Illustrator Kanna Wakatsuki has announced plans to sue publisher WiZH over allegations of copyright infringement concerning the digital release of the Inukami! light novel series. Wakatsuki, who has held the copyright to the series' character illustrations for over two decades, claims that the publisher produced a "complete edition" digital volume featuring cover art that mimics their original designs without permission. Furthermore, the artist reports that their credit as the original character designer was omitted from the release.
WiZH previously acknowledged the dispute in June 2026, announcing that it had halted the distribution of the first digital volume and postponed the second. At the time, the publisher stated these actions were taken as provisional measures while legal discussions were ongoing, though the company explicitly denied any admission of infringement. Wakatsuki asserts that attempts to resolve the matter through legal counsel have been met with refusal from the publisher to acknowledge the claims.
While the legal battle unfolds, the series' author, Mamisu Arizawa, has begun publishing new content for the "Master of Highest" arc for free on platforms like Shōsetsuka ni Narō and Novelia. The original Inukami! novels, which concluded in 2007, previously inspired a 26-episode television anime and a 2007 film. While the series has seen various releases over the years—including a manga adaptation and a 2019 Blu-ray release from Discotek Media—this dispute creates a major obstacle for the franchise's recent digital revival efforts.
