Do I hear JASRAÇ jackboots at the door?

[wuchan]

I'd love to see an audit of JASRAC's books.

I don't think it's that corrupt. I think it's about how the legal system here works. No 100% conviction, no charges. Here in Japan most home internet users can change ip address by simply powering down their router. That makes proving theft much harder. The police have to chase those too dumb to use out dated software that allows access to the entire hard drive of the offenders or figure out the mac address of the offenders. With the limited resources that the J-police have, both are nearly impossible. (never mind the horrid computer skills here) It's the same shit that happened in the US nearly 20 years ago, catch the kids too naive or dumb to know what they are doing to prove a point.


MOD help: IP of this post = (give me 5 minutes to check ipv6)

[wuchan]

ip of above = 2001:240:295d:f900:19fd:ec53:4287:9d87 (ipv6)

ip of this post = 113.197.228.63 (normal) (waiting for v6)

[wuchan]

the ip of this post = 220.100.116.214

MODs please confirm.

[Yokohammer]

Saw this on the news yesterday afternoon.

Just about everyone is trying to grab a bigger piece of the pie these days, but this new move by JASRAC is just mean. They're interpreting Performance Rights a bit too loosely, saying that a teacher and a student or a few students in a music classroom constitute a performer and an audience. Large corps who run music schools, including Yamaha and Kawai, are fighting back, as they should.

I understand that it's getting harder to make a buck these days, but when organizations like this start using scammy logic to demand more money, it's time for them to end.

[Grumpy Gramps]

Similar thing happened in Germany one or two years ago, where their version of JASRAC (the GEMA) tried to fleece kindergartens for singing children's songs. Big enough uproar, but I don't know, how it ended.

Hope, I am still allowed to whistle in the shower, as neighbours could hear it...

[Coligny]

I understand that it's getting harder to make a buck these days, but when organizations like this start using scammy logic to demand more money, it's time for them to end.

Yes... but that's the funniest part of kapitalizm... when people are confronted with the fact that they are not owed any profit, salaries or just plain free monies for whatever they do making them feels to deserve compensation... and then they get all desperate trying to get laws making breathing free air a subscription based behaviour...

[Yokohammer]

I understand that it's getting harder to make a buck these days, but when organizations like this start using scammy logic to demand more money, it's time for them to end.

Yes... but that's the funniest part of kapitalizm... when people are confronted with the fact that they are not owed any profit, salaries or just plain free monies for whatever they do making them feels to deserve compensation... and then they get all desperate trying to get laws making breathing free air a subscription based behaviour...

Yeah. SOP everywhere in the capitalist world ... but probably not much different elsewhere.

Thing is ... I am totally for composers and musicians getting their fair share. In a big way, because I have been in that world. But the money is somehow not finding its way back. Funny how that happens. Slightly off tangent, but just this morning I read somewhere that an artist on Spotify would have to get something like 288 million spins to earn a Spotify employee's salary. That's not fair. Organizations like JASRAC are supposed to be helping the artists get their money, but all that cash just seems to seep into the cracks before it gets to the original creators.

EDIT: Found a link for that Spotify info (there are lots): https://thetrichordist.com/2016/05/26/songwriter-would-need-288-million-spins-to-equal-average-spotify-employee-salary/

[legion]

Thing is ... I am totally for composers and musicians getting their fair share. In a big way, because I have been in that world. But the money is somehow not finding its way back. Funny how that happens. Slightly off tangent, but just this morning I read somewhere that an artist on Spotify would have to get something like 288 million spins to earn a Spotify employee's salary. That's not fair. Organizations like JASRAC are supposed to be helping the artists get their money, but all that cash just seems to seep into the cracks before it gets to the original creators.

EDIT: Found a link for that Spotify info (there are lots): https://thetrichordist.com/2016/05/26/songwriter-would-need-288-million-spins-to-equal-average-spotify-employee-salary/

I very much doubt the money JASRAC collects finds its way to the artists.

Years ago a friend of mine set up an internet radio station in Japan, right when the service first emerged, wanted to do it properly, contacted JASRAC, found they had no mechanism in place to pay artists for performance rights on the internet. His impression was they didn't even care about making sure the artists got paid.

These people would charge Paul McCartney for performing one of John Lennon's songs.

[wangta]

I understand that it's getting harder to make a buck these days, but when organizations like this start using scammy logic to demand more money, it's time for them to end.

Yes... but that's the funniest part of kapitalizm... when people are confronted with the fact that they are not owed any profit, salaries or just plain free monies for whatever they do making them feels to deserve compensation... and then they get all desperate trying to get laws making breathing free air a subscription based behaviour...

Slightly off tangent, but just this morning I read somewhere that an artist on Spotify would have to get something like 288 million spins to earn a Spotify employee's salary. That's not fair. Organizations like JASRAC are supposed to be helping the artists get their money, but all that cash just seems to seep into the cracks before it gets to the original creators.

