long run against determined scanlation groups and readers wanting early access.
But for now, the message is clear – leaking unfinished manga will not be tolerated.
How Fans Have Reacted To This Event
Many fans interpret OPScans’ parting post and call-out of TCBScans as an attempt to bring down their rival by drawing negative attention and legal heat.
Some see it as OPScans saying “If we’re going down due to the arrests and crackdowns, we’re taking you down too.”
There is speculation that OPScans could be trying to implicate TCBScans in crimes by directly linking them right as OPScans bows out.
Others simply see it as OPScans wanting joint destruction – “If we sink, you sink too!” Lots of fans are reveling in the pettiness and spite on display.
Accusations are flying that OPScans is threatening to snitch to the authorities about TCBScans’ past activities in revenge.
Many are also calling out OPScans for being shameless and petty with their parting shot. Fans are satirizing OPScans’ last post wishing TCBScans well in a seemingly sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek way.
Overall, fans are eating up the salt and bad blood between the notorious scanning rivals, with OPScans’ bitterness and attempt to damage TCBScans on their way out highlighting the drama-filled nature of the scanlation scene for enthusiastic observers.
The rivalry clearly goes beyond just competing in distributing leaked manga content.
Manga Publishers Escalate Anti-Piracy Efforts
The closure of manga piracy site OPScans comes as publishers crack down harder than ever on the illegal distribution of licensed content.
For example, the app Tachiyomi, which enables free access to scanlated manga, was forced to halt development recently after intense legal threats from South Korean webtoon giant Kakao.
Kakao also cooperated with police in December to take down a major unlicensed manga site.
However, some accused Kakao of exaggerating that site’s size in order to scare all piracy platforms. With the global manga industry exploding in popularity and profitability, these aggressive anti-piracy actions seem set to increase.
For instance, Kakao’s Piccoma manga app in Japan saw massive sales volume last year, highlighting the surging legitimate manga market.
As the stakes get higher, publishers like Shueisha and Kodansha will work harder to protect their intellectual property.
