News Releases

November 28, 2013
Japanese Society for Rights of Authors,
Composers and Publishers
(JASRAC)

Website Operator Illegally Distributing Music Data Files
Arrested by Fukuoka Prefectural Police and Munakata Police Station

On November 26, 2013, the Cybercrime Division of Fukuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters and the Munakata Police Station arrested a 58-year-old man residing in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, who operated an illegal music distribution website which made music data files available to the public over the Internet.

The man is suspected of infringing copyright (public transmission rights) by making music data files containing music works administered by JASRAC available to an indefinite number of Internet users without authorization, and JASRAC took legal action on November 25, 2013.

According to the police investigation, it was found that the man started operating the music transmission site more than 4 years ago for the purpose of obtaining advertisement revenue. He had uploaded approximately 400 music files onto a computer server, and made them available to the general public for download.

JASRAC will continue to issue cautions and warnings against illegal music distribution over the Internet, and will seek to raise copyright awareness through public relations activities to promote the legitimate use of music.

END