News Releases

July 24, 2014
Japanese Society for Rights of Authors,
Composers and Publishers
(JASRAC)

Fukuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters arrests 2 persons
illegally uploading music files using file-sharing software “Cabos” & “LimeWire”

The Cybercrime Division of Fukuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters and the Kasuga Police Station announced today that they arrested 2 persons on suspicion of copyright law violations (infringement of public transmission right) for making music data files available to the public over the Internet using Gnutella-type file-sharing software (*1).

They are suspected of infringing copyright by illegally uploading music files onto the Internet without obtaining licenses from JASRAC. One of the suspects, who is a 26-year-old woman residing in Chuo Ward, Fukuoka City, began using “Cabos” about 6 years ago and had uploaded approximately 1,300 music files. The other, who is a 40-year-old man residing in Oshima County, Yamaguchi Prefecture, began using “LimeWire” about 8 years ago and had uploaded approximately 400 music files.

The Fukuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters have continued to conduct crackdowns (*2) on illegal uploading of music files on the Internet using Gnutella-type file-sharing software, while JASRAC is currently preparing for future litigations against such illegal uploading.

Since 2003, JASRAC has continued to apply measures aimed at preventing acts of copyright infringement using file-sharing software. And from March 2010, JASRAC has been conducting public awareness activities asking users of file-sharing software to delete illegal files, based on guidelines promoted by the Consortium against Copyright Infringement via File-Sharing Software (CCIF). From April 2014, JASRAC has been strengthening its approach especially towards users of Gnutella-type file-sharing software. In addition, JASRAC has called on junior high and high schools in Fukuoka Prefecture to educate students on rules regarding music use on the Internet.

With the cooperation of those involved, JASRAC will redouble its efforts to promote the legitimate use of music on the Internet.

(*1) Gnutella-type file-sharing software: “Cabos” and “LimeWire” are the most popular examples, and large amounts of music data files are distributed over the Internet using this type of software.

(*2) Crackdowns: Nationwide crackdowns were conducted by police departments across the country in February 2014 (as reported on March 3, 2014), and in May 2014, crackdowns were conducted by police departments in the Kyushu region (as reported on June 12, 2014).

End