Akamatsu: "ad-supported distribution of manga is the only way to counter illegal distribution"

The author of Love Hina announced at a press conference this Monday  that the Japanese publishers Shueisha and Kodansha are collaborating with his manga distribution site, J-Comi.

J-Comi just launched as a beta version at the end of November with the release of Love Hina series on the 26th and so far it has registered more than 1.7 million downloads as of last Friday.

Akamatsu said at a press conference last Monday that "manga is an exportable resource. I think the ad-supported distribution of manga is the only way to counter illegal distribution."

Manga creator Ken Akamatsu to help combat digital piracy

The creator of Love Hina will launch a website called J-Comi, that will provide free access to DRM-free digital copies of out-of-print manga from a number of participating manga artists.

The downloads will be ad supported, and the revenue will be split among all of the participating artists. Akamatsu cites one of the reasons for the development of the distribution platform as a means to combat unauthorized digital manga distribution.

A beta version of the site will be launched on this friday November 26, starting with the 14 volumes of Akamatsu’s Love Hina manga. The site will formally launch on January 10, 2011.