Japan to make illegal downloading of music, videos punishable with jail terms

[AsahinaKimi]

As a result, even watching a YouTube video could result in prosecution if the viewer is aware that streaming the media is illegal.

TOKYO —

The government has passed a new amendment to its copyright laws, making illegal downloading punishable with jail terms for the first time.

The new law applies to those found in possession of pirated material such as music, DVDs or Blu-ray discs, and could result in fines of up to 2 million yen and sentences of up to two years in prison, according to CNET Japan.

The changes to the law bring Japan in line with the U.S., where downloading is already a criminal offense and punishments are even more severe. U.S. criminal penalties can run up to 5 years in prison or a $250,000 fine, 10 times higher than Japan.

The move has been welcomed by music industry figures, but has caused some concern among legal experts, NTV reported. The government claims the move has been introduced to protect people making music. Warner Music Japan CEO Keiichi Ishizaka has been quoted in the press as saying that he would like to see all illegal downloading eradicated.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/japan-to-make-illegal-downloading-of-music-videos-punishable-with-jail-terms

[ZombieHorde]

1. What is this world coming to when even thievery is outlawed? nt

[n2doc]

2. Only certain thieves get punished

Some don't.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

3. Copying is not theft and I will never be convinced otherwise. nt

[ZombieHorde]

4. Most people are not so honest about their own closed mindedness.

I find your honesty refreshing. I find your closed mindedness to be common.

[BOG PERSON]

9. since digital media is infinitely reproducible

it has practically zero value. less value than a cassette or an 8 track. that's why the response to media piracy has gotten so heavy handed, because respecting copyright in this instance is 100% dependent on the constant reinforcement of social convention.

[ZombieHorde]

10. I see it as a worker's rights issue.

When you steal a song from an artist who is still alive, you deny that worker compensation for work performed.

[BOG PERSON]

11. that's why most artists have day-jobs

and if they don't, why am i supposed to feel bad about "stealing" from lana del ray or vampire weekend or whoever.

[ZombieHorde]

12. Really? Artists should just get a second job so we can steal from them?

Should we just tell public-union workers to get a second job too? Why bother with the union when they can just get an additional job?

why am i supposed to feel bad

I am not asking anyone to feel bad, I am just pointing out that many people are thieves. Many people look down on shoplifters, but steal entertainment media. I think this is hypocritical.

[BOG PERSON]

22. nice...

strawman!!!

[ZombieHorde]

26. How so? nt

[BOG PERSON]

30. what?!

you're literally putting words in my mouth.

[ZombieHorde]

36. Which ones?

Be specific, if you dare.

[BOG PERSON]

37. i'm not going to dignify that w/ a response.

so...

[zappaman]

39. translation:

"I know I'm wrong so am backing out of this argument."

[BOG PERSON]

44. that's rich coming from somebody who hasn't made a single good point

in this whole, entire thread

[zappaman]

13. "why am i supposed to feel bad about "stealing""

Unfuckingbelievable.
Tell me, do you expect to get paid for your work or do you do it for free?

[BOG PERSON]

23. *SNORK*

[Logical]

17. LOL, and that makes you a thief! Just because you wan free music does....

Not make i ok! What a joke!

[The Straight Story]

5. Explain what it means to buy music or a movie

Say I purchase Adele's latest CD and I go on a trip and leave it at home. I can listen to her songs on the radio (if I am lucky enough they will play them all) or go out to youtube and play them at will.

Suppose further my CD is at home but in my shared drive and I play it over the web? What if I convert it to mp3 so I can listen to it on my iPod and not just my CD player - am I now a criminal and/or should I be?

I bought The Stand many years ago on DVD. It is now scratched up from many uses. If I get it off pirate bay am I stealing it even though I paid for it once already?

[ZombieHorde]

7. First of all,

I am so glad to see you back on DU!

Say I purchase Adele's latest CD and I go on a trip and leave it at home. I can listen to her songs on the radio (if I am lucky enough they will play them all) or go out to youtube and play them at will.

OK.

Suppose further my CD is at home but in my shared drive and I play it over the web? What if I convert it to mp3 so I can listen to it on my iPod and not just my CD player - am I now a criminal and/or should I be?

I am very ignorant on the subject of Japanese Law, but I think that should be legal. The artists and producers received money for their work.

I bought The Stand many years ago on DVD. It is now scratched up from many uses. If I get it off pirate bay am I stealing it even though I paid for it once already?

