About JASRACRemuneration System for Audio and Video Home Recording

The Copyright of Japan provides that even if they are for personal enjoyment, any person who, for the purpose of private use, intends to make sound or video recordings using digital recording equipments and media specified by Government Order, is obliged to pay remuneration to copyright owners (Copyright Act, Article 30 Paragraph 3). This is called the "remuneration system for audio and video recording" and stipulates payment of remuneration to right owners for sound and video recordings of music and other copyrighted works which are made for the purpose of in-home private use. The system has been in effect from June 1993 for audio recordings and from July 1999 for video recordings. Right owner organizations including JASRAC are aiming to build a rational and workable system to return consideration which will ensure a large creation cycle and will contribute to the growth of music culture.

Payment of remuneration is done en bloc - when users purchase equipments and media, remuneration is included in the price. This is done with cooperation from manufacturers of specified equipments and recording media designated by Government Order.

Besides being distributed to individual copyright owners, remuneration is used for activities which are for the sake of all right owners (common interests activities) such as disseminating the copyright system and promoting the creation of copyrighted works.

Overview of the Remuneration System for Audio Home Recording

Society for The Administration of Audio and Video Home Recording (sarah), which is designated by the Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, requests payment of and receives private audio recording remuneration. Remuneration is distributed from sarah to three organizations representing right owners, performers, and phonogram producers, and is then distributed to individual right owners (please see here for details on the distribution method（Japanese Only）).

Organization representing copyright owners: Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC)
Organization representing performers: CPRA (Center for Performers' Rights Administration)
Organization representing phonogram producers: Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)

Equipments and media subject to remuneration system for audio and video home recording

Currently, the following audio products are specified by Government Order as equipments, discs and tapes subject to the remuneration system.
Since DATs / DCCs and MDs were designated by Government Order in 1993 at the start of the remuneration system, and after audio CD-Rs and CD-RWs were designated in 1988, there have been no changes for over 20 years.

・DAT (Digital Audio Tape recorders)
・DCC (Digital Compact Cassettes)
・MD (Mini Discs)
・Audio CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable)
・Audio CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable)
(Note) For CD-Rs and CD-RWs, those which are labeled as "for music recording" or "for audio" are media subject to remuneration.
(As of April 1, 2022)

Overview of the Remuneration System for Video Home Recording

Private video copying remuneration had been invoiced and received by the Society for Administration of Remuneration for Video Home Recording (SARVH), which was designated by the Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. However, due to the remuneration not being paid for reasons such as lack of cooperation from manufacturers, it became difficult to continue their operations, and they dissolved as of March 31, 2015. After SARVH dissolved, payment of private video recording remuneration is virtually not being requested. However, the Agency for Cultural Affairs announced a policy in 2022 to designate Blu-ray disc recorders as a new equipment subject to remuneration, and preparations are currently in progress to resume invoicing of private video recording remuneration.

Efforts for the Remuneration System for Audio and Video Home Recording with Right Owner Organizations

As the rapid popularization of equipments which are not subject to private audio and video recording remuneration has led to the current remuneration system losing substance, JASRAC is calling for fair review of the relevant system together with many right owner organizations involved with the private audio and video recording remuneration in the fields of music, audio-visual, film, literature, visual arts, comics, photography, etc.

In addition, as content distribution through the internet is becoming mainstream, we would like to participate actively in the review of "a new scheme to return consideration" which would take over the place of the current remuneration system.

September 9, 2022 Right owner organizations make a statement on the designation of Blu-ray disc recorders as a new equipment subject to private audio and video copying remuneration
August 23, 2022 The Agency for Cultural Affairs announces and starts asking for public comments on its policy to designate Blu-ray disc recorders as a new equipment subject to audio and video copying remuneration
May 30, 2019日 At the General Assembly of CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), a resolution requesting the Japanese government to introduce a functional and fair private copying remuneration system was adopted.

Right owner organizations including JASRAC are making proposals for the establishment of a new remuneration system which is rational and workable.

For a System to Return Appropriate Consideration for Private Copying