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CODA reported on January 29, 2026, that BATO.TO and about 60 related sites had been shut down, with all closures confirmed by January 19. The case followed a criminal complaint by Japanese publishers and China Literature. A suspect was detained in China on suspicion of copyright infringement, later released on bail, and was expected to be formally indicted. CODA’s announcement describes an ongoing investigation, not a conviction.
What happened to BATO.TO?
According to the CODA announcement, Shanghai Public Security Bureau officers searched a man’s residence in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on November 19, 2025. Authorities seized computers and investigated server data and the operation of a network accused of distributing manga and other comics without authorization through BATO.TO and related sites.
CODA says the suspect admitted operating the network. The sites did not necessarily go offline immediately after the search: they temporarily continued operating for evidence preservation. Related parties later announced the shutdown on social media, and CODA confirmed that all approximately 60 sites were closed by January 19, 2026.
Why were the sites shut down?
The case concerned alleged unauthorized distribution of copyrighted comics. CODA says it acted after requests from KADOKAWA, Kodansha, Shueisha, Shogakukan, and Square Enix. On September 25, 2025, CODA’s Beijing office filed a criminal complaint with Chinese public security authorities on the publishers’ behalf.
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CODA also sought cooperation from China Literature Limited, which confirmed that its comics had been distributed on BATO.TO without authorization and filed a complaint in coordination with CODA. CODA describes using open-source intelligence and cybersecurity expertise to investigate the site and identify its operator, with help from a Chinese investigative firm after the use of Chinese services was identified.
What was on BATO.TO?
CODA describes BATO.TO as a user-submitted piracy site launched in 2014, with the suspect playing a central role from at least 2018. The site carried Japanese, Korean, and Chinese manga translated into more than 50 languages. CODA says titles from the five Japanese publishers that requested prosecution included more than 1,000 works available on BATO.TO.
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CODA defines scanlation as scanning manga, removing its original text, adding translated text, and distributing the resulting work online. The allegation in this case is unauthorized distribution; the announcement does not establish a court judgment.
How large was the network?
The figures below are those reported by CODA on January 29, 2026. They describe the scale of the sites, but they are not all measurements of the same kind.
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| Figure | What it refers to |
|---|---|
| About 60 sites | CODA’s count of the network’s sites; examples include xbato.com and mangapark.io. |
| More than 50 languages | Languages into which the manga was reportedly translated and distributed. |
| 350 million visits in May 2025 | Combined visits to the 60 sites, citing SimilarWeb. |
| About 7.2 billion visits | Combined visits from October 2022 through October 2025, according to CODA. |
| More than 400,000 RMB in a peak month | Advertising income attributed to the suspect’s statements; CODA did not present it as an independently audited total. |
| About 770 billion yen in estimated economic impact | CODA’s model, applying an estimated value of 107 yen per manga view to the 7.2 billion-visit figure. This is not a court finding or measured damages award. |
What is known about the suspect’s legal status?
CODA reported that the suspect was detained on suspicion of copyright infringement and later released on bail. At the time of its January 29, 2026 announcement, CODA said a formal indictment was expected. The announcement does not report a conviction or establish the ultimate court outcome.
Did the shutdown affect licensed manga sales?
CODA reported that MangaPlaza told it daily sales approximately doubled immediately after the closures. That is a short-term change reported by one company, not proof that the shutdown caused a lasting increase in licensed sales or reduced piracy more broadly.
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For readers seeking a legal way to read manga, the relevant practical checks are whether a service offers the titles and language they want in their territory, when it releases them, and what it costs. CODA’s announcement does not establish current catalogs, availability, or terms for any service.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How CODA characterized the enforcement action
Takero Goto, CODA’s representative director, said: “The closure of the world’s largest manga piracy site through criminal enforcement is highly significant for cross-border anti-piracy efforts. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Chinese authorities, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and all others involved who devoted their efforts to this case.” This is CODA’s characterization of the enforcement action, not a court’s legal finding.
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The Verge independently summarized CODA’s report on January 30, 2026, but the available reporting does not establish the suspect’s later court outcome. Any account of that outcome would require a subsequent official court or authority source.
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