Survey Reveals Piracy Has Detrimental Effect on Creators

“Piracy hurts creators.” This sentiment is nothing new and yet we still have to talk about it, because it’s still happening.

A survey was conducted between May 18 to 23 where creators were asked to complete a survey on how illegal distribution of manhwa–piracy–had an effect on their livelihoods. A total number of 164 responses were recorded, and the results were posted in a thread by @/kdigitalcreator in both Korean and English. Twenty questions were asked and ranged from questions about financial impacts, infringement on intellectual property, and whether creators considered leaving the industry due to piracy.

Some of the results were not surprising. Manhwa creators have been vocal about their abhorrence for those who read their works through illegal distribution sites. This survey seems to be specifically addressing overseas illegal users in its wording.

Some notable stats are listed below:

• 90.9% of respondents felt illegal users were infringers who denied creators’ creative rights and the value of their labor; 9.1% of respondents viewed them as potential customers/users simply not paying a fair price at present
• 72.6% of respondents noted they would feel strong psychological
  distance and discomfort when illegal users sent direct feedback on their works to them; 26.8% would feel offended
• 97.6% said piracy has had a direct hit on sales; 92.7% said piracy had an effect on their creative motion; 77.4% felt guilty to and exhausted for readers who read on official platforms; 62.8% felt piracy distorted the quality of their work and was a hit to their reputation
• More than the loss of income, 37.8% of respondents were more concerned that piracy was infringing on their IP; 32.3% said piracy inhibited their growth as a creator; 28.7% said piracy made it impossible to continue with their current and potential future works
• 80.5% of respondents felt that the free options on official platforms made it impossible to justify piracy due to “financial hardship”; 78.7% believed this was an excuse to take advantage of the creators’ labor for free; 43.3% of respondents were empathetic but adamant that this did not excuse “the destruction of the creative ecosystem”
• 65.2% of respondents felt increasingly demotivated; 18.9% have experienced severe stress symptoms; 8.5% have been diagnosed and treated for stress symptoms related to piracy
• 38.4% of respondents have considered leaving the industry at least once a year; 34.1% of respondents have continued working due to their “sense of calling as an author”; 12.8% have considered it frequently
• 67.1% of respondents believe that strong legal punishment is the only way to stop piracy
• 86.6% of respondents is concerned that the security threats of illegal websites will perpetuate a cycle of cybercrimes; 84.1% believe that the public should be widely informed that using illegal distribution sites can cause real hard to themselves
• 50.6% of respondents believe that the argument overseas users have that “illegal use is inevitable because there is no official translation” makes it impossible to expand overseas
• 57.3% of respondents say that piracy blocks “future official export opportunities and destroys the author’s long-term global asset value”
• 54.3% of respondents say the loss of legitimate revenue caused by illegal distribution far outweighs any promotional effect that illegal distribution sites overseas users claim to bring; 34.8% believe this is a clear rights infringement regardless of any promotional effect

Back in April, Newtokki, Manatokki, and Bamtokki, Korea’s largest illegal manhwa and webnovel distribution site, shut down suddenly. That day, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism announced the implementation of an emergency and access blocking system which will block sites that distribute illegal content that took effect on May 11.

In August, according to Anime News Network, the ministry in cooperation with Naver WEBTOON, INTERPOL, and law enforcement authorities in North Africa took down three English-language illegal distribution sites of manhwa.

Source: X, formerly known as Twitter