Where the data comes from
We combine several sources, each for what it does best, and record in the database which source each field came from. The API returns that provenance alongside the data.
| Source | What it provides | License |
|---|---|---|
| Wikidata | Title details, genres, cast, external identifiers | CC0 (public domain) |
| Wikipedia | Chapter titles, volume, ISBNs and volume dates | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| Open Library | Volume covers, looked up by ISBN | publisher artwork, linked |
| AniList | Covers and character images | Public API |
| MangaUpdates | Base chapter list and dates | Public API |
| Community wikis | Magazine issue and per-chapter appearances | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| Our readers | Summaries, descriptions, ratings, reviews, corrections | our own |
How we handle share-alike
From Wikipedia and the wikis we import factual data only: chapter number, title, release date, volume and ISBN. Facts aren't subject to copyright. We don't copy summaries or any written text, and we don't use wiki images, because the CC BY-SA license covers the text but not user-uploaded files. Wikidata is the convenient exception: it's CC0, public domain, and that's where everything we don't want carrying conditions comes from.
We still credit every source at the bottom of the relevant page, with a link to the original article.
What we don't do
We don't host scanned pages or link to sites that do. Reading links point only to official platforms. That decision is what lets us work with affiliate programs and publishers.