The creator of Love Hina will launch a website called J-Comi, that will provide free access to DRM-free digital copies of out-of-print manga from a number of participating manga artists. The downloads will be ad supported, and the revenue will be split among all of the participating artists. Akamatsu cites one of the reasons for the development of the distribution platform as a means to combat unauthorized digital manga distribution.
A beta version of the site will be launched on this friday November 26, starting with the 14 volumes of Akamatsu’s Love Hina manga. The site will formally launch on January 10, 2011.