A copyright protection body said Tuesday it has annulled a contract to manage the rights of music composer Mamoru Samuragochi, whose works were penned by a ghostwriter.
The Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers took the step last year-end over roughly 100 music titles entrusted by Samuragochi, saying it had become unclear whose works they are and who holds the copyright.
Samuragochi, accused of faking deafness, admitted last February that he had employed Takashi Niigaki to write his major works. He had since submitted data to attest to his copyright to the works concerned, but the society rejected them as insufficient, it said.
As the society is no longer involved, direct talks must be held with Samuragochi for use of those works, it said.