<p><strong>"ABJ" stands for "Authorized Books of Japan".</strong></p>

<p>Citing from <a href="https://aebs.or.jp/ABJ_mark.html" rel="noreferrer">Association for E-Publishing Business Solution</a> (Japanese),</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The ABJ mark is a trademark indicating that this e-bookstore and e-book distribution service is an authorized distribution service that has been licensed for use by the copyright holder. The aim was to provide an environment where readers can read and subscribe with peace of mind, and to promote the development of a healthy content market.</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/gsKzy.png" alt="The ABJ mark"></p>
</blockquote>

<p>It means that the digital service provider (e.g. websites, apps) is officially authorized and has been given permission to use licensed works. Services that have this mark <em>always</em> mean that they are legal providers. However, services that do not have this mark does <em>not</em> mean that they are illegal (e.g. <a href="https://www.crunchyroll.com/comics/manga" rel="noreferrer">Crunchyroll Manga</a>) since there is a procedure needs to be done to get the mark.</p>

<p>Some supplementing quotes in English regarding the mark:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Manga Planet - <a href="https://support.mangaplanet.com/updates-on-system-improvement/" rel="noreferrer">Updates on System Improvement</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <ul>
  <li>Addition of the ABJ mark and short description to the footer</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>The ABJ mark is a trademark indicating that this e-bookstore and e-book distribution service is an authorized distribution service that has been licensed for use by the copyright holder.</p>
  
  <p>We will continue to release e-books with rights properly processed to contribute to the development of the manga market.</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>Beaglee Inc. - <a href="http://disclosure.ifis.co.jp/data/disclose/79/20190228/140120190228483804.pdf" rel="noreferrer">Non-Consolidated Financial Results
for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2018</a> (PDF):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Moreover, the Company has obtained permission to use the ABJ mark that signifies it provides full version services with permission for use of contents granted by the copyright holders.</p>
</blockquote></li>
</ul>

<p>The whitelisted services are listed on <a href="https://aebs.or.jp/pdf/ABJmark_Whitelist.pdf" rel="noreferrer">this PDF file</a> (updated irregularly). From left-to-right:</p>

<ul>
<li>Registration number</li>
<li>Service name</li>
<li>Operator (business company/person) - with the last updated date</li>
</ul>

<p>Example of English manga sites that have been registered:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://global.bookwalker.jp/" rel="noreferrer">BOOK☆WALKER Global Store</a>: ABJ 10291001</li>
<li><a href="https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/updates" rel="noreferrer">MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA</a>: ABJ 10921042</li>
<li><a href="https://read.mangaplanet.com/" rel="noreferrer">Manga Planet Library</a>: ABJ 11981000</li>
</ul>

<p>In summary:</p>

<ul>
<li>Has ABJ mark: always legal</li>
<li>Does not have ABJ mark: maybe legal, but most possibly illegal</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-25T09:22:19.467Z
Omake: [YouTube video showing collaboration of ABJ mark with popular manga characters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCYUazxydpc)
Aki Tanaka
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-25T09:03:43.500Z
2020-01-25T09:03:43.500Z
Aki Tanaka
<p>On some manga websites &amp; apps (e.g. <a href="https://global.bookwalker.jp/" rel="noreferrer">BOOK☆WALKER Global Store</a>), there is a symbol that looks like "ABJ" usually at the end of a page</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pruhn.png" alt="The ABJ mark"></p>
</blockquote>

<p>followed with</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The ABJ mark is a trademark indicating that this e-bookstore and e-book distribution service is an authorized distribution service that has been licensed for use by the copyright holder.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What does it mean?</p>

<licensing>
What does "ABJ" mean on some manga websites & apps?
# What does "ABJ" mean on some manga websites & apps?
Posted by: username_0 on 2020-01-25
On some manga websites & apps (e.g. [BOOK☆WALKER Global Store](https://global.bookwalker.jp/)), there is a symbol that looks like "ABJ" usually at the end of a page

> ![The ABJ mark](https://i.sstatic.net/pruhn.png)

followed with

> The ABJ mark is a trademark indicating that this e-bookstore and e-book distribution service is an authorized distribution service that has been licensed for use by the copyright holder.

What does it mean?
**Tags:** licensing
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_0 on 2020-01-25. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
**"ABJ" stands for "Authorized Books of Japan".**

Citing from [Association for E-Publishing Business Solution](https://aebs.or.jp/ABJ_mark.html) (Japanese),

> The ABJ mark is a trademark indicating that this e-bookstore and e-book distribution service is an authorized distribution service that has been licensed for use by the copyright holder. The aim was to provide an environment where readers can read and subscribe with peace of mind, and to promote the development of a healthy content market.
>
> ![The ABJ mark](https://i.sstatic.net/gsKzy.png)

It means that the digital service provider (e.g. websites, apps) is officially authorized and has been given permission to use licensed works. Services that have this mark *always* mean that they are legal providers. However, services that do not have this mark does *not* mean that they are illegal (e.g. [Crunchyroll Manga](https://www.crunchyroll.com/comics/manga)) since there is a procedure needs to be done to get the mark.

Some supplementing quotes in English regarding the mark:

* Manga Planet - [Updates on System Improvement](https://support.mangaplanet.com/updates-on-system-improvement/):

  > + Addition of the ABJ mark and short description to the footer
  >
  > The ABJ mark is a trademark indicating that this e-bookstore and e-book distribution service is an authorized distribution service that has been licensed for use by the copyright holder.
  >
  > We will continue to release e-books with rights properly processed to contribute to the development of the manga market.
* Beaglee Inc. - [Non-Consolidated Financial Results
  for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2018](http://disclosure.ifis.co.jp/data/disclose/79/20190228/140120190228483804.pdf) (PDF):

  > Moreover, the Company has obtained permission to use the ABJ mark that signifies it provides full version services with permission for use of contents granted by the copyright holders.

The whitelisted services are listed on [this PDF file](https://aebs.or.jp/pdf/ABJmark_Whitelist.pdf) (updated irregularly). From left-to-right:

* Registration number
* Service name
* Operator (business company/person) - with the last updated date

Example of English manga sites that have been registered:

* [BOOK☆WALKER Global Store](https://global.bookwalker.jp/): ABJ 10291001
* [MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA](https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/updates): ABJ 10921042
* [Manga Planet Library](https://read.mangaplanet.com/): ABJ 11981000

In summary:

* Has ABJ mark: always legal
* Does not have ABJ mark: maybe legal, but most possibly illegal
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2020-01-25): Omake: [YouTube video showing collaboration of ABJ mark with popular manga characters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCYUazxydpc)  
---
