The government is considering requesting that internet service providers block connections to pirating websites -- on which people can read popular manga, magazines, animation and other material for free -- aiming to prevent copyright violations, according to sources.
It will decide as early as Friday during a meeting of the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters and a separate ministerial meeting concerning measures against such crimes.
So far, providers and other entities have blocked internet access only to child pornography sites as a measure to "avert present danger" as stipulated under the Penal Code, after they receive tips from the National Police Agency and other organizations.
The government also plans to ask the advertising industry not to place any ads on such pirating websites, sources said.
Losses stemming from pirating websites are estimated to have come to about 320 billion yen from September last year to February, according to the Content Overseas Distribution Association.
"[Pirating websites] could shake the foundations of the content industry," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga at a press conference on Wednesday. "We will take action as soon as possible."
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