中國一名經營盜版動漫網站「櫻花動漫」（imomoe.ai）的男子，近日正式被判刑，此案引發輿論高度關注。該網站長年提供大量未經授權的動畫作品，在未取得原權利方許可的情況下，上傳超過2100部動畫、合計約3萬集，嚴重侵犯著作權。

事件起源於數年前，該男子開始創建並持續經營「櫻花動漫」，憑藉龐大的免費資源迅速吸引大量用戶。但自2018年9月18日起，已有兩家中國大型視頻平台多次發現其侵權行為，並數度要求其刪除相關內容。然而該男子完全置之不理。兩家平台遂向行政主管機關提出三次行政處罰申請，相關單位雖有採取應對措施，但該男子仍持續營運，且為規避追查，多次更換網站域名，試圖逃避法律責任。

終於在2021年8月，兩家公司向公安機關提出刑事訴訟。2023年10月14日，成都市公安局將該男子逮捕歸案。2024年12月13日，成都市天府新區人民法院作出一審判決，依「侵犯著作權罪」判處有期徒刑兩年，並處罰金人民幣一萬元；另以「偽造文書罪」判處有期徒刑七個月，並處罰金人民幣五千元。合併執行刑期兩年三個月，罰金共計人民幣一萬五千元。該男子不服判決提出上訴，但於2025年7月4日，成都市中級人民法院駁回上訴，維持原判，判決正式生效。

此案具有高度象徵意義，不僅代表中國對網路盜版行為的嚴厲打擊，更突顯出即使經歷多次行政警告與處罰，若經營者執意違法營運，最終仍將面臨刑事制裁。櫻花動漫的結束，也為中國網路盜版動漫網站敲響警鐘。

A man in China who operated the pirated anime streaming website “Sakura Anime” (樱花动漫／imomoe.ai) has been arrested and sentenced to prison. The individual first began building and running the site several years ago, uploading over 2,100 unauthorized animation titles—amounting to roughly 30,000 episodes—without permission.

Two major Chinese video streaming platforms discovered the copyright infringement, and beginning on September 18, 2018, repeatedly requested that the site operator remove the infringing content. Those requests were ignored. The platforms then filed three petitions with administrative authorities to take action. Despite follow‑up measures taken by the relevant government agencies, the operator continued running the site, even resorting to multiple domain name changes to evade detection.

By August 2021, the two platforms took the case to the police. On October 14, 2023, local authorities in Chengdu formally arrested the website operator. After a trial, on December 13, 2024, the Tianfu New Area People’s Court in Chengdu issued its first-instance judgment: the defendant was convicted of copyright infringement, receiving a sentence of two years in prison and a fine of 10,000 RMB; additionally, he was convicted of forging documents, receiving a sentence of 7 months in prison and a fine of 5,000 RMB. The court ordered these sentences to be served concurrently, for a total imprisonment term of 2 years and 3 months, and a combined fine of 15,000 RMB.

The defendant appealed the verdict. However, on July 4, 2025, the Chengdu Intermediate People’s Court rendered its second-instance judgment, upholding the original conviction and sentence. The guilty verdict is now final and legally binding.

This case stands as a notable example of China’s intensified enforcement against online piracy, demonstrating that operators who persistently infringe on copyright—even after multiple warnings and administrative interventions—can face severe criminal liability.