News Releases

March 7, 2017
Japanese Society for Rights of Authors,
Composers and Publishers
(JASRAC)

7 Police Headquarters Nationwide refer 9 Persons to Prosecutors for Illegal Uploading of
Music Data Files Using File-Sharing Software "Shareaza" and others

On February 20, the Cyber Crime Investigation Section of Wakayama Prefectural Police Headquarters and its Hashimoto Police Station referred a 55-year-old man residing in Gojo City, Nara Prefecture, to the Wakayama District Public Prosecutors Office for alleged copyright infringement (violation of public transmission rights). The man allegedly made music and other data files available to the public on the Internet using the file sharing software “Shareaza.” (JASRAC filed a complaint against him of the said violation on February 1 of this year.) This is the first time that JASRAC filed a complaint against a person who misused "Shareaza."

According to the police investigation, the man began using file sharing software around 2009 to collect music files and videos, and began using "Shareaza" since around 2012. It was revealed that the man downloaded many music files and videos with full knowledge that these files would be uploaded simultaneously, and made musical works administered by JASRAC and other files available to the public over the internet without obtaining a license.

Since 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 last autumn through to last month, JASRAC has filed complaints against 9 persons who illegally uploaded music files to 7 police headquarters nationwide, and 6 persons were referred to prosecutors as of today. Please refer to the table below for each case.

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.

Police	Prosecutors Office	Suspect	Software
Miyagi Prefectural Police Headquarters, Wakayanagi Police Station	Sendai District Public Prosecutors Office	Then 51 year-old man residing in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture	Share
The Cyber Crime Countermeasures Division of Ibaraki Prefectural Police Headquarters, Hitachi Police Station	Mito District Public Prosecutors Office	Then 32 year-old man residing in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture	Share
The Cyber Crime Countermeasures Division of Shizuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters, Shizuokaminami Police Station	Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors Office	Then 56 year-old man residing in Honjo City, Saitama Prefecture	Share
The Cyber Crime Investigation Section of Wakayama Prefectural Police Headquarters, Hashimoto Police Station	Wakayama District Public Prosecutors Office	55 year-old man residing in Gojo City, Nara Prefecture	Shareaza
The Consumer and Environmental Protection Division of Yamaguchi Prefectural Police Headquarters, Iwakuni Police Station	Yamaguchi District Public Prosecutors Office, Iwakuni Branch	Then 34 year-old man residing in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture	μTorrent
The Consumer and Environmental Protection Division of Yamaguchi Prefectural Police Headquarters, Yanai Police Station	Yamaguchi District Public Prosecutors Office, Iwakuni Branch	20 year-old man residing in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture	μTorrent
The Cyber Crime Countermeasures Division of Fukuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters, Asakura Police Station	Fukuoka District Public Prosecutors Office	33 year-old man residing in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo Prefecture	Share
The Cyber Crime Countermeasures Division of Miyazaki Prefectural Police Headquarters, Miyazakiminami Police Station	Miyazaki District Public Prosecutors Office	40 year-old man residing in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture	Perfect Dark
The Cyber Crime Countermeasures Division of Miyazaki Prefectural Police Headquarters, Miyakonojo Police Station	Miyazaki District Public Prosecutors Office, Miyakonojo Branch	43 year-old man residing in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture	Share

End