The case is moving toward a formal criminal trial after initial evidence gathering and prosecutions.

Korean webtoon rights holders—including Naver Webtoon, Kakao Entertainment, Lezhin, Ridi, Kidari Studio, Toomics, Topco Media, and the COA—collaborated with Spanish authorities to shut down TuMangaOnline and related sites serving Spain and Latin America.

Lee Ho-jun, head of Kakao Entertainment’s legal affairs, emphasizes ongoing private-sector leadership and public-private cooperation to defend copyrights domestically and abroad.

Since adopting a global simultaneous release policy, paid transactions for works have risen by as much as 200% versus pre-policy levels.

Spanish judicial authorities led the action, marking the first time overseas-based webtoon rights holders pursued enforcement under local law with tangible results.

A Spanish court ordered the closure of one of the largest illegal webtoon sites in the Spanish-speaking world, a milestone for cross-border copyright enforcement.

Kakao Entertainment, as COA chair, has established an organization to address global illegal distribution and coordinate a systematic copyright-enforcement response.

Naver Webtoon plans to keep strengthening global creator protections in collaboration with the COA and domestic partners.

Naver Webtoon is deploying ToonRadar, an AI-based system to block illegal copies and delay leaks, while pursuing a global simultaneous serialization strategy to minimize piracy windows.

The anti-piracy push includes expanding measures like ToonRadar and continuing a global serialization approach to shorten release gaps and deter infringement.

Operators were identified through internal investigations, with COA coordinating with local agencies and courts; a search and seizure led to the site’s closure.

The case is advancing toward a formal criminal trial, with authorities having gathered evidence and initiated prosecution, described by rights holders as a landmark in cross-border enforcement.