Law Penalizing Downloaders, Criminalizing Ripping Passes in Japan

While the anti-download measure is an enhancement of existing prohibitions, a ban on copying or ripping discs to a hard drive would be brand new for Japan. The proposed would outlaw any software program or device that allowed users to circumvent encoded copyright protection on the disc, as well as the act of copying of said disc.

Media that does not include copy protection, such as most compact discs, would not be included in the ban.

Should these new amendments pass into law, it would be illegal in Japan to make any copies of any movies or games, illegal to upload the data, illegal to download the data, illegal to sell copies of the data and well as illegal to sell a device that enables playback of the copied data. All of these actions would carry stiff penalties.

source: http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/06/japan-downloading-law/

The Effects:
1. Ripping and copying of copy-protected and encoded materials like DVDs and games is no longer considered "for personal use" and is punishable.
2. The sale of software and hardware that circumvents copy protection and access protections is forbidden.
3. The intentional download of illegally uploaded materials is now punishable.

source: http://kotaku.com/5920140/come-october-dont-use-youtube-in-japan

FOEbulous-max said:
I don't like this at all.

I can sort of accept the no capping side of things; most anime get simulacasted pretty swiftly these days, so I can watch them on Crunchyroll or use HorribleSubs rips for US-exclusive simulcasts. I also accept that downloading anime is illegal and understand why they wanted to make it punishable.

The part I don't like is that part about the sale of software that circumvents copy protection. I am a fan of Linux and open-source software, and I am wondering what that means on that side of things. If a distro provides a package for a program in one of their repositories that allows someone to rip an encrypted DVD, does that count as "selling" software for that purpose?

I suppose that subject is off-topic here in the anime discussion boards, but I thought I would mention it anyway.

siokan said:

TV-capture
Illegal (Because the copyguard is included)

Ahri said:
In my opinion, i think this is mainly aimed at people who torrent anime. I stream any anime i watch for the most, mostly because i feel like if i'm downloading i'm more of a criminal than watching it for free. I'd hope that sites like anime44 don't suffer...Regardless though....It wont stop people from uploading, that's a given. It'll just be harder to find.

j0x said:


well if this is true then their will be really decline on fansubs, since as far as i know most cappers are japanese people that are now affected by this strict anti-piracy law and also their capturing devices/equipment for ripping TV shows will be prohibited now

and if this thread is on the wrong forum, the moderators can actually move it to its proper place

Ahri said:
In my opinion, i think this is mainly aimed at people who torrent anime. I stream any anime i watch for the most, mostly because i feel like if i'm downloading i'm more of a criminal than watching it for free.

Jail For File-Sharing Not Enough, Labels Want ISP-Level Spying Regime

From October, knowingly uploading or simply downloading copyrighted material from the Internet will be a criminal offense subject to jail sentences in Japan. But despite now having the ultimate deterrent, it’s still not enough for the Recording Industry Association of Japan. The group is now pressing for ISPs to install spying technologies that will automatically block unauthorized uploads.

source: http://torrentfreak.com/jail-for-file-sharing-not-enough-labels-want-isp-level-spying-regime-120624/

The download portion of the law comes into effect in October, whilst the ripping ban is due in January.

ap19 said:
I hate piracy with a passion, but I am against this law too, for the following reasons.

1) This whole bill was started up by JASRAC and a few other CD companies that have pressured the government saying "The unauthorized streaming of full versions of music on video sites such as youtube and nicovideo have been causing a major decline in CD sales for the past few years." Note that this is a huge lie, because the reason why most Japanese people don't buy CDs anymore is because they are readily available at an insanely cheap price at your local legitimate rental store.

2) Most government officials do not know how to use the internet. They do not know what a torrent is, nor do they know that Japan is pretty much the only country that is financially maintaining the subcultural industry while the rest of the world continues to leech on. The government officials are just masturbating, trying to feel like they're actually doing something, when in fact, they just don't have the ability to do anything about this problem at a global scale.

