It's been a while since we heard arrests over customized figures. On May 30th, a man was arrested by the Chiba Prefecture Police over nude and customized One Piece anime female figures.
Yuichi Inamura, a 33-year old man from Tokyo, arrested and searched on suspicion of violating Japan's Copyright Act by selling unauthorized, custom figures.He sold three Nami figures on auction sites without first acquiring permission from Toei Animation, and allegedly earned over 40,000 yen in February through March. Over 50 One Piece figures were seized when the police raided his home.
Called by fans as "ma-kaizoku figures," are modified official merchandises to enhance their erotic appeal, or in other manners not necessarily approved by the original creators.
Inamura denies the charges, saying “I obtained permission to sell them from the makers in China. I thought they were official products.”
Source: Yomiuri Shimbun via Anime News Network
