NTT to Block Pirate Manga, Anime Websites

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)--Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. <9432> said Monday that it will block access to websites where manga and animations are illegally uploaded, following a government request for such voluntary moves. Three group companies--NTT Communications Corp., NTT Docomo Inc. <9437> and NTT Plala Inc.--will begin to block three major pirate websites named by the government, as soon as they are ready, according to the announcement. The NTT group's decision is expected to encourage other Internet service providers to follow suit. On April 13, the government called for the voluntary blocking of pirate manga and anime websites including "Mangamura," "AniTube!" and "MioMio," as an emergency measure until a planned bill on manga and anime content protection is enacted. The government aims to submit the bill during an ordinary parliamentary session next year. Meanwhile, there is controversy about website blocking, which requires work to confirm where Internet users are trying to access. Japan's constitution guarantees secrecy in communications. END