Shogakukan Inc., a major Japanese publisher, says it will post English versions of manga comics online in order to prevent the spread of illegal translated copies of Japanese comics.

The appearance of bootleg versions on the internet just several days after the published works are released in Japan has become a major headache for Japanese manga publishers.

The English versions of popular manga comics will be available on VIZ Media’s website, Japan Today reported Sunday.

Registered viewers can read the works of popular manga artists free of charge but it will not be printable, Shogakukan said. The Web site can only be browsed by visitors in the United States.