The Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association (JBA) announced results from an investigation into the illegal uploading of 'cutout videos,' revealing that more than 15,000 such videos have been uploaded without permission from television stations or production companies. Conducting the study in November and December, JBA focused on 25 programs across major private network anime and variety shows, discovering that 300 accounts were responsible for these illegal uploads, which amassed approximately 111 billion views collectively.

The JBA estimates that advertisers generated around 3.2 billion yen in revenue from these illegal posts, as advertisements were played alongside the unauthorized videos, including ads from prominent, publicly traded companies. Furthermore, the investigation found 24,939 illegal uploads on TikTok, though these figures were noted as only part of a larger issue, suggesting that more extensive monitoring is necessary to grasp the full extent of the problem.

If left unchecked, these illegal uploads could negatively impact television viewing and the audience numbers for broadcasting companies and their streaming platforms like TVer. Consequently, the JBA urged social media users and companies to promptly remove unlawful content and called upon advertisers to address the matter, reinforcing their commitment to combat copyright infringement alongside the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications was stated as a significant part of ongoing efforts to regulate the digital advertising market.