What is the law in Japan regarding street photography?

[AlbertSiegel]

Is there a website with any info? Taro... you must have a link or something.

[Taro Toporific]

[Taro Toporific]

Is there a website with any info? Taro... you must have a link or something.

Mr Stonehill is a well0known lawyer specializing in Japanese and US practices.

Date: 10/26/2005 1:30:00 PM
From: William T. Stonehill
Subject: NBR'S JAPAN FORUM (POL)
Further developments on image rights
http://nbr.org/foraui/message.aspx?LID=5&MID=20406

A few weeks back the Tokyo district Court issued a ruling which vastly expanded image rights in Japan. The complainants sued and were granted compensation because photos taken of them strolling in Ginza were used on a fashion homepage without their permission.

Now another image rights case is before the District Court in Yokohama. A Tokyo firm which holds the image rights to about 60 artists is suing the Yokohama tax office for posting a photograph with a blown up enlargement on their web site without obtaining prior permission. Basically, the Yokohama tax office had seize this painting (it sold for approximately 90,000 yen) and they were auctioning it off over their website to obtain back taxes from the former owner.

The Tokyo image rights company contends that showing the painting over the Internet without getting prior permission from the holder of the image rights was illegal. They billed the Yokohama tax department 85,000 for displaying it for six months. Yokohama Tax Department refused to pay, so now the image holder is suing.

Comments on this case from various authorities on copyright and images rights in Japan have been highly contradictory, and many people are waiting to see how the Yokohama District Court will rule.