Yes, It’s True: One Piece Did Accidentally Release Its Next Chapter Early But There’s a Small Catch

This week, days before its official publication date, Shueisha’s Shōnen Jump inadvertently released a digital version of One Piece Chapter #1135. This highly anticipated chapter, expected to delve deeper into the Straw Hats’ exploration of Elbaph, was prematurely accessible. However, for any fans wanting a legal early glimpse, they’ll need to be able to read French.

The early release of the One Piece chapter was quite unusual. It didn’t happen on the Viz Media website — the platform that provides access to the series in North America. Instead, the release occurred on Shueisha’s Manga Plus website, which offers One Piece to most regions outside of North America. Interestingly, this early release came with a French-language translation of the chapter. While fans around the world have been treated to an early New Year’s gift from Shōnen Jump, understanding French is essential to fully appreciate the chapter, as One Piece is a series where the text is just as important as the artwork.

The Early Release Of The One Peace Chapter The Difficulties Of Content Control In An information Society

It’s No Easy Job To Manage Shōnen Jump’s Global Ops

While Shōnen Jump vigorously combats the unauthorized early release of manga chapters by “pirates,” in an ironic twist to its efforts in this space, the mainstream manga publisher, and renowned anti-piracy activist, finds itself in the uncomfortable position of potentially aiding and abetting the very same pirates it so vehemently fights to shut down. Naturally, the early release of the One Piece chapter is somewhat embarrassing for Shōnen Jump, especially given its strong stance against early releases through manga piracy.

As one of the most vocal critics of the unauthorized early distribution of its intellectual property, Shōnen Jump has frequently argued that such releases can undermine the hard work of creators — the true lifeblood of the industry. In this case, although the early One Piece release wasn’t the result of piracy, it will inevitably lead to pirated versions of the chapter. With free access to the French-language edition, pirates can easily translate it into other languages and distribute it without authorization, days before the chapter’s official release in early January 2025. In a sense, Shōnen Jump has left the keys in the car.

The Mistakenly Early One Piece Release May Haunt Shōnen Jump For Awhile

The modern manga industry presents a fascinating paradox regarding content control, particularly for publishers like Shōnen Jump. While digital distribution offers enhanced security through encryption and digital rights management (DRM) systems, it simultaneously creates new vulnerabilities. Digital watermarks and AI-powered tracking tools help publishers trace unauthorized copies more effectively, yet the digital format itself makes content inherently more susceptible to widespread distribution once security measures are breached. This dual nature of digital publishing creates a complex landscape where publishers must constantly balance accessibility with protection.

On the other hand, the complex global systems that Shōnen Jump and other publishers put in place to block unauthorized access can, as in this case, sometimes lead to problems — such as scheduling errors, mismanagement of digital platforms, and time zone miscalculations. These issues complicate anti-piracy efforts, as once a chapter is made public, it is nearly impossible to stop it from spreading. While this particular case can certainly be classified as an inadvertent mistake, it nonetheless underscores the challenges Shōnen Jump faces in managing a massive global publication operation in the digital age.

Source: Manga Plus