TOKYO, Japan—Will Co. Ltd., a leading Japanese adult entertainment producer, and anti-piracy firm Battleship Stance have secured a major legal victory by successfully shutting down some of the world’s most notorious piracy sites, including MissAV.com and ThisAV.com.
These sites, among the most high-trafficked pirate platforms globally, have been a primary source of pirated adult content, infringing on the intellectual property rights of creators.
In the outcome of the case, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington granted Will Co. Ltd.’s motion in its copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit.
The court awarded $4.5 million in damages, granted ownership of the domains, and affirmed the principles of specific personal jurisdiction in online copyright cases. These precedents, previously upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, provide new hope for creators fighting piracy.
“The seizure of these high-traffic pirate domains is a monumental step forward in our ongoing fight against piracy,” said Jason Tucker, president of Battleship Stance.
“This case reinforces the position of creators globally, showing that pirate operators risk losing their domains when they infringe on intellectual property. By securing the transfer of these sites, we are sending a clear message to pirate operators everywhere—they will be held accountable, and their illegal operations will be shut down.”
MissAV.com and ThisAV.com were among the most widely visited adult piracy websites, attracting millions of global visitors each month. These sites directly profited from pirating Will Co.’s copyrighted content, undermining the commercial value of the intellectual property.
The legal team behind Will Co. Ltd. was led by Spencer Freeman of the Freeman Law Firm and Eric Bjorgum of Karish and Bjorgum.
Their efforts ensured that the court recognized the strong connection between the defendants’ actions and U.S. consumers. They highlighted how these operators profited from U.S. audiences through targeted advertisements and fast website access.
“This case sets a precedent for the future enforcement of copyright laws, not only within the United States but across the globe,” said Spencer Freeman, lead counsel for Will Co. Ltd. “It underscores the importance of taking strong, cross-border legal action to protect intellectual property rights and prevent further harm caused by online piracy.”
Will Co. Ltd. remains fully committed to its continued efforts to combat piracy. Ongoing investigations have led to the identification of additional infringing sites, and legal action is underway to prevent the further spread of pirated content.
