MangaDex Faces Massive DMCA Takedown: Over 700 Series Removed in Unprecedented Crackdown

In a dramatic shakeup within the online manga community, MangaDex—a major platform known for hosting unofficial scanlations—has been hit with an enormous wave of DMCA takedown notices. This sweeping legal action, initiated in mid-May 2025, resulted in the removal of more than 700 manga and manhwa series from the site, marking the largest single purge in MangaDex’s history and signaling an aggressive new phase in the global battle against piracy.

The takedowns weren’t random. They came as part of a coordinated effort from a powerhouse alliance of Japanese and Korean publishers, including industry titans like Kodansha, Square Enix, Naver, Kakao, and Webtoon. These companies jointly submitted legal notices targeting a wide array of popular series—both licensed and unlicensed. Among the affected titles were heavy hitters like One Piece, Solo Leveling, Bleach, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, My Dress-Up Darling, The Apothecary Diaries, and even timeless classics like Dragon Ball. For many fans, this came as a sudden and jarring blow, wiping out extensive libraries of accessible content overnight.

To make matters worse for digital manga enthusiasts, the legal action didn’t stop with the takedown demands on MangaDex itself. The same companies also submitted DMCA notices to Google, aiming to limit access by reducing the visibility of infringing material in search results. The goal is clear: publishers are intensifying their global crackdown on unauthorized manga distribution, with MangaDex caught directly in the crosshairs.

MangaDex, for its part, isn’t a stranger to legal friction. In 2019, the site faced a subpoena from VIZ Media, and it has long operated in a gray area by hosting fan-translated content while maintaining a no-profit, donation-based model. Still, this most recent enforcement marks uncharted territory. A forum moderator for the site admitted this is the first time such a wide-reaching takedown has occurred, emphasizing the sheer scale and coordination behind the current campaign.

Interestingly, the takedowns are unrelated to MangaDex’s recent internal policy changes. Earlier this year, the platform introduced stricter rules against profiting from pirated content—an effort to clean up its image and community. However, the publishers’ actions appear to stem more from broader international legal strategies than any specific behavior by MangaDex’s operators or users.

Despite the shockwaves, MangaDex is still standing. The site continues to function, upheld by unpaid volunteers, a strong global user base, and a commitment to accessibility. It offers extensive features such as advanced search filters, multilingual support, and personalized libraries—all without charging users or plastering the site with ads.

But the future of MangaDex remains uncertain. With legal pressure mounting and more publishers taking a hardline stance against piracy, further takedowns—or even a forced shutdown—could be looming. Meanwhile, the online manga community is left divided. Some fans argue that scanlations provide a necessary bridge to content otherwise inaccessible due to licensing delays or regional restrictions. Others acknowledge the legal realities and urge greater support for official channels to help creators receive proper compensation.

What’s clear is that this moment represents a turning point. As the industry evolves and global demand for manga and manhwa continues to rise, platforms like MangaDex find themselves in an increasingly tight legal and ethical bind. Whether this takedown spree becomes a death knell or a call for transformation remains to be seen.

But for now, fans will have to adjust to a world where some of their favorite titles may no longer be a click away.