MissAV Operators Ordered to Pay $4.5 Million in Damages
MissAV, one of Asia’s leading adult streaming platforms, has suffered a major legal blow. A U.S. federal court recently ruled that its operators must pay $4.5 million in damages for copyright infringement. This ruling follows the seizure of several of MissAV’s domain names, including MissAV.com, in a case that represents a significant victory for anti-piracy efforts in the adult entertainment industry.
MissAV Lawsuit
The lawsuit, filed by Will Co. Ltd., a Japanese adult content producer, accused MissAV of hosting and distributing copyrighted material without permission. The U.S. court sided with Will Co., granting the company control of several key domains, including MissAV.com and ThisAV.com.
- Court Ruling: The court awarded $4.5 million in damages for 300 instances of copyright infringement. Additionally, the seized domains now redirect to seizure banners, warning visitors about the legal risks of pirated content.
- Global Precedent: The ruling sets a legal precedent, allowing copyright holders to use U.S. courts to target international piracy sites, bolstering global anti-piracy enforcement.
Jason Tucker, president of the anti-piracy firm Battleship Stance, praised the decision, stating that it sends a strong message to piracy operators that their actions will have serious consequences.
Why MissAV Was Targeted
MissAV quickly became one of the most visited adult websites worldwide, particularly popular in Japan for hosting uncensored Japanese Adult Videos (JAV). The site attracted over 300 million monthly visits and ranked among the top 60 websites globally. However, this massive traffic caught the attention of copyright holders, including FANZA and Will Co. Ltd..
- Pirated Content: MissAV’s business model relied heavily on distributing copyrighted JAV without authorization, which posed a direct threat to legitimate content producers.
- Legal Action: In response, Will Co. Ltd. filed a lawsuit in the U.S., accusing the operators of MissAV of copyright infringement. Despite being linked to Hong Kong, the defendants failed to respond to the case, leading to a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff.

Court Ruling and Domain Seizures
The court ruled in favor of Will Co., ordering MissAV’s operators to pay $4.5 million for 300 counts of copyright infringement. The ruling also included the seizure of key domains such as MissAV.com and ThisAV.com.
- Domain Seizures: The seized domains now display legal notices, warning users of the potential consequences of accessing pirated content.
- Enforcement Across Borders: This ruling strengthens the ability of U.S. courts to target international piracy operations, creating a legal precedent for future anti-piracy actions.
MissAV’s Quick Recovery
Despite the ruling and domain seizures, MissAV quickly resumed operations under a new domain, MissAV.ws. The site made no reference to the legal action and continued to provide access to its content.
- Piracy Persistence: This swift recovery highlights the difficulty of permanently shutting down piracy platforms. Even with a court ruling in place, MissAV was able to quickly pivot and continue its operations, raising concerns about the long-term effectiveness of current anti-piracy measures.
- Ongoing Efforts: Anti-piracy firm Battleship Stance confirmed that further efforts are underway to target MissAV’s new domains, but this case underscores the challenges in combating piracy networks that are quick to adapt.
Important Takeaways
- Legal Consequences of Copyright Infringement: The $4.5 million damages award demonstrates the significant financial risks associated with hosting or distributing pirated content.
- Global Enforcement of U.S. Court Rulings: This case strengthens the ability of U.S. courts to tackle international piracy operations, marking a significant step forward in global copyright enforcement.
- Piracy Networks Are Hard to Dismantle: MissAV’s quick recovery to a new domain shows how difficult it is to fully shut down piracy platforms, even after legal victories.
- Ongoing Anti-Piracy Measures: The persistence of piracy sites like MissAV emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring and enforcement to prevent further infringements.
What’s Next?
The court ruling and domain seizures mark a critical milestone for anti-piracy authorities, but MissAV’s ability to quickly return to the web shows the ongoing challenges in eradicating piracy.
- Next Steps: Efforts to target MissAV’s new domain and other piracy operations will likely continue, as anti-piracy groups adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of online content piracy.
For more details on the case, check out the official court documentation and additional reports from industry sources like TorrentFreak.
Final Thoughts
What do you think about the MissAV situation? Is it possible to fully stop piracy in the adult entertainment industry, or will platforms like MissAV continue to adapt? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Stay informed on the latest news, trends, and legal battles in the streaming industry by following Advisor for weekly updates.