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

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May, June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Two Texas Bills Restricting Sex Toy Sales Fail to Pass

Two bills aimed at restricting sales of sex toys have failed to pass the Texas state legislature during its 2025 session.

NYC Adult Stores Petition for Rehearing in Zoning Law Case

A group of adult businesses on Tuesday petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit to rehear a case involving a zoning law that could severely limit adult stores’ operations in New York City.

Ofcom Releases Transparency Reporting Guidelines

Ofcom, the U.K. media regulator, has made public its official guidance detailing how online service providers — including adult sites — will be required to publish annual transparency reports on their efforts to protect children from online harms.

New AV Rules Take Effect for Ireland-Based Sites

Ireland’s Online Safety Code came into force Monday, including a provision requiring adult sites headquartered in Ireland to implement age assurance measures beyond self-declaration.

XBIZ Amsterdam Calls on New Startups for 'Spotlight' Program

XBIZ is pleased to announce that its new “Startup Spotlight” programming will make its European premiere at XBIZ Amsterdam 2025, set to take place Sept. 2-5 at the Jakarta Hotel Amsterdam.

Texas Resumes AV Lawsuit Against Aylo Following SCOTUS Decision

A district court judge in Texas has unfrozen the state’s $1.6 million lawsuit against Aylo for allegedly failing to comply with age verification requirements, Bloomberg Law is reporting.

JuicyAds Wins Trademark Infringement Case Against Fraudulent Domain

JuicyAds has won its World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) case against a website using a similar domain to impersonate the company's site and defraud customers.

Anissa Kate, Jordan Starr Top AEBN for Q2 of 2025

AEBN has published its top-selling stars for the second quarter of 2025, with Anissa Kate landing atop the leaderboard for straight theaters and Jordan Starr heading up the gay rankings.

AEBN Reveals Eva Maxim as Top Trans Star for Q2 of 2025

AEBN has published its top trans stars list for the second quarter of 2025, with Eva Maxim landing atop the leaderboard.

Show More