Spoiler: from the English “to spoil”, advance revelation of crucial details, plots or endings of films, books or TV series, which eliminates the surprise effect for those who have not yet used the content. A behavior well known and unwelcome to all, which in Japan can even lead to prison. To combat the phenomenon, the Japanese judiciary has equated certain types of spoilers with actual copyright violations. For this reason, the Tokyo District Court decided to condemn 39-year-old Wataru Takeuchi, administrator of a portal specializing in previews, guilty of breaking the law that prohibits the creation of new works through creative modifications that retain the essential characteristics of the original. Takeuchi will have to serve 18 months in prison, as well as pay a fine of n million yen (equal to approximately 5,300 euros).
The case in Japan
The case arises from legal actions taken jointly by Toho and Kadokawa Shoten through the Coda organization, following the publication of detailed descriptions regarding the film Godzilla Minus One and the anime Overlord. According to what emerged from the proceedings, the site managed by Takeuchi was not limited to film news or criticism, but hosted large portions of transcribed dialogues and a vast repertoire of images. This operating method prompted the Content Overseas Distribution Association to intervene, underlining how the extremely detailed nature of the posts constituted a truly unauthorized adaptation. The argument accepted by the judges highlights that such publications are capable of causing significant economic damage to rights holders, since the completeness of the information provided could dissuade potential viewers from purchasing a ticket or watching on official channels.
Spoilers and copyright infringement
The Coda organization reiterated that, although press freedom and fair use allow journalists to use portions of protected material, the systematic extraction of text and content from films represents a serious crime. The distinction between classic digital piracy and spoiler sites therefore becomes more subtle on a legal level: even if the video files are not directly uploaded, the complete reproduction of the narrative experience through the text constitutes a violation that goes beyond the confines of the right to report. This ruling marks a turning point in the management of online content, classifying so-called “spoiler sites” as a direct threat to the sustainability of the entertainment industry.