Japan government panel reduces scope of draft law on downloading of copyrighted works
A government panel approved a plan Wednesday to limit the scope of what is considered illegal downloading of any copyrighted work — including manga, computer games and literary writings — reversing its initial plan to restrict such online activity more broadly. The Cultural Affairs Agency ...
French media launch copyright case over Google's refusal to pay to display their content
French media organizations lodged a complaint against Google to the country's competition authority Wednesday over the U.S. internet giant's refusal to pay for displaying their content. The move sets up a legal fight with Google over a new EU copyright law that could have huge ...
Google deals blow to EU copyright law in France, snubs fees for media outlets' links
Google said Wednesday it will not pay European media outlets for displaying their articles, pictures and videos in search results in France, a move that undercuts EU copyright law and could set up a legal fight between the U.S. tech giant and Brussels. Google routinely ...
Illegal Japanese manga site operators used overseas banks to conceal money: investigative sources
Operators of the now-closed pirate site Manga-Mura, formerly one of the largest illegal Japanese comics-viewing websites and host of popular manga such as "One Piece," used multiple bank accounts overseas to conceal the flow of money, investigative sources said Wednesday. Police believe 27-year-old Romi Hoshino, ...
Alleged operator of illegal manga site arrested while being deported from the Philippines
Japanese police arrested a 27-year-old man aboard a plane Tuesday as he was being deported by Philippines immigration authorities, for allegedly operating an illegal manga-viewing website that hosted copies of popular comics such as "One Piece." Romi Hoshino, who had been wanted over copyright infringement ...
Japanese artist's plagiarism claim over goldfish-filled phone booth rejected by Nara court
A court has rejected a plagiarism claim by an artist who argued a merchants' association in Nara Prefecture had copied one of his artworks featuring a telephone booth filled with water and dozens of goldfish. Nobuki Yamamoto, 63, a contemporary artist, filed a damages suit ...
The government on Wednesday decided not to submit to the Diet a bill that would make it illegal to download literary materials without the permission of copyright holders.
Japan to extend copyright period on works including novels and paintings to 70 years on Dec. 30
The copyright period on works such as novels and paintings in Japan is set to be extended to 70 years after the authors' deaths, from the current 50 years, effective Dec. 30 when a revised copyright law goes into force. The copyright law was revised ...
Japan calls for 'emergency measure' blocking access to websites that pirate manga and anime
A government report calls for taking an “emergency measure” to block access to websites that pirate anime and manga, including Mangamura, Anitube and Miomio.
Internet piracy taking major bite out of Japan's famed manga culture
Japan's renowned manga culture is facing a crisis. The spread of smartphones and tablet computers allows people to read e-comics anywhere at any time. According to the Research Institute for Publications, annual sales of digital comics last year grew 17.2 percent from the previous year ...
Parenting expert sues Disney, says it stole 'Inside Out' idea
A parenting and child development specialist has sued Walt Disney Co and its Pixar unit, accusing them of stealing from her the concept for their 2015 blockbuster movie, "Inside Out." In a complaint filed on Monday in Los Angeles federal court, Denise Daniels said the ...
Pirate Bay's content treasure trove in peril after EU ruling
The Pirate Bay, one of the last surviving file-sharing websites, is in peril after judges at the European Union's top court warned that giving users free access to a trove of Hollywood movies, TV shows and music risks breaking the law. "Making available and managing ...
