Results of the Survey on Losses from Online Piracy of Japan-Origin Content Compiled

1. Losses from online piracy

METI estimated the total amount of losses from online piracy of Japan-origin content provided online, based on consumer surveys conducted in Japan, China, Vietnam, France, the United States, and Brazil in 2025. The losses from online piracy of digital content expanded approximately threefold, from 2.0 trillion yen¹ in the 2022 survey to 5.7 trillion yen² in 2025. It also launched a survey on losses from online piracy of counterfeit character goods this fiscal year, the results of which estimated losses of 4.7 trillion yen in 2025.

Note: This is a comparison of losses for 2022 and 2025, both estimated based on coefficients derived from consumer survey results.

1. Found using a survey-based estimation method from among those used in the 2022 survey.
2. Found using the user-based estimation method applied in the 2025 survey (the same method as in the 2022 survey).

2. Cause analysis

The losses derived from online piracy of digital content have increased despite the decrease in the number of pirated copies consumed per person. This is attributed to changes in exchange rates and prices, increases in the number of users of pirated content and the internet-connected population, and the accelerated global penetration of Japan-origin content.

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3. Strengthening measures against online piracy

METI will enhance its initiatives to curb the increase in the number of users of pirated content. To this end, it will take actions such as establishing new bases to enable collaboration with local authorities overseas, strengthening litigation frameworks, improving measures against rights infringements involving generative AI and counterfeit character goods, and developing a database of rights ownership to help accelerate litigation and other countermeasures.

However, as long as there is consumer demand for Japan-origin content, new pirated versions will emerge. Therefore, METI will launch support for the expansion of international distribution and delivery platforms that primarily handle Japan-origin content, with the aim of steering consumers of pirated content toward legitimate versions. (Refer to the Related Material for details.)

Related Material (in Japanese)

• Overview of the Incentive for Content Industry Growth Investment(PDF:1,188KB)

Related Link

• Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) News Release

Division in Charge

Culture & Creative Industries Division, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group