‘One Piece’ Film Leak in Philippines Could End Anime Releases in South East Asia

• Pics and clips from new anime movie One Piece Stampede has been leaked online.
• The leak has eventually been traced from the Philippines.
• Now the official distributor of the movie is warning that the entire South East Asian region may no longer get theatrical releases for future anime movies if leaks continue to happen.

Anime fans in South East Asia are getting a serious warning after One Piece Stampede movie images and clips recently leaked online. ODEX Private Ltd immediately conducted an investigation on the matter and discovered that the leak were taken from a movie theater in the Philippines.

According to the company, which holds the license of anime movie releases in the region, copyright owners may eventually be forced to stop releasing new films in the area should such leaks continue to happen in the future.

Piracy continues to be a big problem in the entertainment industry.

In an open letter posted in their official Facebook page, ODEX shared how cinema ticket sales in South East Asia is “tiny” compared to bigger markets like Europe, USA, China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

As the company further pointed out:

“The actions of a few inconsiderate people who just want to show off that they are watching the movie could lead to dire consequences. Not only the perpetrator may land in jail or get fined, but the rest of us will see the end of anime movie releases in South East Asia.”

ODEX then encouraged the anime community to stop smartphone users from recording footages from the movie if they see people doing it in cinemas.

Meanwhile, several online reports are claiming that it was Filipino gamer and vlogger Akosi Dogie who allegedly uploaded clips from One Piece Stampede on his social media account. The streamer, however, defended that he did it in an effort to give the movie some free promotion to his followers, even defending that the recorded clips were part of the film’s trailer anyway.

Taking photos and videos in cinemas is an illegal act in the Philippines and if Toei Animation and the theater decide to sue the vlogger, he could be facing a fine of up to Php 750,000 (approximately US$14,000) and a 6-year-imprisonment.