3) By enforcing this law, the Japanese government is only weakening the Japanese otaku spirit that allows otakus to buy BDs at ridiculously high prices such as 130$ per 2 eps. Unlike most of you all, we, the only actual possible victims of this bill, are basically the only people financially holding the ever decreasing production of anime together. You can expect pretty much all subcultural magnitudes on all vectors from doujin-making to BD-sales plummet if they do indeed start fining people 2000000 yen or imprisoning people for 2 years for watching a simple anime MAD on nicovideo. Note, the upload punishments are quintuple that. If indeed otakus do stop buying these ridiculously expensive BDs, you can be assured that anime companies will be at a loss for production budgets, because these sale dominate their income by far.

4) The definition of "illegal download" is extremely obscure, to the point the bill looks like an elementary school level essay. No one knows exactly what is liable for punishment, and moreover, the main targets, which are the middle/high school students, are totally unaware of this bill/law's existence. I highly doubt the government is going to imprison 90% of the next generation population out of unfounded and inscrutable documentation.

5) On the contrary however, there have been an increasing number of news articles that report arrest for selling, downloading, and uploading on various scales. Obviously, the current number of reports is merely an insignificant portion of the 99% of the cybernetic society that are involved in subcultural fandom, but the government is not exactly inactive in enforcing the current policies, which means October 1st can perhaps mean doomsday for our common knowledge of subcultural fandom.

tl;dr The Japanese government wants Japan to commit suicide. Moreover, it's we, the Japanese residents, who are in trouble; not you foreign leechers.

Roninski said:
So what you're saying is that this could very well hurt the industry itself, despite them being the ones intending to put it into place? It seems greedy and counter-intuitive.

9988 said:
@ ap19

Just one thing friend, you seem so passionate to blame international users and label them leechers BUT have you stopped to think about it?

ap19 said:

i remember there is a game name Recettear, an Item Shop's Tale - a doujin translated game @ $19.99 on steam and it sold over 100,000.
People said the PC gaming was dead and yet steam revenue grows 200% every year (1 billion US$ in 2010). And it is not exceptional. Just look how iTunes, amazon sale vs CD companies.

The way studio struggling funding their anime with DVD/Bluray sale is the same with the recording industry. The solution for both of them is the same, make something good, price it reasonable and make it accessible.

p/s: i do recommend them to reduce number of mass produced anime and focus on the quality.

360justin said:
What people can't seem to understand is that illegal streaming is just as bad as illegal downloading if this type of law enforcement was in the United States no doubt some of you will be in some serious trouble just keeping it real thats all.

360justin said:
I didn't say once and also if falls under the same category rather you stream illegally or downloading illegally your isp have the right to give your ip address to authorities with or without your consent.

zerotenshigg said:
After poking around, It wouldn't affect anything, maybe late simulcasts but thats it.
Fanssubers don't need cappers tbh, they can use HS mildly bad video quality and continue subbing, but with that then they'd be more TLCing then translating.


Funny how you say that yet somehow watched the first episodes of
Kono Naka ni Hitori, Imouto ga Iru!
Joshiraku
Hagure Yuusha no Estetica
Despite the fact that these shows aren't licensed.

zerotenshigg said:


You still seem to miss the point that the shows I mention aren't licensed, so it is still illegal streaming.

360justin said:
You missed the point where I said legal streaming sites like crunchyroll which isn't illegal streaming now please leave me alone lol.

zerotenshigg said:


Couldn't think of anything else to talk about? LOL my point.
Or maybe you didn't get my comment.

NO AMERICAN COMPANY GOT THE RIGHTS TO STREAM THESE SHOWs

Kono Naka ni Hitori, Imouto ga Iru!
Joshiraku
Hagure Yuusha no Estetica
Despite yet you still watched the first episode.

My main point which I haven't said yet, is I hate people criticizing others for doing one thing but then does it themselves.