The Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC) has signed contracts with two fingerprint (FP) technology companies, which are BMAT (Barcelona) and ORFIUM (Los Angeles) to improve the accuracy of identifying JASRAC repertoire that are used on YouTube.

An important issue concerning distribution services using enormous musical works is accurately identifying the musical works used in video posting (sharing) services that publish various content created by secondary use and derivative works to improve distribution quality to right holders such as music creators.

The fingerprinting (FP) technology that identifies musical works based on the waveform data created from sound source data is a helpful method to identify musical works, and this technology is increasingly being used for reporting the musical works used by digital service providers and broadcasters.

JASRAC is promoting the verification and use of FP technology by implementing the FP technology demonstration project with the Music Publishers Association of Japan (MPA) (in 2017) and the trial use of devices that automatically identify the musical works used at stores (in 2021).

Among the distribution services, YouTube particularly uses many musical works. JASRAC has promoted the use of "Content ID" in YouTube and also promoted the verification of identification of the musical works used that are not detected by the Content ID with FP operators in and outside Japan.

As a result, JASRAC has signed contracts with BMAT (Barcelona) and ORFIUM (Los Angeles), which have been adopted by copyright management organizations and music companies in the world. It is expected that JASRAC will be able to identify a wider variety of musical works more accurately by using their outstanding FP technology.

JASRAC will continue to improve the management of music copyrights by actively utilizing technologies through domestic and international partnerships.

◆Comments from BMAT and ORFIUM
Iñigo Ugarteburu, CEO, BMAT
We are thrilled to share our recent collaboration with JASRAC. Our partnership is not merely a business endeavor; it is a union of two entities that deeply value the principles of fairness, transparency, and unwavering support for music creators. Our advanced technology will enable JASRAC to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape, providing a comprehensive solution for tracking and managing their music repertoire on YouTube. In line with our broader mission, this partnership reinforces our commitment to empower collective management organizations globally.

Rob Wells, CEO, ORFIUM
Orfium's partnership with JASRAC is a significant milestone in our mission to serve the Asian music market as it starts to realize the benefits of music monetization on UGC platforms. We will deploy our cutting edge tech, enabled by AI and machine learning, to work for the benefit of Japanese songwriters and publishers and, indeed, the wider industry. This deal comes at a time when Japanese music and JASRAC's rich catalog of works is experiencing unprecedented exposure and appreciation worldwide, and we're excited to be selected as a partner of choice by the local market to help capitalize on its global success story.