MangaDex, a popular manga scanlation site based in the United States, removed around 7,000 manga titles on May 16, 2025, after receiving a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) Takedown notice. Big publishers like Shonen Jump demanded the removal of many popular titles.
What is a DMCA Takedown? “A DMCA Takedown is when content is removed from a website or internet platform at the request of the owner of the content.” This is taken from the DMCA Website.
What Prompted the MangaDex DMCA Takedown Notices?
Japanese and Korean publishers, including industry giants like Kodansha, Shogakukan, Square Enix, and Naver, initiated the takedown. These publishers issued coordinated DMCA notices targeting both licensed and unlicensed titles hosted on MangaDex.
The DMCA Takedown removed popular manga and manhwa series, including The Apothecary Diaries, My Dress-Up Darling, Jujutsu Kaisen, Solo Leveling, and Oshi no Ko. Some of these being on the best selling manga list of 2024.
It’s no surprise that free manga sites are starting to face takedowns, reading manga online without official licensing was always on borrowed time. It’s likely only a matter of time before other platforms get hit with DMCA notices too.
MangaDex’s Response
It took a while for Mangadex to come out with a statement. However they have now posted a FAQ, or Frequently Asked Questions, about the DMCA Takedown.
Mangadex clarified that it is not shutting down and they remain committed to its mission of providing access to manga and manhwa content.
To better manage the increasing volume of legal challenges, MangaDex has partnered with NamiComi, a manga and comics submission platform, which has taken over the site’s management and domain. This strategic move aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of MangaDex.
The platform also emphasized its stance against “excessive profiteering” by scanlation groups, reinforcing its commitment to a non-profit, community-driven model.
Community Impact
Unsurprisingly, the manga community had a lot to say. People were sad to lose access to series they can’t easily find elsewhere. This situation shows how tricky it is to get certain titles legally, especially outside of Japan or Korea. Sites like MangaDex have filled in the gaps for years, so losing this many titles hit hard.
Looking Ahead of the DMCA Takedown
MangaDex is doing its best to move forward while staying on the right side of copyright law. Their partnership with NamiComi and commitment to the longterm sustainability of Mangadex.
If you’re favourite manga isn’t on MangaDex anymore, you might have a hard time finding it.
Or maybe it’s a sign to read some less popular manga? Here’s a list of manga that shows you that more volumes doesn’t equal better.
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