After several years of use, my microwave broke. Should I be able to go to a store and just grab a similar one, or should I have to buy a new one if I still want a microwave? I think I should have to buy a new one.

[The Straight Story]

20. As far as the microwave:

When you buy a CD you are not buying the song, you are buying the medium and do not own the song (you are essentially buying the right to listen to the music).

Since you have already purchased the right (paid the artist) to view/listen to something should you have to pay more than once (kind of like a radio station - if they stop playing your song you can switch channels, in this case you are switching the medium).

I needed a break and still probably won't post much - but every once in awhile I like to chime in. Starting a new job tomorrow (working from home) and working on some books I wanted to write and some programming (working on some game programming with my son and some ipad/ipod apps).

Still like most the people here just not really down with the other craziness so making new ops is not something I will be doing. Maybe next year there will be a du4 that is better.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. If you are a small time thieve

you get punished.

If your name is BP and you poisoned the Gulf, and nine people died, that is A-OK, that is why people are angry.

[zappaman]

15. Apples and Oranges...

People are angry because they want things for free.
It's stealing plain and simple.
Are you using the "he did it too defense"?

[nc4bo]

6. Downloading music illegally and you go to jail..

A corporation poisons an ocean or 2 or 3 = ?
A corporation poisons the air and endangers fresh water supplies = ?
A corporation poisons the land so that your people cannot safely eat the food they grow or raise or is sold to them = ?
A corporation irradiates countless numbers of men, women and children = ?

Sorry - just in that kind of mood today.

[Logical]

14. It amazes me how many DU members think it is ok!

[zappaman]

18. It IS amazing, isn't it?

People just seem to think that even though an artist is working his ass off to make something, they should be entitled to have it for free.
Everyone who thinks it's okay to steal music or movies should go in tomorrow and tell their boss they no longer want to get paid for the work they do.
Really unfuckingbelievable.

[Logical]

19. +1000, perfect idea. They just are cheap asses who want free stuff. So they justify it. n-t

[Tikki]

16. Ok, if I use a cassette deck to tape off radio, computer or phono it will be an inferior...

quality to let's say mp3 or digital capture (?) but then if I turn it into a cd is that illegal?

I've been taping radio shows onto cassette like forever.


Tikki

[BOG PERSON]

24. do you remember when a compact disc cost upwards of $20?

and this was considered reasonable? those were crazy times. the free market works.

[Romulox]

28. Remember? I'm awaiting delivery of a CD right now. $23.47 with shipping. nt

[treestar]

21. Seems extreme

Fines maybe, but jail?

[Logical]

25. I agree a fine is better. Like 100 times the cost of buying it. Maybe a fine the first 5 times.....

then maybe a weekend in jail.

[Romulox]

29. Copyright extremists don't know what they're talking about, generally.

Copyright is a creature of statutory law. It is subject to debate and change. The purpose of copyright law, as laid out in the US Constitution, Article I, Sec. 8 is:

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.

That means copyright law is created to benefit we, the people, not content creators. On the contrary, the benefit to content creators is incidental to the purpose of the Copyright Clause: To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts.

Moreover, right from the start, we see that Copyright is NOT absolute. In fact, it is to last for "limited Times" only, after which copyrighted material must return to whom it truly belongs: the People.

[zappaman]

33. "Dontcha know that the corporations are losing money?"

Yes, and so are many of my friends who are musicians.
I guess they must feel better knowing the fan's are stealing their money instead of the corporations, eh?
The thieves who are crying that it's fine to steal sound like every other thief.
Somehow, if you're stealing from an artist, it's okay.

[zappaman]

35. Oh puleeeze...

DLing an album instead of buying it screws the artist, especially if the artist is independent.
Nice try putting words in my mouth, but I didn't defend any corporations.
Keep stealing and keep telling yourself it's justified...that's what thieves do.

[zappaman]

42. Apples and Oranges...

Do you DL music without paying the artist?
If yes, you are a thief, and, believe it or not, you are hurting the artist.
You and everybody else are NOT ENTITLED to free music.
Wrap your head around that for a bit and get back to me.

[2ndAmForComputers]

38. Do you have an opinion about Romulox's post above?

[randome]

32. Downloading is not theft. Uploading to others is where copyright violations occur.

It's a subtle difference but it's there. The recording industry wants to conflate the two actions. They aren't comparable.

[2ndAmForComputers]

40. Keiichi Ishizaka wants (a) to kill the Internet, and (b) a worldwide police state.

Because that's the only way illegal downloading is going to be eradicated.

Moreover: he's aware of that.