Japan introduces criminal charges for downloading illegal content
From now on, Japanese internet users who download copyright infringing content face fines up to 2 million yen ($25,700) or prison sentences up to 2 years due to a revision in the copyright law. Downloading copyrighted material is forbidden in Japan since 2010, but until now, there were no criminal charges to punish offenders.
The Recording Industry Association of Japan lobbied for changes in the copyright law. In June, politicians approved the proposed amendments. However, the upcoming changes were met with resistance. Activists hacked websites of the government, the Supreme Court, political parties and the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers. Also, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, a group of legal professionals, argued that the offense of downloading illegal content should have remained a civil case, rather than criminal. Nevertheless, the protest actions had no effect. The amendments to the Japanese copyright law entered into force this weekend.
Uploading illegal material was a criminal offence in Japan already. The maximum sentences for that are fines up to 10 million yen or 10 years in prison.
Read more about copyright in Japan on FutureOfCopyright.com:
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