EDIT: Found a link for that Spotify info (there are lots): https://thetrichordist.com/2016/05/26/songwriter-would-need-288-million-spins-to-equal-average-spotify-employee-salary/

Shit - you'd get more money picking up those plastic one yen coins here from the ground. How about youtube then? I'm honestly mystified by all the J vloggers boasting about how much money they're making and then you see some vid they've made asking viewers to be a 'patron' of them and they are trying to flog t shirts and other merchandise.

The vloggers that do this seem as desperate as hell. How many views does a vlogger need on youtube to make 10,000 yen (ichi man en) for example? Only 100 bucks Oz.

[wagyl]

If you want to give me JPY 10,000 I will happily give you AUD 100. As many times as you like.
It is not every day that you make an immediate 15% on a deal.

[matsuki]

Thing is ... I am totally for composers and musicians getting their fair share. In a big way, because I have been in that world. But the money is somehow not finding its way back. Funny how that happens. Slightly off tangent, but just this morning I read somewhere that an artist on Spotify would have to get something like 288 million spins to earn a Spotify employee's salary. That's not fair. Organizations like JASRAC are supposed to be helping the artists get their money, but all that cash just seems to seep into the cracks before it gets to the original creators.

EDIT: Found a link for that Spotify info (there are lots): https://thetrichordist.com/2016/05/26/songwriter-would-need-288-million-spins-to-equal-average-spotify-employee-salary/

I very much doubt the money JASRAC collects finds its way to the artists.

Years ago a friend of mine set up an internet radio station in Japan, right when the service first emerged, wanted to do it properly, contacted JASRAC, found they had no mechanism in place to pay artists for performance rights on the internet. His impression was they didn't even care about making sure the artists got paid.

These people would charge Paul McCartney for performing one of John Lennon's songs.

Did they give some kind of "Japanese don't use the internet" explanation?

[Grumpy Gramps]

I guess (= assume without knowing), in Japan it is similar to Europe: You play your own songs and pay the fee for performing songs of a registered artist (you). After all has played out, you get royalties, because "someone" has performed your songs. In an ideal world, these royalties would be the fees you paid minus a percentage for admin. Try to think like an accountant, then this makes kind of sense.

In reality, your fees go into a pot, from where the big old boys (and that likely includes McCartney) fill their own pockets first, then subsidies for very traditional cultural projects, which couldn't survive without them but need to survive because goodwill etc , say a little no-theatre somewhere in oshiri-gun, need to be considered. What remains, which is likely nothing, goes back to little newcomer artist, who doesn't have the means nor the big name to defend himself.

But hey, you had the wonderful opportunity to play in front of an audience and get your name out in the open; you potentially could become famous. You're not there for money are you, it's the art that you breathe. You should shut-up and be happy.

Am I right, or is this bs?

[legion]

Rings true

[Mike Oxlong]

Copyright watchdog files lawsuits over background music in stores

Japan's copyright management organization has filed lawsuits against owners of a barber shop and restaurant over the usage of background music at their stores, seeking damages and injunctions.

The Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers filed the lawsuits on Tuesday at the Sapporo District Court in Hokkaido, northern Japan, and the Takamatsu District Court in Kagawa Prefecture, western Japan. The suits are the first of their kind, according to the organization.

JASRAC claimed the barber shop in Sapporo has not paid its usage fees of about 30,000 yen ($265) since around May 2014 and the restaurant in Takamatsu has not paid around 70,000 yen since around September 2007.

The organization said its personnel visited the stores and explained the need to obtain permission. The request was rejected and civil conciliation did not work out.

"I am surprised by the lawsuit. We were only playing music with expired copyright," the owner of the barber shop said.

At the press conference, Kenzo Ohashi, a managing director of JASRAC said, "The lawsuits were inevitable to keep fairness in managing copyright." "We would like to solve the issues by explaining beforehand as much as we could," he added.

According to JASRAC, about 1.3 million stores throughout the country are using music with copyright managed by JASRAC as background music and nearly 40 percent of them are unauthorized.

Since 2015, 536 cases of civil conciliation over unauthorized usage of background music have been requested. In 24 cases, parties could not reach agreement.

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/c ... -in-stores

[BigInJapan]

Copyright watchdog files lawsuits over background music in stores

According to JASRAC, about 1.3 million stores throughout the country are using music with copyright managed by JASRAC as background music and nearly 40 percent of them are unauthorized.

Since 2015, 536 cases of civil conciliation over unauthorized usage of background music have been requested. In 24 cases, parties could not reach agreement.

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/c ... -in-stores

The article doesn't mention how the 1.3 million stores are getting their BGM. As far as I know, you have to use a vendor-supplied receiver, and have an active (paid) account, otherwise you can't receive the tunes.
The barber I go to plays 50's and 60's oldies over USEN, and I assume if it's a legitimate vendor, JASRAC royalty payments would be included.
Just did a quick search of USEN, and this one has details about JASRAC: usen.com
Maybe some of the USEN vendors are not authorized, hmm.

[Russell]

Yay, no background music in stores anymore! Sounds perfect!

