Japan-Based Will Co. Sues Avgle.com for Copyright Infringement

Japan-Based Will Co. Sues Avgle.com for Copyright Infringement

WASHINGTON — Japan-based adult entertainment company Will Co., Ltd. has filed a lawsuit against Avgle.com and its operators for infringing on 50 of its U.S.-registered copyrights.

Will’s brands and trademarks include S1, Moodyz, Wanz Factory and Idea Pocket, and a rep described their product as “exploring and delivering sensuality and sexuality through artistic photography, video and erotic stories” since 2016.

Will’s video library comprises over 50,000 full-length adult movies, featuring over 5,000 models shot by over 300 photographer and directors.

Will’s complaint, filed in U.S. Federal Court in Washington, claims that Avgle.com operators ignored takedown notices, allowed anonymous uploads and have failed to implement a “repeat infringer” policy.

Avgle is a tube site focused on Asian content, with over 37 million visits a month, largely from Asia, according to SimilarWeb. Its name is a portmanteau of "AV" — the Japanese initials that denote "adult video" content — and "Google," whose logo Avgle seemingly imitated.

The complaint also accuses the website of placing a “a custom Avgle branded trailer at the beginning of videos uploaded” and “a custom Avgle branded watermark on the bottom right of the movie, implying an endorsement by or relationship with the actual content producer.” Will also alleges Avgle inserts “a clickable link, denoted by an Avgle logo, on the top right of Will’s movies unlawfully displayed on the Avgle Web Site [sic].”

An Unusual Lawsuit

This suit is unusual in that a Japan-based content producer is protecting their intellectual property in the United States. Will seeks damages of up to $150,000 for infringement of each of the 50 works, a total of $7.5 million. Will is further requesting that the court block U.S. users from accessing Avgle.com, and to embargo Avgle from being able to display Will content.

XBIZ spoke with Jason Tucker of copyright management firm Battleship Stance, which is advising Will Co. Tucker alleges that “Avgle operators chose to ignore takedown notices while making money from content they know that they do not have a license to use.”

Tucker claims Avgle has been ignoring other studios as well. “Will Co. was not the first to notice the piracy on Avgle,” he said, “but they are the first to take action. My own research shows that one of the Avgle operators may reside in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and if he is under the Chinese 'Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles' ordinance, an operator of a website featuring pornographic material could face jail time and significant fines or worse.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

FSC Publishes Analysis of Federal Trade Commission Event Promoting AV

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published an analysis of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) event held this week that promoted age verification among other forms of speech regulation.

GirlsDoPorn Owner Michael Pratt Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Michael Pratt, former owner of the rogue website GirlsDoPorn, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday to sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking charges, according to a report by City News Service.

Master Nico Relaunches Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Master Nico has relaunched his official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Federal Judge Grants Partial Halt of Florida AV Law

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, has granted a preliminary injunction against HB 3, the state's age verification law, as a lawsuit filed by two online trade associations challenging the law makes its way through the courts.

Aylo Releases Statement on Suspending Access to Pornhub in France

Technology and media company Aylo, which operates adult sites including Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube, has released a public statement regarding its decision to block access to its sites in France.

Pineapple Support to Host Wellness Sessions at Bucharest Summit

Pineapple Support is hosting free group and one-on-one therapy sessions at Bucharest Summit, June 3-5.

Pornhub Blocks Access in France in Response to SREN Law

Pornhub parent company Aylo has opted to block access to its sites in France rather than comply with age verification requirements under the country’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law.

ASACP Highlights Study on Parental Controls

The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) is highlighting the results of a study on the underutilization of parental controls.

Sydney Screams Launches New Site Through Grooby's Blue.xxx

Sydney Screams has launched her new membership site, SydneyScreams.xxx, through Grooby's website management company Blue.xxx.

Mistress Mystii Is LoyalFans' 'Featured Creator' for June

LoyalFans has named Mistress Mystii as its Featured Creator for June.

Show More