Man Arrested for Selling Pirated Anime DVDs

A restaurant worker (34) was arrested on charge of possessing (on HDD) and selling (through his website) pirated anime DVDs. According to the story, ever since September 2005, the man has managed to sell pirated DVDs to over 300 people, and has made over 4,000,000 yen.

On 3/3/2006, the ACCS (Association of Copyright for Computer Software) issued a warning to the man. Soon afterwards the man closed his website. Later that month a new website "FUN" was opened, and the man continued to contact his customers through regular mail.

ACCS has confirmed that between 12/23/2005 to 3/30/2006, the man sold Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack and 14 other series to another person through his website, making a total of 9,500 yen (shipping fee included).

According to report, in September 2005 the man began selling pirated DVDs on Yahoo! Auctions, and introduced the customers to his own "DVD Club". Usually one DVD sold for 500 yen, and shipping ranges from 500 - 1000 yen, but if one buys over 10 DVDs, there will be a 500 yen discount.