News Releases

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

Copyright infringement using file-sharing software “Cabos”
2 persons referred to prosecutors for illegally uploading music data files
and for aiding and abetting copyright infringement

The Living Environment Section, Department of Community Safety of the Kagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters and the Takamatsu Higashi Police Station today referred a 35-year-old woman living in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture and a 39-year-old man living in the same city to the Takamatsu District Public Prosecutors Office. The woman was making music and other data files available to the public on the Internet using the file-sharing software “Cabos,” and the man was aiding and abetting her activity.

The woman 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 using “Cabos.” Meanwhile, the man is alleged to have sold the woman in question a personal computer on which he installed “Cabos,” and to have provided her with instructions on how to use it. Based on the above facts, JASRAC took legal action against the 2 persons on June 10, 2014.

This marks the first time JASRAC has taken legal action against a person who aided and abetted the illegal uploading of music files to the Internet by using file-sharing software.

According to the police investigation, it was found that the woman began using “Cabos” approximately 5 years ago with the personal computer purchased in a home electrical appliance store which the man in question operated, and stored approximately 2,000 music files in the computer by using the file-sharing software. It was also revealed that, after selling her the computer, the man re-installed “Cabos” on her computer in response to her claim that “Cabos” was not operating properly.

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.

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