News Releases

February 22, 2016
Japanese Society for Rights of Authors,
Composers and Publishers
（JASRAC）

Copyright Violations Using File-Sharing Software Five Police Departments across Japan Make One Arrest and Refer Four Others to Prosecutors for Illegally Uploading Music Data Files

On February 19, in a “nationwide crackdown on copyright violations using file-sharing software” announced by Japan’s National Police Agency, the following arrest and referrals for prosecution were made regarding the illegal uploading of copyrighted works administrated by JASRAC.

The Cyber Crime Investigation Team of Gunma Prefectural Police Headquarters and its Fujioka Police Station announced on February 19, that they arrested a 38-year-old man residing in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. The man is suspected of repeatedly and continuously uploading new CD releases to “Perfect Dark” while knowing that doing so was illegal.

The Cyber Crime Countermeasures Division of Kyoto Prefectural Police Headquarters and its Mukomachi Police Station referred a 52-year-old man suspected of using “Share,” residing in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, to the Kyoto District Public Prosecutors Office.

The Cyber Crime Investigation Section of Wakayama Prefecture Police Headquarters and its Wakayamanishi Police Station referred a 57-year-old man suspected of using “Cabos,” residing in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, to the Wakayama District Public Prosecutors Office.

The Cyber Crime Countermeasures Division of Fukuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters and its Chikushino Police Station referred a 28-year-old man suspected of using “Cabos,” residing in Ureshino City, Saga Prefecture, to the Fukuoka District Public Prosecutors Office.

The Cyber Crime Countermeasures Division of Kumamoto Prefectural Police Headquarters and its Kumamotokita Police Station referred a 46-year-old man suspected of using “Share,” residing in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, to the Kumamoto District Public Prosecutors Office.

These suspects committed violations of copyright (public transmission rights) in copyrighted works administered by JASRAC by uploading large numbers of music files and video files such as animation videos and making them transmittable to large numbers of unidentified users.

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 formulated by the Consortium against Copyright Infringement via File-Sharing Software (CCIF).

JASRAC, in cooperation with other parties, 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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