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News Releases

October 7, 2013
Japanese Society for Rights of Authors,
Composers and Publishers
(JASRAC)

Copyright infringement using file-sharing software "Cabos"
Man referred to prosecutors for illegally uploading music data files

Kumamoto Prefectural Police Headquarters today referred a 22-year-old man living in Fukuoka City, who was making music and other data files available to the public on the Internet using the file-sharing software "Cabos," to the Kumamoto District Public Prosecutors Office.

The man is suspected of infringing copyright (public transmission rights) by making music data files of J-pop and other music works administered by JASRAC, available to an indefinite number of Internet users without authorization, and JASRAC took legal action on September 18, 2013.

According to the police investigation, it was found that the man stored approximately 1,200 music files in the upload folder in his personal computer, and without authorization made these music files available to the public over the Internet for the purpose of storage and playback of the music files on portable music players.  Subsequent investigation also revealed that the man began using "Cabos" in high school after obtaining knowledge from his friends, and continued to use it despite being aware that making music files available to the public over the Internet without authorization was illegal, under the assumption that he would not be caught because he had not heard of anybody around him who was.

Since 2003, JASRAC has continued to apply measures aimed at preventing acts of copyright infringement using file-sharing software. And from March 2010, with the cooperation of service providers, JASRAC has been conducting activities which require users of file-sharing software to delete illegal files, based on the public awareness scheme promoted by the Consortium against Copyright Infringement via File-Sharing Software (CCIF).

Illegal public transmissions using file-sharing software can not only cause significant damage for copyright owners, but also can directly contribute to the degeneration of music culture. Therefore, JASRAC will redouble its efforts to raise copyright awareness through public relations activities with an aim to eradicate acts of copyright infringement with the cooperation of those involved.

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