[Yokohammer]

Haven't seen a Usen receiver in a a small privately run (as opposed to corporate run) café or store in ages. Cafés and small restaurants I sometimes visit either have a decent selection of CDs or vinyl, or a computer or tablet or similar connected to the sound system. People who care about their "musical environment" wouldn't leave programming to anyone else.

[legion]

Didn't they bust a coffee shop for playing jazz records a while back.

So who gets paid if I play this? Very much doubt it's the musicians.

[Takechanpoo]

damn greedy jasrac has been disturbing to internationalize the songs of the golden age of j-pop

[matsuki]

damn greedy jasrac has been disturbing to internationalize the songs of the golden age of j-pop

You mean rip off western artists and sell it as オリジナル or "internationalized" songs to the JDM? Same ol Same ol....

As much as I love me some Dragon Ash, apparently 99.99999% of the locals don't seem to realize the one hit that made them in Japan is sampled....and without that sample....well....

[Taro Toporific]

The JASRAÇ jackboots finally accomplish some "good."

@Mulboyne tweeted:
A Hamamatsu councilman used the local assembly network to post unlicensed adult videos to a porn site. It came to light when the copyright holder asked for the IP address of the poster ripping him off.

pervert-councilman.jpg

浜松市議、議会の回線使いアダルト動画投稿　辞職願提出
asahi.com | 2018年8月17日01時40分
　静岡県浜松市議会議員の新村和弘氏（４７）が、議会事務局のインターネット回線から、他者に著作権のあるアダルト動画などを無断で動画販売サイトに投稿していた。新村氏が１６日夜に記者会見して明らかにした。新村氏は同日、飯田末夫議長宛てに辞職願を提出した。
　会見によると、新村氏は今年２～８月、ネット上で無料で閲覧できる動画約１００本を、動画販売サイトに投稿。９割がアダルト動画で、うち十数本は議会事務局の回線を使って会派控室から投稿したという...
More...

[matsuki]

Looks like my previous dragon ash video post has fallen victim as well

[Taro Toporific]

Japan Government Presents Pirate Website Blocking Proposals
t0rrentfreak.com | Sept. 18, 2018
...Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the government was considering measures to prevent access to pirate sites.
Manga and anime are considered national treasures and the government should consider “all measures” to prevent illegal downloading, Suga added.
More...

national-kuso.jpg

[Taro Toporific]

anime-pirate.jpg

Japan Planning Up to Two Years in Prison For Manga Pirates
T0rrentFreak | Jan. 5, 2019
While downloading copyright-infringing movies and music is illegal in Japan, downloading static images such as manga is not. According to local reports, the Agency for Cultural Affairs intends to criminalize the practice, with jail sentences of up to two years and fines of two million yen (US$17, 729)
More...

[matsuki]

While I am generally against IP theft, don't these companies make more money off the licensing and merchandising than the actual manga?

[Taro Toporific]

While I am generally against IP theft, don't these companies make more money off the licensing and merchandising than the actual manga?

Weeb industry is now safe thanks the Japan's Net Ultra-poilce!

Manga Pirate Arrested After Japan Launches Global Manhunt
Kotaku.com | July 12, 2019
---Romi Hoshino, the manager of now-shuttered site Manga-Mura, has been arrested in Manila. The site, which was taken offline last April, was frequented by around 100 million people each month and made around 60,000 manga available free of charge, reports AFP. The Japanese government created a special task force to find Hoshino, a Japanese citizen, and launched a manhunt to track him down.
...Overseas Distribution Association estimates that Manga-Mura cost $2.93 billion in copyright violation damages...
More...

international-crime-kingpin.jpg

[Russell]

While I am generally against IP theft, don't these companies make more money off the licensing and merchandising than the actual manga?

Weeb industry is now safe thanks the Japan's Net Ultra-poilce!

Manga Pirate Arrested After Japan Launches Global Manhunt
Kotaku.com | July 12, 2019
---Romi Hoshino, the manager of now-shuttered site Manga-Mura, has been arrested in Manila. The site, which was taken offline last April, was frequented by around 100 million people each month and made around 60,000 manga available free of charge, reports AFP. The Japanese government created a special task force to find Hoshino, a Japanese citizen, and launched a manhunt to track him down.
...Overseas Distribution Association estimates that Manga-Mura cost $2.93 billion in copyright violation damages...
More...

international-crime-kingpin.jpg

What are they going to do? Fine this kid with the billions of dollars of "damage" he has caused? Good luck with that...

[Mike Oxlong]

Tokyo court rules Japan copyright group can collect fees from music schools
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20 ... na/005000c

[matsuki]

Tokyo court rules Japan copyright group can collect fees from music schools
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20 ... na/005000c

In the west, I generally view restrictions encouraging creativity....but when the things are taught with a paint by numbers (in the appropriate colors and right stroke order!) mindset, I'm not so sure.

[Russell]

Tokyo court rules Japan copyright group can collect fees from music schools
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20 ... na/005000c

Don't students already pay those copyright fees when they buy the sheet music?

And what will they do with students who only study classical music?