News Releases

April 13, 2016
Japanese Society for Rights of Authors,
Composers and Publishers
（JASRAC）

Owners of Club Arrested for Prolonged Copyright Violation

On April 11, the Shinjuku Police Department (part of the Metropolitan Police Department) arrested the owner of a club called "CLUB LL" for alleged copyright infringement (infringement of performance rights) and destruction of seals, and the manager of the club for alleged destruction of seals. The club, located in the Kabukicho district of Shinjuku, Tokyo, had repeatedly infringed copyrights, which was illegally using musical works administered by JASRAC over a long period during piano performances and singing to the accompaniment of karaoke.

With regard to the copyright infringement committed at the club, the enforcement officer of the Tokyo District Court executed a provisional disposition in October 2014. However, as the owner of the club showed an extremely aggravated behavior by breaking off the seal twice, which was placed by the enforcement officer on the piano and the karaoke equipment, and illegally using musical works administered by JASRAC, JASRAC filed a complaint against the owner of the club on the suspicion of copyright infringement with the Shinjuku Police Department in November 2015.

Furthermore, the enforcement officer of the Tokyo District Court made an accusation of the destruction of the seals at the club. As a result, the owner of the club was arrested on suspicion of both copyright infringement (infringement of performance rights) and of the destruction of seals, and the manager was also arrested on suspicion of the destruction of seals at the same time.

End